Auckland secondment story

My arrival into the land of the long white cloud (as New Zealand is also known) coincided with the frenzied atmosphere of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Consequently, my first six weeks at Bell Gully were filled with witty remarks at the woeful state of English rugby. This office camaraderie has continued apace, which has made settling into the relaxed, gregarious culture very easy.

I have had the opportunity to be involved in some unique and extremely high-profile corporate transactions. The highlight so far has been an innovative (and challenging!) asset sale of a major New Zealand company, which I was fortunate enough to work on from the early diligence stage through to signing and completion. The experience of working as part of a small, close-knit corporate team has been invaluable: the level of responsibility and transaction management has been significant, as has the amount of interaction with clients.

New Zealand is a breathtakingly beautiful country and the perfect place to explore the outdoors. So far, I have trekked the Tongariro Crossing (one of the best day walks in the world), spotted dolphins while island-hopping in the Bay of Islands, sand-boarded down the dramatic dunes of Ninety Mile beach and splashed around in the hot thermal baths at Rotorua. More recently, I have discovered an obsessive passion for surfing and have spent countless hours on the rugged west coast beaches catching some waves.

As the festive period approaches, the already fervent enthusiasm for Friday night drinks at the firm’s free bar has reached unprecedented heights and so too have the invitations to cocktail parties and Christmas lunches across the city. I will be travelling to the South Island for Christmas to embark on a three-day kayak tour of the stunning Abel Tasman National Park before heading to Queenstown for a heart-thudding skydive and white water rafting adventure. A hike to Franz Josef glacier and cruise along the dramatic Milford Sound should see me well rested before celebrating the New Year by the harbour in Sydney.

I will be sorry to leave Auckland; I have made some great friends and revelled in such a unique working and social environment.

• Ross Davies
• Trainee secondment