An English mother and daughter will be seeing a little more of New Zealand than they had anticipated after being told their flight home is unlikely to depart until at least next Tuesday.
The pair have taken up a Napier bed and breakfast operator's offer of free accommodation until then, so
were today on their way, by coach, to see a part of the country they hadn't originally planned on visiting.
Ruth Buss, who runs The Green House on the Hill, decided to offer a room after hearing about the plight of tourists stranded by the volcanic ash disruption across Europe. She said the pair were booked on a Royal Brunei flight which was unlikely to leave until Tuesday.
The offer was posted on the internet site Facebook yesterday morning and the mother made contact a short time later.
Mrs Buss moved to New Zealand from the UK 17 years ago, and felt for people who had suddenly found themselves unable to return home.
"I wanted to do something to help," she said.
She hopes to organise a tour, a meal out and other activities for the pair, who are arriving tonight, while they are in Hawke's Bay.
"I want to show them some Kiwi hospitality."
She said the mother had been to the Bay before but it would be the first time for her daughter.
At least two other Hawke's Bay people had also posted invitations for stranded travellers.
