A group of overseas visitors were blown away by the welcome they received at Farm Cove Intermediate last term.

Young Pacific Islanders Jordan Ma, Heiura Itaetetaa, Rose George and Steffany Godinet have come to New Zealand as part of a Rotary scheme for personal and professional development.

The four young people were welcomed with a powhiri at Farm Cove Intermediate and treated to performances from the kapa haka group and the ukulele group.

"We bring them over for a few weeks and show them the cultural side of New Zealand," Howick Rotary Club member Bill Charkow says. "We show them the city and we find them a position with companies in Auckland which is in their field and they get experience.

"They also do some intensive leadership training with the New Zealand Army."

All four visitors applied for the scheme through their local Rotary clubs.

"We had to apply through our clubs," Steffany Godinet from American Samoa says.

"Some of us are members and some of us heard about it through members we know. We're all excited to be here."

The group was placed in finance, construction, journalism and with the New Zealand Companies Office to gain work experience.

"This is everyone's first visit to New Zealand," Cook Islander Rose George says. "It's definitely a lot colder than home. I don't think any of us have been this cold before."

Visit howickrotary.org.nz for more information on Rotary and their programmes.

- © Fairfax NZ News