Ernst Haeckel Gymnasium Werder (Havel)

The day started with attendance and a short meeting in the staff room, where a few teachers talked about some things that are happening at school and a couple of upcoming events. Everyone seemed a bit quiet at first, but it was a nice way to start the morning and kind of get into the day. After that, we had a workshop about New Zealand’s culture, history and identity, which turned out to be really interesting. The main focus was the Treaty of Waitangi — when it was signed, what it stood for, and also the problems that came with it afterwards. It was actually quite fascinating to see how something from such a long time ago still affects the country today and how it shapes the relationship between Māori and European culture. You could really see how both sides are still trying to exist next to each other, keeping their traditions but also finding ways to connect. We also talked about New Zealand’s national holidays and how they are celebrated differently across communities, which showed how many different traditions coexist here. It became clear that New Zealand really tries to protect and value ist cultural diversity, and that’s what makes it feel so open and welcoming. During the session, there were a few points where you could really think about how culture builds identity and how everyone kind of carries their background with them, even if they don’t always notice it. Later on, we went to the Year 9 assembly, which had a really positive and funny atmosphere. Students who were always on time or had perfect attendance were acknowledged, and the names of those with 100% attendance were put on a big spinning wheel. The teachers spun it to pick one student for a small prize, and the whole thing was actually pretty entertaining to watch. It was a simple but creative idea and showed how the school manages to make even small achievements feel fun and appreciated. After that, we joined a poetry and identity workshop, which was one of the most creative parts of the day. We read two poems, including Afakasi Chameleon by Selina Tusitala Marsh, which explored mixed identity and belonging. The discussions showed how differently people understand identity, and in the end, we wrote our own short poems inspired by animals we felt connected to — a surprisingly personal and reflective activity. At the end of the day, we had another workshop, this time focused on Samoan culture and language. A few Samoan students joined and told us about their customs, some greetings, and even explained the meaning behind a few traditions. It was really nice to hear it from them directly because it made everything feel more real than just reading about it. The way they spoke about their culture showed a lot of pride and warmth, and it tied in perfectly with the things we’d learned earlier about cultural coexistence. Altogether, the day showed a lot about what school life here is like — a mix of learning, community and openness towards different cultures and ideas.

Ein zweiter Blick auf den Tag:

After morning attendance and a quick meeting in the staff room about some upcoming events, the first workshop started with the topic of New Zealand’s culture, history and identity. We mainly talked about the Treaty of Waitangi — when it happened, what it meant, and what problems came with it later on. It was interesting to see how important that treaty still is and how it continues to shape New Zealand’s identity today. We also looked at how Māori and European traditions are balanced in modern life and how holidays bring different communities together. One could really see how much effort goes into keeping those traditions alive and respected at the same time. During the second period, we went to the Year 9 assembly, which was actually quite fun to watch. Some students got recognised for always being on time or having perfect attendance, and their names were put on a big wheel that the teachers spun to choose someone who’d get a small prize. It gave the whole assembly a really cheerful energy and showed how the school values consistency but in a light-hearted way. After that, we went to a workshop on poetry and identity, which was probably the most creative part of the day. We read two poems, one of them being Afakasi Chameleon by Selina Tusitala Marsh, which talked about mixed identity and belonging in a really powerful way. We had some great discussions about certain lines and how identity can mean something completely different for everyone. Towards the end, we wrote our own short poems based on animals that we felt connected to, describing how those animals might represent parts of who we are. It was surprisingly personal and reflective, and it gave everyone a chance to express themselves through writing. In the last workshop of the day, we learned about Samoan culture and language. A few Samoan students came and shared stories, taught us some greetings, and explained the meaning behind a few of their customs. It was really interesting to see how much language and culture are linked and how strongly people identify with their traditions. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, and it felt like a nice way to end the day — learning about something new but also seeing how all these different cultures connect and influence each other. Overall, the workshops were varied and creative and showed how much identity, history, and self-expression are connected to one another in everyday life.

It was 9 a.m. when we met at Auckland Harbour. Some people already came with breakfast from McDonald’s – so a healthy breakfast for hiking! All the German exchange students and our NZ partners were there. A deputy principal of the Lynfield College, who organized this special trip to Rangitoto, first talked to us and told us not to leave rubbish on the island and to clean our shoes because of “biosecurity.” Rangitoto is a volcano island in Auckland, so it already sounds like an adventure. Rangitoto is actually the youngest and largest volcano in the Auckland volcanic field. It emerged only about 600 years ago after a series of eruptions, and its name in Māori means “Bloody Sky,” because of the red glow seen during its formation.

