ROTOROA, NEW ZEALAND — Our recent journey over here in New Zealand was more than a family visit—it was a heartwarming immersion into a land where nature, culture, and modern living exist in perfect harmony. My wife Yolly, daughter Clare Therese, and I embarked on this meaningful trip to reconnect with our sons Dean Nikon and Bill Franz, and to spend Holy Week together as a family.
Auckland: City of Faith, Future
We began our stay in Auckland, welcomed warmly by our son Dean, a Peri-Anaesthesia Clinical Nurse Specialist at Southern Cross Hospital. Holy Week was made extra special with our participation in the liturgical celebrations at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, culminating in a spiritually enriching Easter Sunday with our brothers and sisters from the Couples for Christ community.
A unique highlight was attending the Latin Mass of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter at St. Paul’s College Chapel—a beautiful and solemn experience that brought the rich traditions of the Catholic Church to life.
Auckland, with its vibrant cultural energy and economic dynamism, is New Zealand’s largest and wealthiest city, home to over 1.5 million residents. Yet, amid its urban buzz, it manages to maintain an atmosphere of peace and order. From its sleek digital infrastructure to spotless streets and law-abiding citizens, the city is a modern marvel where nearly all transactions—from shopping to fuel refills—are done without cash or staff assistance.
Self-service is a way of life here: no attendants at gas stations, no bellhops at hotels, no maids at home. Even laundromats and grocery stores are fully automated. The expectation is simple—self-reliance and respect for rules.
Traffic discipline is near sacred. Despite the absence of visible enforcers or police presence, residents unfailingly follow speed limits, wear seatbelts, and adhere to vehicle capacity laws. Everything from vehicle registration to road tax renewal is done online—swiftly and efficiently.
Rotorua: Where nature breathes culture speaks
After Easter, we journeyed to Rotorua, New Zealand’s geothermal heartland and cultural gem, to visit our son Bill Franz, his wife Dianne, and their charming daughter—our only “apo”, Elise Magnificat. Dianne, meanwhile, is pursuing his Master’s in Early Childhood Education at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.
Rotorua is a place where the earth comes alive. Home to Pōhutu Geyser, bubbling mud pools, and living Māori villages, it offers a stunning blend of natural wonder and indigenous culture. The New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute further enriches the area, showcasing centuries-old traditions of wood carving and weaving.
With a land area of 2,615 km² and a district population of about 77,800, Rotorua remains a quaint and welcoming community. One of the fascinating perks? Households enjoy free water all day.
Like Auckland, Rotorua is built on principles of cleanliness, sustainability, and digital efficiency. Garbage collection is mechanized, handled by robotic equipment operated by a single worker. The city is orderly, quiet, and strikingly environment- and child-friendly.
Order, Culture, Community
Across both cities, one striking observation was the multicultural makeup of the population. Catholic migrants, who make up more than half of churchgoers, play a vital role in keeping parishes vibrant. Churches are well-organized, with ushers ensuring everyone has a seat and that no one is left standing.
In New Zealand, child welfare laws are stringent—leaving children under 14 unsupervised is illegal and heavily fined, underlining the country’s deep respect for family responsibility and child safety.
This journey, though brief, offered us a window into a society rooted in discipline, digital transformation, and strong communal values. Whether walking through the geothermal wonders of Rotorua or navigating the digital ease of Auckland, what stood out most was the quiet dignity with which people live—respecting nature, one another, and the rules that bind society together.
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Author’s email: wea_129@yahoo.com
