There is a unique form of tourism that is being offered to young New Zealanders where the students come to Samoa and learn about how life is in Samoa.

This has been headed by Edventure Tours based in Waikato. They work with school groups for educational trips in the Pacific region and countries around the world, from New Zealand to the rest of the world.

They have successfully operated for 20 years and have frequently brought schools into Samoa to learn about the Fa'asamoa way of life by taking them in to local communities, villages and take part in activities such as visiting Lalomanu, explaining the tsunami, their recovery, and journey on a ferry to Savaii which is a favorite place for them.

It is usually seven nights with the students and the teachers, receiving the proper Samoan experience with nights in Samoan fales.

Lisa Dovey is a teacher from Halswell School from Christchurch is in Samoa under the Edventure Travel Education Programme with about 30 of her students and is so far, blown away by the experience.

“We bring them because it’s such a real experience for the kids, something that they haven’t seen so we come over to the island and like to give back as well,” she said.

“We like to go and visit schools and we look to do a bit more service every time we come here. This is just a real education for them and it’s just amazing.” 

David and his wife Ashley Hamilton both run the business. They have been sending school groups to Samoa and other Pacific Islands for over two decades now after seeing the need for children and students in New Zealand to experience other cultures.

“Samoa is one of our most popular destinations. We have sent 52 groups out of New Zealand this year and 10 of them were sent here to Samoa. Each group ranges from 30 to 40 people and so we have brought about 300 to 400 hundred students in to Samoa,” said Mr. Hamilton.

“Our groups of students spent three nights here in Apia and three nights in Savaii before coming back here for one more night and then back to home and so far they love it.”

The schools tend to choose when they want to come with most of them choosing Samoa as their destination. Their choice is based on what their students want and if it aligns with their goals of the trip.

“Samoa is like a second home to us and we try to get up here as much as we can and we just love it. It is an amazing place and a great place for our kids to experience something which they don’t get back home,” said Mr. Hamilton.