Trip of a lifetime for students

After being inspired by their teacher, a group of Taranaki students have raised more than $100,000 and are off to Japan on the trip of a lifetime.

Yesterday, 26 students from Waitara High School left for the 10-day visit. They spent eight months raising the money after being inspired by teacher Matarahi Skipper’s stories of the country, where he lived for six years.

His classroom has pictures of Japan, which sparked students’ interest, and soon they were making Japanese food and learning the language.

‘‘I’m trying to get them out of their comfort zone and learn,’’ Skipper said.

The students collectively raised $105,000 through school hangis, teacher at Waitara High School events and a food stall, which has paid for flights, accommodation, activities and rail passes.

The group will visit Osaka, Koyoko, Hiroshima, Tokyo and a some will experience a home stay at New Plymouth’s sister city Mishima.

They will also visit Universal Studios, Disneyland, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Buddhist temple Kinkaku-ji.

Skipper said parents were a huge help in fundraising and keeping the students on track to raise the money.

‘‘They have a better understanding of playing a longterm game rather than the short term, ‘I want this’ type of thing,’’ he said.

Skipper said he hoped the students would get to try new things and experiences.

‘‘I want them to develop a love and appreciation of Japan because that’s what I have and that’s what kind of started the journey.

‘‘And at the very least what I know what they gain is a greater appreciation of New Zealand and their place in the world.’’

‘‘I want them to develop a love and appreciation of Japan because that’s what I have and that’s what kind of started the journey. Matarahi Skipper

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