I'm embarrassed sometimes by the attitude some Australians have to our neighbours, New Zealand. Frankly, I'm a bit of a fan of the kiwis. They've given the world plenty, but for mine, their finest contribution has to be the Finn brothers...

One of the more mundane challenges of global learning, as I'm quickly discovering, is the lack of coordination in holidays between the northern and southern hemispheres. With most of the Writers' Clubs' schools located on the other side of the equator, they're now frolicking in the warmth for three months, while we here in the south hunker down for a winter of mid-year reports and a brief mid-year break before the "premiership" term, term three.

I was suddenly aghast. What will happen to our Writers' Club without some of our star performers? Will it go into hibernation, awaiting the spring and a new influx of students?

Fortunately, New Zealand has come to the rescue. Our group of Australian schools can now do some trans-Tasman sharing of writing before the tidal wave of northern hemisphere of schools comes online to join us. Pinehill School in Auckland have already signed up, and have taken to the community like a duck to water. Welcome!

You can check out their writers here. In the meantime, check out some more of the fantastic Finns...