Mary Taylor

Global Engagement Center

Project Summary
The EGDE project I chose was to study abroad in
New Zealand through the Global Engagement Center
for two weeks. Our experience included not only art
galleries and museums but many outdoor
explorations. We kayaked Taupo Lake (a crater lake
created by a super volcano,) zipped through the
Rotorua rainforest canopy, rafted down the Okere
Falls, and hiked volcanoes and reserves. We visited
markets with glorious fruits, vegetables, and Maori
carved trinkets. Best of all, we had several
opportunities to meet with people from Maori decent
and learn some of their customs. We witnessed
renewed pride in a beautiful culture, language, and
people.

Mount Maunganui at Sunrise. We made an early

morning hike to the top of a dormant volcano
and gazed down upon the Pacific Ocean and
beautiful city-scape of Tauranga.

Project Highlights
New Zealand was uninhabited for millions of years
and was first settled by the Maori people about 800
years ago. They called the islands Aotearoa (long
white cloud.) Like Native American people, Maori
people were mistreated and marginalized by the new
settlers. In the 1970's a revolution of sorts occurred
by the Maori population that eventually brought
about language immersion schools that help instill
cultural pride and teach Maori customs and language
to children from kindergarten to graduation. We were
privileged to visit one such school.

From My Journal
May 9, 2016
Today we visited a charter school with a focus
on total immersion in the Maori language and
customs. The children performed several song
and dance routines (called haki's) and it was
very moving. One of the most powerful
experiences I've ever had and it affected most of
our group the same way to witness such
awesome cultural pride.

SUU students make the acquaintance of

members of the Ngati Ranginui Tribe in
Tauranga, at their beautiful Marae (meeting
house). We learned about the genealogical
symbolism in their artwork throughout the
marae and listened to the telling of some Maori
legends.