We are thrilled to share that we are in discussions for a Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) with Rotary District 9999 on the South Island of New Zealand.
RFE allows Rotary members to host one another in their homes with participants traveling on a team as couples or individuals.
RFE allows Rotary members to host one another in their homes with participants traveling on a team as couples or individuals.
Key Details:
- The team will consist of up to 12 people: couples and individuals, no children.
- Our District 7255 team will visit New Zealand from March 14 - 25, 2026. There are direct flights from JFK to Auckland. You will need to make a connecting flight to/from Dunedin or Christchurch (pick up and drop off location will be determined by the host district). You must be in Dunedin or Christchurch by March 14 and plan to depart Dunedin or Christchurch on March 25 (NZ time). We will primarily visit the lower South Island. Learn more in the information sheet below.
- The New Zealand team will visit us from August 23 - September 4, 2026. You must be able to host and transport our New Zealand guests for a segment of their stay or arrange for another Rotarian to do same.
If you are interested in being considered for the team, please complete the application form (scan QR code below or click on this link) by August 15, 2025.
Questions? Email Nancy Uzo at 626298@gmail.com
Transportation:
• Air New Zealand flies directly from JFK to Auckland, if you are interested in as few stops as possible that is a good option.
• United, American Airlines and Delta all fly out of LAX (Los Angeles) directly to Auckland.
• If you would prefer to break your journey, a stop off in Hawaii or Fiji for a tropical break on the way there or back, is a good option.
• When you arrive in Auckland (the biggest center in the North Island), you will need to journey on a domestic flight to Dunedin to start your exchange.
• Please note when planning travel, the South Island, NZ is 16 hours ahead of EST.
• Air New Zealand flies directly from JFK to Auckland, if you are interested in as few stops as possible that is a good option.
• United, American Airlines and Delta all fly out of LAX (Los Angeles) directly to Auckland.
• If you would prefer to break your journey, a stop off in Hawaii or Fiji for a tropical break on the way there or back, is a good option.
• When you arrive in Auckland (the biggest center in the North Island), you will need to journey on a domestic flight to Dunedin to start your exchange.
• Please note when planning travel, the South Island, NZ is 16 hours ahead of EST.
About the South Island:
• The South Island of New Zealand is known for its scenery, diverse landscapes and lack of people! (Only 1 million live on the island 58,000 square miles.)
• The Southern Alps Mountain range runs the length of the island dividing the East from the West. There are only three or four routes over the alps by vehicle. The West Coast is very different looking from the East.
• 75% of South Islanders live within 70km of the sea.
• The South Island’s open roads are mostly single lane each way. This makes for picturesque driving, as not many concrete freeways, except in the cities…our biggest City is Christchurch. Population 400,000.
• Christchurch was settled by the English. After the major earthquake in 2011 has been mostly rebuilt and is now a 21st Century City.
• Dunedin was settled by the Scots and named after Edinburgh in Scotland. It still has a strong Gothic and Edwardian architecture presence.
• The South Island of New Zealand is known for its scenery, diverse landscapes and lack of people! (Only 1 million live on the island 58,000 square miles.)
• The Southern Alps Mountain range runs the length of the island dividing the East from the West. There are only three or four routes over the alps by vehicle. The West Coast is very different looking from the East.
• 75% of South Islanders live within 70km of the sea.
• The South Island’s open roads are mostly single lane each way. This makes for picturesque driving, as not many concrete freeways, except in the cities…our biggest City is Christchurch. Population 400,000.
• Christchurch was settled by the English. After the major earthquake in 2011 has been mostly rebuilt and is now a 21st Century City.
• Dunedin was settled by the Scots and named after Edinburgh in Scotland. It still has a strong Gothic and Edwardian architecture presence.
Go to https://www.newzealand.com/nz/south-island to learn more about the South Island of NZ