“A kea, a glance – and the silent question of what this moment wants to tell me”

Encounter with a Kea

I sat down in the sun in front of the small café when a kea landed on the railing – curious, alert, and completely unfazed by the proximity to humans. This alpine parrot is considered one of the most intelligent birds in the world. Its unique nature is immediately apparent: it observes, analyzes, and tests boundaries. This very behavior makes the kea unique – it is a problem solver, an explorer, and in a way, the entrepreneur of New Zealand's mountain world.

As I sit there, he gradually moves closer, as if testing whether there's anything interesting to discover about me. The moment seems light and playful, but behind it lies the typical Kea mentality: courage, curiosity, and a willingness to try new things. This encounter reveals why this bird has become a symbol of creativity and adaptability for so many.

Skiing in New Zealand | Morning

I never would have thought you could actually ski in New Zealand. The idea was completely outside my world. And that's precisely what makes the experience so surprising: You're standing here in a real ski resort – with lodges, lifts, and everything else I'm only familiar with from Austria.

The catalyst for this shift in perspective was a conversation with our guide, James. He told us that his own family history began when a Swiss man worked as a ski instructor here in New Zealand. He met his partner there – and that's how their family started. Perhaps not entirely accurate in every detail, but the gist is right: skiing has a long tradition here, and it attracts people from all over the world.

The landscape is particularly impressive. I hadn't imagined before that there were actually high mountains here – mountains large enough to support a full-fledged ski resort. This view suddenly makes it clearer why Sir Edmund Hillary, a New Zealander, was the first to climb Mount Everest. This mountain world is real, imposing, and much closer to the Alps than I had expected.

And then there's the time factor: While it's summer in Europe, they're skiing here. That sounds logical in theory, but it only feels real when you're standing in the middle of the snow yourself. A completely different world that suddenly comes together.

It's simply astonishing how far apart perception and reality can sometimes be – and how exciting it is when both suddenly coincide in a place like this.

A day of sheep herding, laughter, and new entrepreneurial ideas | Afternoon

After the first runs through the ski areas, the day began with a special event: sheep shearing and a demonstration of sheepdogs in action. The precision with which the dogs drove the flock – the correct English term would be "Treibhunde" or herding dogs, while in German they are called Hütehunden, which drive, gather, or push the flock – was impressive.

Shearing a sheep myself was quite an experience. Careful and respectful, with the clear intention of not hurting the animal – until the four-legged protagonist suddenly caused a moment of alarm. A moment that, in retrospect, was above all else: funny.

This item on the agenda quickly brought me back to home. Since your daughter and her boyfriend live and work in precisely this environment, the entrepreneurial question immediately arose: what value can be created from such an experience?

Experiential farm management, events centered around sheepdogs, sheep shearing workshops – the combination of agriculture, animal work, and the experiential economy is virtually nonexistent in Germany. A succession situation, an opportunity for the father, a potential connection to your BNI network – the idea has substance.

The subsequent meal – lamb, of course – was simple, good, and with the salad, finally something "sensible." The afternoon itself was pleasant, but not extraordinary, because you're already familiar with this environment from home and your daughter's boyfriend's property. Emotionally calm, until evening arrived.

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Christchurch – Arriving in a new city

After checking into an excellent hotel in the heart of Christchurch, James introduced you to the city and gave you recommendations for the evening. A walk, conversations, and dinner with a diverse group from America, Canada, Luxembourg, and Germany – an atmosphere filled with good cheer and hearty laughter.

The reunion at the same location as the previous evening, accompanied by live music, reinforced this feeling of international camaraderie. The connection with Eric and Chris from Dallas is particularly noticeable – it's one of those unplanned but valuable human encounters that needs no explanation.

Both will continue the Australian journey with you, opening the door to further shared experiences.

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Looking ahead – Cricket and the stars

Tomorrow marks the start of a new chapter: a cricket final at 10 a.m. (Australian time). A sport that, at first glance, seems like a variation of baseball – except that instead of running in a circle, players run back and forth along a line. A simplified view, but a good starting point for understanding the sport.

In the evening, another highlight of the trip awaits: an encounter with the starry sky of the Southern Hemisphere. Large telescopes, clear darkness, a completely different view of the universe – experiences that inevitably bring a sense of quiet. And the day begins later than usual, a rare moment of relief on an otherwise tightly scheduled trip where breakfast is mandatory at seven o'clock and breaks are rare.

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Conclusion of the day

The highlight of the day was not one big event, but a sum of many small moments of heartfelt laughter.

The encounters, the togetherness, the ease – enhanced by the pleasant connection to Eric and Chris.

A day characterized less by extremes and more by familiarity, warmth, and inspiring thoughts that may even have a lasting impact on business.

Good night from Christchurch. Tomorrow the next chapter begins.