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| Additional Sightseeing Around New Zealand |
| Many of the International Delegates and attendees of the 62nd Coupe Mondiale Festival enjoyed some additional sightseeing around New Zealand including visiting attractions in both the North and South Islands. Pictured below are just a few of the pictures taken during the various visits. Additional pictures will be added as they become available. |
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Above left: the view to Baylys Beach located 10 km west of Dargaville. Above right: Jerome Bauer (France) makes a new friend at the family farm of outgoing CIA President Kevin Friedrich |
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Above left: Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest), New Zealand's largest Kauri Tree Above right: The Four Sisters, a rare growth of four trunks from the same tree root. located in the Waipoua Forest, located approximately 40 minutes north of Dargaville |
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Above left: Kevin Friedrich and ATG President Dee Langley near the Kiwi Sign warning drivers to exercise caution while driving due to the nocturnal Kiwi birds crossing the road at night. Above right top: the Koru (new Fern frong which symbolizes new life, growth, strength and peace. It is an integral symbol of the Maori culture Above right: Kimmo Mattila (General Secretary), Minna Plihtari, Sirpa Sippola and Sari Rytkola (CIA Delegates from Finland) near Tane Mahuta |
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ATG President Dee Langley on 90 Mile Beach in New Zealand's far north. |
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Above left: CIA Delegates and Contestants climbing the sand dunes to try their hands at Sand Tobogganing, and above right Kevin Friedrich zooming down the sand hill while Kimmo Mattila readies for his run. |
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CIA General Secretary perched cliff side photographing the scenery at Cape Reinga on the north tip of New Zealand where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea |
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USA Delegate Faithe Deffner at Cape Reinga |
Rosanna, Alexander, Ray & Analyze Bodell at the LIghthouse at Cape Reinga |
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Cape Reinga, New Zealand |
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Visitors enjoyed a luncheon picnic at the beautiful Tapotupotu Bay nestled next to Cape Reinga |
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| Te Puia and Whakarewarewa Thermal Area in Rotorua | |
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Faithe Deffner (USA) enjoying the Te Puia Park in the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley |
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The rolling green grasslands of New Zealand between Rotorua and Waitomo |
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| Tiritiri Matangi Bird Sanctuary | |
| Several guests were able to take a day trip to the Tiritiri Matangi Bird Sanctuary, a one hour cruise from the downtown Auckland waterfront. A spectacular day, many of the rare birds, some close to extinction were sighted in these beautiful pictures taken by French accordionist Jerome Bauer. Many of New Zealand's birds had no predators, so were either flightless, ground feeders or lived in burrows in the ground such as the Kiwi and the Kakapo, a rare flightless parrot. When settlers arrived they inadvertently introduced mice, rats and other predators which proved devastating to the bird populations. This, combined with the birds being hunted for both food and their colorful feathers to be used on traditional Maori cloaks, many bird species were driven to extinction, while others are barely surviving with minimal populations. Tiritiri Matangi is one of many islands around New Zealand protected from pests which enables the bird life, some on the brink of extinction, to flourish. Tiritiri Matangi is an open reserve, a rare Island reserve which allows visitors to view the endangered species. |
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Hihi (Stitchbird) |
Oyster Catcher |
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Takahe (less than 250 left in the world) |
Pukeko |
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Tui |
Kakariki (Red Crowned Parakeet) |
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Kokako (less than 1,500 left in the world) |
Korimako (Bellbird) |
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Popokatea (Whitehead) |
Kieke (Saddleback) |
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Piwakawaka (Fantail) |
Tiritiri Matangi Lighthouse |
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Heather Masefield, Jerome Bauer, Larysa Bodell and Kevin Friedrich on Tiritiri Matangi Island located in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland City |
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Kowhai Tree Blossom |
Golden Tainui in Blossom |
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The Auckland City skyline including the Skytower in the distance from this zoomed in shot from Tiritiri Matangi Island Bird Sanctuary |
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| Farewell | |
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Team Finland: Sirpa Sippola, Kimmo Mattila, Minna Plihtari, Harri and Suzzana Hakala and Sari Rytkola bid farewell at Auckland International Airport. Many of the guests were able to enjoy additional sightseeing in both the North Island and South Island. Additional pictures will be added as they become available |
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