Friends meet in Ka¯ piti

The Friendship Force Ka¯ piti Coast recently welcomed 15 ambassadors from Friendship Force Saitama, Japan.

They ranged in age from 14 to 80 and were hosted by members of Friendship Force Ka¯ piti Coast.

At the welcome dinner the Japanese visitors were delighted to meet Ka¯ piti mayor K Gurunathan, and the two youngest visitors performed a traditional dance for him.

During the visit Friendship Force Ka¯ piti members were treated to a Japanese tea ceremony, origami, singing and dancing, and furoshiki (wrapping with cloth).

In a very varied programme the Saitama members visited Kenakena School, where students gave them a tour of the school, and the kapa haka group enthralled them with their performance.

Visits to the Foxton Flax Stripping Mill and Wellington by train were included in the programme, together with Nga Manu Nature Reserve.

Friendship Force Ka¯ piti are a group of local people, with a common interest in meeting and sharing cultural experiences with people from around the globe.

“Friendship Force enables us to confidently travel, as ambassadors, to places all around the world, including where language may be a problem,” Friendship Force Ka¯ piti Coast president Allan Taylor said.

www.kapiti.friendshipforce.co.nz