Aotearoa Riding Pirates, motorbike riders with a mission [1]
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 - 10:36. Updated on Thursday, July 30, 2015 - 15:26.
The Aotearoa Riding Pirates - a group of Harley-Davidson motorbike riders from Auckland, New Zealand, is cruising through the streets of Nuku'alofa this week, visiting 15 primary schools to donate school supplies.
The 11 riders are in Tonga with their eight precious Harley Davidson's on a 10 days goodwill adventure. The sight of the motorcycles in the capital this afternoon surprised everyone on the road.
At a special meeting with Tonga's Minister of Education Hon. Tevita Palefau today, group member Melinda Seal explained the goodwill misson to donate primary school supplies.
"The school children we have met and visited so far were just fascinated with the motorbikes and we even took pictures of them sitting on it," she said
"We have visited six schools so far with nine to go before we head back to New Zealand on Monday, February 16."
Melinda said they came to Tonga after completing a number of fundraising runs in New Zealand last year.
The Aotearoa Riding Pirates include individuals from different backgrounds such as real estate agents, farmers and marketing professionals who in the past two years came together to share their passion for riding Harley Davidson's and adventures.
The crew flew over from New Zealand on Saturday while their Harley's and school materials arrived in a container in the care of Reef Shipping.