hello! no ppl is here anymore =(

Introduction

New Zealand OELP 2008

Hello there! We, are the Metamorphic group! Made up of..

Kelman, our group leader
Jess
Mabelline
Mildred
Simon
Gui Ping
Yi Hui

Although we may come from different classes, but the 7-8days trip have certainly brought us together closer.. And metamorphic rocks!! Get the joke? Hahahahahahaha.

Okay, never mind that.

Before the trip, each group was assigned on one topic to focus on during the trip, and do up a blog(which is what you are reading now) as to put up everything we have gone through during the trip. With more focus on our topic that is.

Well, our group, has been assigned to do on.. Globalization!!

Before we start, we have some main points to touch on for the reasons and effects for Globalization on New Zealand;
- Advancing Technology
- Increase the market share of their country
- Promote tourism across the globe
- Export their own products(Meat, dairy products)
- Handling of logistics with high GDP per capita
- Impact of Globalization on New Zealand

Yup, that is all for our introduction. Please give us your support and read on about our fantabulous trip to NZ! :D

Day One - Airport and on the plane!

To the Airport and gather at 7PM!

And one good thing was, we departed from Terminal 3! As you all know (or should know), it is our newest airport terminal, besides Terminal 4 which will be coming up soon as well.


But back to the point. Of course, Terminal 3 didn't magically drop down or appear at where it is today. One of the main few reasons for constructing it is actually again, as we all definitely confirm plus guarantee chop! know, is to keep our Economy going. Why?

Because, by having one more terminal, it allows us to have the luxury of more spaces so as to attract foreign airlines as well as our own, to invest and let their planes fly to Changi Airport. They are as such, China Eastern Airlines, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways, United Airlines, and of course not forgetting our own, Singapore Airlines. The third terminal also allows easier facilitation of movement of people/tourists.

By this way, it would also increase tourism to Singapore. By attracting more foreign airlines to invest, we also increase our revenue from tourism, contributing more to our economy. In order to meet the needs of incoming tourists, the terminal also provides many amenities, such as areas for transitting passengers to rest,

and restaurants like Crystal Jade for them to dine in.

More of Globalization as we go along with our trip experiences.

Before checking in, we (of course) saw many of our fellow friends' families gathering and saying our last goodbyes, before we return to Singapore again a week later. Oh Yes! Not forgetting we also received our hoodies that day!

But yup, after half an hour or so, it was time to check in.. Last few minutes with our families before we set off, and poof! Of we go to.. The waiting place before boarding the plane. But it was really fast.

The waiting place, wasn't that boring. Again, we saw points which linked to our topic, Globalization.

There was free internet access for passengers to use for business, leisure or search for neccessary information before they fly off, and allow them to have something to occupy with during their waiting time. In addition, there are actually public phones to use for free so that passengers waiting can make last minute calls. How very Singaporean-ish.

Anyway, because of Globalization, there is presence of advancedadvancing technology and increased communication which meet demands and needs of what we all need as of today. Of course, being ourselves, we are never contented with what we have but keep on striving on for better things.

Boarding time!! The flight was a whopping 10hours journey, and imagine, what kept us occupied on the plane.

If you have no idea, let us enlighten you..

Again, because of Globalization! We, can actually play games on the plane while flying in mid air!

That's a real sunrise we saw on the plane. Beautiful eh?

Besides playing games, we can also watch movies! Plus there were those plug thingys for people to just plug in their USB cables and use the Internet. AND, the best thing was, we can keep asking for food. (:

Yup, I guess that's all for our "journey" from the airport to on the plane.

Please keep reading on!!

Day Two - Touch down at Auckland Airport, Mt Eden, and CBD area.

New Zealand airport

Well.. The airport looked a little bit old, and definitely less crowded than ours. Also, the airport had lesser shops and made use of lesser technology; there was manual checking at the customs instead of scanning the passports like in Singapore.

But anyway.. We met our tourguide, Jon and driver, Paul! And off we head to Mt Eden!

It's actually a crater, if you noticed. Caused by an eruption many many many many many many years ago. You get the idea..

Magnificent Rainbow at Mt Eden (my heart melts)

Well, Mt Eden has only a slight impact on tourism (including locals and overseas tourists). Majority of those who went up to Mt Eden, went to view mainly the geographical features of Mount Eden E.g. Crater, terraces.

See that pointed building in the background on the left hand side? It's the Sky Tower there! It is really a bird's eye view from the top of Mt Eden..


We then went to the CBD area of Auckland, and had our own lunch there. After that, we had a task to do. We were divided into four groups, and had to go in four different directions and walk approximately 200m away from the mid point, observing the stores along the paths we walked through at the same time.

Before we walked back to where we started, we had to do pedastrian counts; count how many people walked past where we were at, and discuss the reasons to account for the number.

