Migrants discover art of trout fishing

LURE: Rotorua newcomer Monica Li enjoys a day fishing in Ngongotaha. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 080913BF23

Rotorua newcomer Monica Li has taken her family on their first fishing adventure since moving to New Zealand.

Eight immigrants took part in the U&I Learn Trout Fishing event in Ngongotaha yesterday, which was organised by the Rotorua Multicultural Council and Volunteer New Zealand.

Mrs Li and her son Andrew Li, 12, were taught how to catch, gut and smoke a fish yesterday, while husband Yongjun Li supported the pair.

"This is my first time fishing in New Zealand," she said. "It is the first time fishing for my son Andrew as well, and the first time we have caught a fish."

The adults did their fishing at the Ngongotaha Stream yesterday, while the children went to the Ngongotaha Trout Hatchery on Paradise Valley Rd.

Mrs Li said she decided to come along to the event after attending previous events with the Rotorua Multicultural Council and Rotorua Newcomers Network.

Her family has been in Rotorua for about six months.

Local anglers showed the keen migrants how to set up the fishing equipment, where and how to fish and then showed the group how to gut and smoke the trout.

Local fisherman, Simon Kirner, also donated a trout for the group to gut and smoke for lunch yesterday.

Rotorua Multicultural Council president Alexis LewGor said the event was one of a number the multicultural council put on for migrants in the city each month.

She said migrants with Chinese, South African and Indian backgrounds attended the event yesterday. The next event put on by the Rotorua Multicultural Council will be the Food, Forest and Pizza day on Saturday at Hannahs Bay.