friendship force

Kapiti Coast

Walking Near the Hokio Stream
Mini Train Ride
Hokio Stream Inlet
Window to Waitarere Beach
Otaihanga Morning
Neuseeland
On The Beach at Waitarere
Kapiti Island
Conference 2012
Kapiti from Pekapeka
Kiwi Logo
‘A World of Friends is a World of Peace’

Welcome! Kia Ora! ¡Bienvenido! Сардэчна запрашаем!  ようこそ!

Bienvenue! Herzlich Willkommen! Bem-vindo!

 

Welcome to the website of the Friendship Force of Kapiti Coast. We hope that this site will both answer some questions for you, and whet your appetite to find out more. Search through the pages, follow the links that seem enticing, and check out our albums of photos showing some of our experiences.

If you are a club member you will find lots of information on this site about Club activities, upcoming journeys and other items of interest. If you are a visitor to this site then you will find information about what the Friendship Force is all about and whether it is for you.

Who are we?

We are a group of local people who share a common interest in meeting and sharing cultural experiences with people from around the globe. We also enjoy sharing our experiences with others in our group. Friendship Force enables us to confidently travel (as ambassadors) to places all around the world, including where language may be a problem, or where there may be some safety and security concerns in that country.

It also enables us to host guests from other places who want to meet us and get acquainted with our life and region. New members are welcome - come and join our group! If you have more specific questions, please contact us through the contact page of our website.

What is the Friendship Force?

The Friendship Force is an international, non-political, non-sectarian and non-profit organisation. The sole aim of the Friendship Force is to foster peace and understanding throughout the world by means of personal contacts and shared experiences achieved through a programme of home hosting. The Friendship Force was founded in the USA in 1977 by Wayne Smith under the auspices of President Jimmy Carter and is coordinated from the international headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. There are over 350 clubs in 58 countries throughout the world. The Friendship Force is not a travel club although the core activity is travelling in groups, to stay with like-minded people in other countries (a cultural exchange). The first priority is to develop friendships and through this to generate understanding across cultural boundaries.

Formed in 1987, the Kapiti Coast Friendship Force is one of several clubs located in the lower half of the North Island. We welcome two international journeys every year and also participate in local journeys. Our outward journey programme is based, where possible, on either a two or three-phase journey. Our members may also join other clubs' journeys. We have 54 members (many retired and semi-retired).

For more information about the Friendship Force, go to www.friendshipforce.org.

To watch a short video about the Friendship Force, go to https://player.vimeo.com/video/194675995?

The Friendship Force of Kapiti Coast

  • Official Name: The Friendship Force of Kapiti Coast Inc.
  • Club Membership: 46
  • Number of Ambassadors our club can host: 15
  • Membership Subscriptions: $40 per member per year
  • Closest major airport: Wellington
  • Transport to Kapiti Coast: Air New Zealand (www.airnewzealand.co.nz) and Jetstar Airways (www.jetstar.com/nz) operate frequent flights from the major centres of both islands to Wellington. A shuttle service between Wellington Airport or the ferry terminals to Kapiti Coast  can be arranged. There is a small airfield in Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast and Air Chathams (www.airchathams.co.nz) operates daily flights between Paraparaumu and Auckland. A local airline, Sounds Air (www.soundsair.com) operates limited-capacity flights to Paraparaumu from Blenheim (Marlborough) and Nelson in the South Island. Ferry services across Cook Strait are operated by Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry (www.bluebridge.co.nz) and the Interislander (www.interislander.co.nz) between Picton (Marlborough) and Wellington.

 

THE FRIENDSHIP FORCE PLEDGE

As a member of the Friendship Force I recognise that I can make a difference.
I recognise that I have a mission.
That mission is to be a friend to the people of the world.
As I embark on this adventure I know that others will be watching me.
I know that through my example to my fellow citizens and people of other countries,
the cause of peace and friendship can be furthered.
I can make a difference.