CBD in New Zealand
The population is not that large, as compared to singapore's one. we found out that the Asian students, from AUT University, made up the majority of it.
The increase in technology advancement, as a result of globalisation, brings people from different and further parts of the world to New Zealand, making the country more accessible.
In New Zealand, there is a higher skilled labour avaliable. One example is the number of tour guides to inform tourists on the landscapes and the country as they are being brought around the country. They could ask questions about any doubts they have regarding anything about the country, especially students on a geography trip. This is seldom seen in less developed countries like Philippiness.
Another interesting fact would be the rural areas receives more revenue than the urban areas, due to the rearing of animals like cows, goats, sheeps. These animals serve as a major export.
We also realised that lesser tourism are seen in the CBD, although there are many shops around. Majority of the pedestrians seemed to be students and locals. This might be due to the fact that the urban areas are of the working population, and the services are mainly concentrated in the areas, thus lesser of the country's attractions are found there, instead, people travel along the countryside to see more of the country's nature sites and landscape, both for educational and leisure purposes.
In terms of transportation, the urban areas have more access to means of transport like public buses, and the rural people have lesser of them. in the countrysides, tour guides have to drive them around, or they have to own or rent a car to move around. This could be a reflection of the inequality of globalisation within a country, despite the development.
Meat like Beef, and dairy products make up the majority of the exports. As for the imports, many of the clothings in New Zealand are made in China. There is little difference between the prices of certain retail shops like The Body Shop, showing that information is quickly disseminated around the globe, another great positive impacts that globalisation bring about.
Most of the consumers are Asian-owned. for example, Chinese, Japaneses and Koreans.
In comparison of the land in New Zealand and Singapore, the land area in SIngapore is much more expensive than in New Zealand, This is due to the small land area that Singapore owned.

- Language students – learn english- Why do they choose New Zealand? Survey Students why they choose New Zealand to study in, instead of other places such as Australia and Singapore
- Ask Jon why he chose to come to Auckland all the way from Cyprus
- Survey for locals; do they know globalization, how do they think globalization has impacted their lives in terms of the jobs they have, costs of houses/cars they own

Day Three

Inside a limestone cave~

The outcrop of the limestone

The complicated internal network of the waitomo cave

A model of the waitomo cave

Waitomo Caves

Although the number of locals are small, in contrast, the number of tourists who have knowledge about the cave are large. We realised that the Waitomo Caves are a popular tourist attraction. 450,000 tourists visits annually to the caves.

Another impact of globalisation would be the invention of aircrafts and the improvement of this technology that has facilitated and increased the worldwide movements of people, bringing them across greater distances. And the accessilbilty of such, that enable people to afford such technology and move in greater speed. In the end of the day, promoting tourism, another major source of income of New Zealand.

Day Four - Mount Ruapehu

Well, you can try guessing who is that, but no prizes for the right answer!

As can be seen from the photo(s), we went up to Mount Ruapehu which is literally covered with snow. And obviously with snow, it is very, very, extremely, super, duper, cold. It wasn't enough even if you were wearing 4-5 layers; it's just so cold.

Mount Ruapehu was formed because of an eruption.

Have you ever wondered? That in the past, we wouldn't have any ways to actually scale these snow mountains because these areas were dangerous and there weren't proper roads..

However, it is due to Globalization, that there is advancement in technology, transportation and communication, which have enabled us to scale these snow mountains by building roads and placing underground cables to 'transport' electricity from the bottom of the mountain, to the Ski Resort on the top of it. They also had chartered buses from one part of the mountain all the way up to the snow-cap part of it.

Also, one reason why there is a Ski Resort up on the mountains is so as to provide leisure facilities like skiing and sledding for tourists! They even had a 'restaurant' whereby tourists can rest, take shelter and keep themselves warm with the fireplace and food. The Ski Resort also had a store which sells equipment needed for the activities available there.

Despite such weather conditions, people are still willing to take the risk and open a resort on Mount Ruapehu because they know that tourists were bound to go up and being the only one there, they would stand to gain alot economically with a high revenue..

After going up the the snow-cap mountain, we travelled down and came to a stop for packed lunch at this pavilion/hut thingy.. Well, it was quite surprising that in such a position whereby very little people are expected to stop by, there is actually a resting place. With toilets!! Very convenient and it also shows that even in rural areas, technology advancement is still visible.

And then we came to the Silica Rapids/Rimu walk..

Those yellow parts of the rapids which you see are actually sulphur.

We then came to Tangiwai, where there was evidence of a recent mud lahar that descended from Mount Ruapehu in March 2007.

After which, we went to a viewing place thingy and see from the top, Lake Taupo.

Day Five

Geothermal energy station

OH! A peel-ti-ful Lake "taupok"
A lake that is about the size of Singapore (cool isn't it?) haha

Lake Taupo

This is another representation of what globalisation has bring to the country.

There are roads constructed to increase the ease of movements of tourists.

