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Official club name: The Friendship Force of South Taranaki
Closest major airport: New Plymouth
Cost of transportation between the airport and our city (based on 20 people): none if hosts meet the Ambassadors at New Plymouth Airport.
Maximum number of Ambassadors our club can host: 30
The Friendship Force of South Taranaki has approximately 90 members and was formed 10 years ago. Our club is centered in Hawera, a town with a population of approximately 10,000; members live with in a radius of 25 km. We like to welcome two or three inward exchanges each year and try to have one outward exchange.
The volcanic cone of Mt Egmont/Taranaki dominates the South Taranaki area. Hawera is situated on the southern part of the ring plain. Dairying is the predominant local industry and milk is processed at the largest one-site multi-product dairy company. The rich soils have aided in the creation of many fine parks and gardens, a number of which are open to the public during the popular Rhododendron Festival held in the first week of November.
Our closest domestic airport is at New Plymouth, one hour's drive from Hawera. We have found it convenient to travel by a locally chartered bus to Auckland or Wellington to meet incoming exchanges. This is cheaper than domestic air travel and gives the Ambassadors a chance to see more of the west coast of the North Island. We prefer to host September to May. The weather is not so good in winter, June-August. Our primary emphasis for exchanges is to make new friends and to show them around our region. We usually arrange two bus trips, a welcome pot luck meal and a farewell dinner as well as smaller pot luck teas in members' homes.
For further information: Contact
Date update 26 May 2013