Departure

On July 25, 2024, we finally set off in the morning – directly from the preparatory seminar. After saying goodbye to my boyfriend, my parents and sisters picked me up from Witzenhausen and took me to the airport. After a tearful farewell, I traveled with six other volunteers first six hours to Doha/Qatar, and from there, after a four-hour stopover, 16 hours to Auckland. By sleeping, eating, and lots of distraction, the long flight was not as bad as I had thought.

And then, finally, we stood on New Zealand soil for the first time. However, the joy was initially overshadowed by fatigue and fear of customs control. New Zealand has some of the strictest import regulations in the world – especially for plant and animal products. Even an undeclared apple forgotten in carry-on luggage can lead to a substantial fine. With these regulations, New Zealand aims to ensure that the unique flora and fauna of the country is protected.

Fortunately, our fears were completely unfounded. After we had filled out a declaration form for our items while still on the plane, we went through several checkpoints upon arrival at the airport. We had to declare which animal and plant products, medications, and used sports and outdoor gear we were bringing with us. After our hiking boots were inspected for cleanliness and all our luggage was X-rayed and deemed satisfactory, we finally made it. As a reward, we had donuts for