There are pipes along the power stations that are connecting, which transfer geothermal and hydroelectric powers to other power stations located at different areas of the country to help generate electricity, mostly through steam.
An fact about the distribution of electricity: 9% for the New Zealand’s power usage, 25% for the North island, 65% for the area around Lake Taupo.

All these are made possible by the inventions of high technology machines that enable the country to produce such clean energy.

A wonderful skyline trip (the trip is longer than singapore cable car trip)

Skyline and Luge

New Zealand is the first to invent the World's Luge Rides and the SkySwing, hence they have the copyrights fot their inventions, and can earn from it when the idea gets around the world.

The Skyline, is another technology for people to move all the way up the tall hills, with ease and without them having to exercise any physical strength.

Due to low pays, staff working for the tourism industry is not permanant, hence finding employment and retaining good wokers for this industry is not easy.

The more educated people would be working in white-collars jobs, like doctors, banks, businesses. whereas the less educated ones would end up farming, with the big piece of land they owned.

Volcanic Activity Centre
Technology advancements has created things like earthquake simulator, mini tornadoes and geysers, to illustate the effects of natural hazards, to provide the locals and the tourists, especially with educational purposes, first hand information.
With the real life situations, we understood, and experience what we've learned in the books. Indeed, it was a fruitful trip there!

Te Puia-

Day Six - Kiwi Farm, Te Puke School Visit, and arrival at the Marae.

Early in the morning, we left our place of lodging and set off for our first destination of the day; Kiwi 360.

As we all know, Zespri which is a brand of Kiwis, is commonly seen being sold in Singapore in the last 4-5 years. Zespri operates world wide, and holds on to the monopoly of the kiwi sector. 25% of their kiwis are the Gold Kiwis, and the other 75% are the one we usually see and eat; Green Kiwis.

We have found out that Kiwi 360 has 50 Individually own orchards, with 10 larger companies running pack houses, 70 Kiwi ships(exports all by sea). Also, the kiwis can be stored for up to 6-8 months at 0 - ½ Degrees celsius.

Every year, New Zealand has the whole market to itself from May to December, whereby they hire 25000 workers; majority of the labour force come from countries like Malaysia, the Pacific Islands, Indonesia as New Zealand's amount of labour force is not enough. Because they are close to the ocean (cold), places like Japan 20% of national crop - Europe 80%

Every year, 1 million bees are imported into these kiwi farms for pollination, which is approximately 100000 bee hives from bee companies. No irrigation is needed in New Zealand for kiwi farms as there is sufficient rainfall, volcanic soil/ash, sunlight and frost which helps to kill diseases.

Another industry to trim and groom the trees - Accommodation for labour - Labour for 6- 7 months - Biggest  Chile, Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Chine, Japan, South Korea - New Zealand have the whole market to themselves from May to December - From China. They re branded it

Thats the living condition of the kiwi~!

Don't you just feel like being there, under these kiwis, and wait for them to drop into your mouth? X)

Te Puke School Visit

Sidetrack a wee bit.. This group of Te Puke students you see above? What happened was.. We wanted to take a photo with them and asked if we could.. THEN, they got all excited about it and posed. They thought I wanted to take a photo of them only, so oh well. Didn't want to embarrass them and myself so.. *snap* Comes the photo~

Anyway.

We left the school at 2-ish and took a short bus trip to the Marae.. It's pronounced 'Ma-rai' for those who don't know.

The ceremony to walk in was rather.. Very Formal. Like.. Super Formal. We weren't allowed to take photos before the ceremony ended and just nice while we were walking towards the Marae, we saw a beautiful full rainbow. Note; full rainbow. But couldn't take pictures!

But the sunset there was really beautiful.. It's not something you would expect to see in Singapore..

Not only that, the experience we had there was definitely one of a kind. It was quite surprising, when we actually expected to be welcomed by Maori people in their traditional costumes, and their usual songs and dances.. But no, we were proven wrong.

Instead, we were welcomed by only 4-5 of them, who were in normal modern-day clothes; similar to what we were wearing instead. They then told us, they didn't want to be what people refer to as 'Plastic Maoris'. In other words, Maori people who wore the traditional costumes just for show.

The way we were welcomed.. Made us feel true warmth in our hearts (despite the cold weather). They welcomed us in the most sincere way, and of course, we returned their gestures by obliging to their ground rules of the Marae. Like, not eating inside it.-.-"

The winning entry!

Team Bonding (GAMES!!!)

So hardworking haha~!

Metamorphic's poem (haiku)

In a freezing land
Waking up was really tough
Yet, the warmth spread through

Strangers we began
Toughened through icy mountains
Granites we emerged

Final Day

Nice Sun Rise at the MARAE (I simply love this photos)

Nice song~~

The lord loves me

And all the wonders I see

A rainbow shine throuhugh my window

The lord loves me

The lord loves you

And all the wonders you do

A rainbow shine through your window

The lord loves you