I’m now in Wellington, NZ-the capital city.  We viewed the parliament buildings but didn’t get to go inside.  I was told the government is very conservative at the moment.  We also went to the Te Papa museum.  It was a very interesting place.  There were lots of information about the geography and plants of the land.  They had earthquake simulators and explained how the fault line affects NZ daily life.  For example, Wellington had to rebuild many buildings to make them more earthquake proof.  They have added a rubbery type of material that the building stands on to allow movement during an earthquake instead of breaking and falling to pieces.  We also got to see many fossils of the extinct birds from NZ.  We saw the moa.  It looks like an over glorified ostrich.   The Maori hunted it to extinction when they first arrived here.  It is quite understandable though, because it is such a massive bird.  The meat, feathers, and bones could all be used and in big quantities.
    Since the trip is coming to an end, I wanted to give an overall perspective of NZ.  It was very surreal being in NZ for the first couple of days.  We did a lot in those first days that I think I should have prepared more for.  The hike up Rangitoto was one of the most beautiful and hardest things I’ve ever done.  The environment was very exciting since it was a volcano.  There were many volcanic rocks and the crater was filled with native trees.  The best part was the overview of Auckland once we reached the top.  We got to be above the clouds.  It was amazing.  We then went to Hahei, a beach city.  It was fascinating knowing that only a small drive could take me through the winding mountains and forests straight to the ocean and beaches.  Rotorua was especially exciting because of all the volcanic activity and geothermal areas.  I learned a lot about how the volcano has shaped the way of life there and how it has shaped the region.  Maori culture is also very prevalent there and is integrated throughout the entire city. 
    NZ main concern I learned is protecting its environment.  The ecosystem is so unstable that just a tiny bacteria or insect could decimate it.  It’s really cool the approaches the scientists are taking to overcome many of the pests in the area, such as controlling the clover weevil by using a wasp (done at the University of Waikato).  They made sure the wasp wouldn’t also become a pest before releasing it.  Even though some animals are not native to the environment they are still being “protected” for use like the cows and sheep for farming.  They are very important sources of income for NZ and must be watched to make sure the livelihood doesn’t become an issue.  At the farm we visited, we saw many unique ways for moving the sheep and trying to keep up with demand or increase demand because wool prices are dropping due to synthetics.  They also had the coolest dogs. 
    Overall this trip was amazing.  I think I know more about the history of NZ than any other country now.  Visiting this island has opened my eyes to a lot of things going on in the world and has also made me aware of how delicate nature is.  This country has almost put many species into extinction.  Mainly by not knowing or thinking about consequences.  It is good that they are trying to save and correct the mistakes they have made.  I just wish that other countries would go about things in the same way.  But even though I’ve had such an amazing time I’m ready to head home!

Elizabeth Dourlain