We are the Gill family from Mapleton, Utah. Rick and Sharman have four children: Coulter (16), Martha (14), Eliza (9), and Sophie (9).  Rick is a professor of biology at Brigham Young University and this trip to New Zealand is his first sabbatical leave. He is funded by BYU Department of Biology, the College of Life Sciences, Kennedy Center, University of Otago, and the Hellaby Trust. This is a family account of our 7-month adventures at 45º south.