Stranded group get cultural experience

Some of the kids at the marae. Supplied photo.

The mean icy storms blasting the country turned the national junior badminton championships into a 'wonderful cultural experience” for more than 50 young Bay of Plenty reps overnight.

The BOP badminton team was headed home from a successful outing at the championships in Palmerston North, when the weather intervened and they had to seek shelter on a marae for the night.

'Our convoy of several vans and people movers had to travel via Whanganui because the others routes, including the Desert Road, were Closed,” says Eve Cooper, who's travelling with the team.

'And when we got to Whanganui, the road to New Plymouth was closed too.”

So out went a 'help” call to Civil Defence which organised accommodation on the local Te Rau Oriwa Marae.

'It was fun,” says Lucky Udy, a young member of the Bay of Plenty team.

'I am Maori and it felt like I was coming home again.”

He was also able to share his knowledge and understanding.

'And tell the other kids off.” That's when protocol demanded it.

'We also have a number of Asian students in the group and it was a brilliant cultural experience for them,” says Eve.

The disruption to the itinerary proved little more than a hiccup with a spontaneous dinner of fish and chips and a visit to the local swimming complex.

'Civil Defence were wonderful,” says Eve.

'They organized the accommodation and the cheap visit to the pools. And our hosts on the marae were just so kind.”

This morning the badminton team was out for breakfast and back on the road home – weather permitting.

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