At 9:30 we took the ferry. The air smelled like the sea, and the skyline of Auckland slowly got smaller behind us. It looked like a postcard – just wow. While we sat on the ferry, Ms. Abraham said we had a small competition: who can take more photos of typical New Zealand birds. I loved this idea! Since I had my camera with me that day, I decided I wanted to win this.

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We arrived at 10:10. The island was full of black stones and green bushes, everything looked so different from Germany. We started walking along the coast, and at 12:00 we made a short break on a small rocky beach. Everyone ate, played and joked. After the break, it finally went uphill.

I walked in the front with my exchange partner and my friend Sawa from Germany because I wanted to see birds before the big group scared them away. It got hot and steep, and we were sweating like crazy, but we went faster and faster. Suddenly someone said somebody fainted behind us. We stopped, a bit worried, but then it was a false alarm and we kept going.

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At 1:10 p.m. we reached the top first! The view was unbelievable – the ocean, the city of Auckland, and so many small islands. When the rest finally arrives, Ms. Malon-Willisch points excitedly at a round bird hopping in the middle of peoples. “It’s a kiwi!” we all whisper. But no, it’s actually an Australian quail. Still cute, though — and now officially part of my bird photo collection, along with a brilliant “tūī “and a cheeky “tīeke” (the saddleback).

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We took group photos with the skyline behind us, then at 1:40 p.m. we started going down. Somehow people had new energy – they were singing and running on the rocky path. It was even harder downhill because the stones were sharp and slippery – real lava rocks! At 2:20 we finally reached the bottom again, tired but super happy.

Back in Auckland, we were free to go around. Some went shopping, others for food. I looked at my photos and smiled. Only three birds, but three nice photos from that crazy day on a volcano island.

New Zealand Blog – 08.10.2025

Our Exchange – Experiencing School in New Zealand (08.10.2025) Today was such an exciting day because we got to experience what a “real” school day in New Zealand is like and how it differs from EHG. We joined different lessons with our hosts and took part in all the activities. One of the highlights was the German lessons we joined, where we had different kinds of workshops organized by the Kiwi students.We learned the Lynfield Waiata and the Māori dance moves that go with it, which was fun. Then we talked a bit about New Zealand and some interesting facts about the country. One Workshop was about tasting New Zealand’s candy. We also tasted some Marmite, which is a very “special” spread… Some people liked it, but others made really funny faces when they tasted it. I personally observed some other things as well, First of all, the students are differently motivated in Lynfield college, the teachers have placed encouraging quotes on their walls, and all the German students were so impressed by the variety of subjects. In Lynfield there are subjects like sewing, food technologies (where you can cook), design classes and automotive engineering. We learned a lot, not just about the subjects, but also about how students interact and learn here. Overall, it was a great experience joining the lessons and getting a real feeling of school life in New Zealand. I loved sharing a bit of our culture with others and seeing how they reacted. The traditional Maori dances were my personal highlight.

 

(by Josephine)

New Zealand Blog: 5-7.10.

We started our journey at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) at 12:00 a.m., and our meeting point was at Terminal 1. After everybody had arrived, we checked in for our flight and said goodbye to our families. It was quite emotional, but also exciting, because this was the beginning of our big adventure. After that, we handed in our suitcases and went through the security check. When everything was done, we still had a little time for shopping at the airport before boarding. Then we looked for our gate and waited for our flight to be called. I think everyone was very excited, especially those who had never flown before. During the flight, everyone spent their time doing different things: some listened to music, others watched films, played video games, or tried to sleep.

When we arrived at the airport in Doha, we left the plane and went to our next gate, where our connecting flight was already waiting. Between the next take-off and landing, we had some time to explore the airport, look around the shops, and even practise our song “99 Luftballons” together. Before boarding again, we had to go through another check. On the flight to Auckland, my seat partner and I did the same as during the first flight. We ate, slept, watched films, and played games. The flight was long, but we were too excited to care about the time. Finally, when we landed in Auckland, our host families were already waiting for us at the airport. They greeted us warmly and brought us to their homes, where our adventure in New Zealand could truly begin.

The first day of school.

After a short speech we were greeted with a Maori dance, the ‘Haka.’ It was really interesting and exciting. Something new. Afterwards, we ate together. In the second block, we had a class with our exchange students. Having a subject taught in English for once was also quite interesting. The teachers also tried to help us, and the year nines work is not as hard as my usual subjects. In the third block, we played games in P.E., and in the fourth block, we went to class with our exchange students again. The New Zealanders teach very different to the Germans.

 

(by Luke & Fabian)