NZ Adventures

One of our core values is 'Connect'—and as our name suggests, it truly speaks for itself! Fostering a connected team is essential to delivering exceptional service to our clients. We were thrilled to host our team from the Philippines in February. Providing them with an understanding of our lifestyle and culture is crucial for building stronger relationships with our clients. Of course, we also made sure they had plenty of time to explore not only our capital city but also other ends of Aoteroa as well. They share their experiences below:  

Cassie - "Zealandia came out to be a favorite of mine"

As an introvert who finds comfort staying at home, I was surprised to discover how outgoing I can be when I'm at the right place with the most amazing people. It was such a delight to finally catch up with the team in person and work with them IN WELLINGTON! I had a lot of fun trying new food with the team and exploring the city until my legs gave up. It was a very cozy place for me and I found myself completely enamored with Wellington - boasting a combination of beautiful waterfront, enchanting green landscapes, and bustling city streets that our one week stay was definitely not enough to see every inch of it. Out of all the tourist spots that we went to, Zealandia came out to be a favorite of mine - everything about it was very pleasing both to the eyes and ears.

For our second week in NZ, I must say that Queenstown and Auckland both live up to their reputation. The scenery in Queenstown is breathtaking - it felt like I was surrounded by a green screen because of how beautiful it is. The gondola and luge rides are a must for all ages to try! On the other hand, I was able to get some sun in Mission Bay in Auckland, do lots of shopping, and visit the Auckland zoo. It was interesting to see how multicultural the city is as well.

This trip was one of the best I had, not only because of NZ's beautiful landmarks, but also because of its people - I find the Kiwi people to be one of the most welcoming and nicest people I've met, and they made our stay in NZ memorable.

Kim - "I kind of feel homesick already"

Coming to New Zealand is a dream I did not even dare to have, yet it came true—kudos to the CONNACC team for making it happen. I've only heard about its exquisite beauty, so being able to see and experience it firsthand felt surreal. It was summer when we came, yet we were greeted by the cold breeze and strong winds. Indeed, Wellington is living up to its name of being the windiest city in the world. While most locals were wearing sleeveless clothing, we were wrapped in our jackets. We loved it though! I liked how almost everything was accessible by walking. Perhaps the reason why Kiwis are tall is because they walk a lot? Just kidding!

Wellington now holds a special place in my heart— the food was superb (Burger Liquor is def a must try), the people were the kindest (loved their smiles!) and most especially, it is home to the best team I could ever ask for—Connected Accountants. After only seeing each other on screen, being able to work with them in the office and connect in person had been such a pleasure (plus there were lots of great coffees daily!).

With the brief time that we had in Wellington, we were able to ride the old but well-maintained Wellington Cable Car, visit Xero HQ, try out Weta Workshop, and explore Te Papa Museum and Zealandia which have all been exceptional. One thing I made sure to take home aside from a few fridge magnets and renowned Whittakers chocolates was the legendary Kiwi dip — so easy to make and so yum! I didn't think it'd be possible, but despite our short stay, I kind of feel homesick already. Until next time!

Darren - "the kindest and most helpful people I’ve ever met"

I have loved traveling for leisure since I was a teen. Going to different places always excites me and I still remember the time when I first knew that I would be going to New Zealand, it felt like I’m in cloud nine! 

Fast forward to the D-day, I am finally in Wellington. It was a long flight but did not feel tired at all! Meeting the whole ConnAcc team personally in the office was amazing! Never thought that I would see this in person, specially the board room where we always have our virtual team meeting.

From Wellington to Queenstown to Auckland, all are wonderful places but I may say that Wellington is a really great place! With all their good coffees, big servings of food, loved how work-life balance is observed and to the kindest and most helpful people I’ve ever met, the Kiwis! On the other hand, Queenstown was a tourism destination full of adventures and really awesome views. Auckland was so full of diverse cultures and loved how beaches are nearby.

This trip doubled my love for travel. Going out of my comfort zone and going without my normal bubble (my family). For twenty-one days I experienced most of New Zealand’s favorite places and it’s been a lifelong dream for me to visit. I will surely treasure all the great moments I had here. Grateful to the whole Connected Accountants team for making this possible!

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