Ambassador back in the classroom

It's not an obvious career choice but Year 10 students at Rotorua Girls' High School yesterday had an insight into what being an ambassador entails.

US Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, David Huebner, visited a social studies class.

Mr Huebner was in Rotorua for the weekend, visiting national kapa haka festival Te Matatini. As part of his work as ambassador he visits a different school every fortnight to engage with youth.

"I've already taught classes at 72 schools as Ambassador," Mr Huebner told The Daily Post.

"I like going to schools that have special programmes or that focus on addressing challenges. I'm a big fan of what I've heard about Rotorua Girls' High School and how it deals with Maori students and the programme for young mothers."

He was welcomed with a powhiri and told the small gathering how he had enjoyed Te Matatini.

"The girls did wonderful. It was a particular honour to have a powhiri with a couple of people from the Matatini competition."

He said his school visits followed the same format.

"I present for half of the class and the other half is questions. I usually let them choose what topic to talk about," Mr Huebner said.

"Revolutions is on the curriculum so I've taught the American Revolution, I've taught about governments, current events."

He said he taught a physics class once which "was fun".

"It's an opportunity for them to meet someone in a job they might not have thought about before," he said.

"I've been Ambassador for three years. Every week there's a new surprise."

His visit to Rotorua also included taking in the Rotorua Museum and an overnight stay at a bach on the shores of Lake Rotoiti, where he discovered seven of the Bay of Plenty wallaby population.