"I have been corresponding with Helene Hatif, the French teacher at their school, since December last year and they arrived in New Zealand on October 23."
Mrs Coleman said about 20 schools had set up partnerships, and Nga Tawa and Jules Ferry had been the first to arrange a visit.
"We have formed friendships we are promising will last a lifetime," she said.
"I hope to go to Conty next October, and have also been invited to attend the celebrations in the Somme in May 2016, along with our principal Carmel Spencer and Rangitikei Mayor Andy Watson. On Monday, we visited the Durie Hill tower, which the children thought was quite a unique war memorial.
"They all climbed to the top and loved the view of the city, and they all took the time to read the plaques at the base of the tower as well.
"After that, we were hosted by Year 13 Maori students at Wanganui High School, and the French visitors learned to use poi and do the haka and hongi."
The 17 French students and their four adult supervisors were accommodated at Nga Tawa school and family homes in Marton.
"The girls slept in the dormitory with Nga Tawa Year 10 girls and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and the adults shared a senior cottage on site.
"The seven boys were hosted in two local homes and all were in homestays the previous weekend because school was closed."
Mrs Coleman said the highlight was the final weekend, when visitors and hosts attended the Hunterville Shemozzle and then headed to Taupo.
"We went to Whakarewarewa and the Polynesian Spa in Rotorua, and then had the time of our lives on the Huka jetboat.
"The group left Nga Tawa in floods of tears on Tuesday morning, after an unforgettable and very moving trip."