Over 32 years ago, I was sent from my job as a GE plant manager, to the Fisher and Paykel appliance company in New Zealand to resolve a quality

problem. In the week I was there, I began some friendships that would last the rest of my life. John Bongard and John Wardrop (aka Herbie and Winthrop) and their wives have become four of our favorite people in the world – and New Zealand a favorite country.
This time, we brought the NZ gang along with us. We took the train from Auckland to Wellington, then joined the ship for the sail around the North Island. The train goes through the heart of the Island and has an open car with no windows that allows you to photograph. You don’t want to stick your head out when entering a tunnel for sure!

We played a lot of golf (spectacular), visited some great vineyards, and had some fun sailing in a race with friends in Auckland harbor. Mostly we ate, drank and laughed for ten days (see quick “funniest home video” clip below).

I’ve been to NZ seven times and I love it more each trip. If you haven’t been, you must.