NEW ZEALAND-SCOTTISH LINKS     

The first acknowledged Scots to set foot in New Zealand were crew on the explorer James Cook's ship Endeavour in 1769. Over the next 200 years, they were followed by thousands more, setting out for a new land on the other side of the world and looking for a better life.

These migrants took with them their trades, skills, ideas and beliefs. They set up and maintained communities strongly Scottish in character, and eventually settled right across the country. Just like all migrants, they were a bit of a mixed bunch. But certain racial characteristics and values - a sense of personal and social responsibility, and a belief in education & equal opportunity for all - typified them, and bound them together.

Armed with these virtues, the Scots set about establishing in their new country the educational and scientific institutions that they had valued in Scotland. They used their talents, skills and acumen to establish sound businesses, and establish themselves as an integral part of the local communitries. And they mingled and intermarried with the native New Zealanders.

It's hard nowadays to imagine New Zealand without the Scots Heritage. It has Highland Games, Scottish pipe bands and fiddle & accordian music, Highland and Scottish Country Dancing, Burns Suppers to celebrate our national bard, Societies for the promotion of Scots Literature, and an affinity with Scotland that is seldom equalled elsewhere.

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Why not have YOUR website linked to the world - we'll give any Scottish-orientated website a link; all we ask is that you reciprocate by putting a link to our site on your site. Click on this LINK to take you to the Links Form page.

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Clan Fergus(s)on New Zealand Incorporated

Hi from Clan Ferguson NZ. Please look at our web site for our events and photographs. I am Ian Ferguson, president. We will be represented at the Gathering - 2009 by our secretary Allan and possibly some other members, we would all love to go but many can not because of the distance or other reasons.

Because we are so near to the west of the international date line we believe that we were the first Clan Society to celebrate the 250th birthday of Robbie Burns .
The photos are on the website. If anyone thinks that they beat us let us know.
 Hope to hear from someone, if you have trouble contacting our site leave me a message.
Ian Ferguson 

Visit our site at     http://www.clannfhearghuis.com  

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ROYAL SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE SOCIETY  

NEW ZEALAND BRANCH INCORPORATED    

 

Welcome to the RSCDS We are dedicated to dancing and teaching Scottish Country Dancing. Come and join in!  

You don't have to be a Scot to find your foot tapping to the irresistible rhythms of our stirring reels and haunting strathspeys. We have been dancing and developing the country dances of Scotland for over 80 years, and we'd love to welcome you to a social dance or a class.

Do you want to learn? Your local branch will have a teacher ready to help you. There are many classes, at all levels, and a great variety of social dances. There are also workshops and day schools as well as the Society's own Schools - Summer School in St Andrews, Winter School in Pitlochry, and Spring Fling for under-35s.

Just click on the address to visit our website at www.rscdsnzb.org.nz

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