Vulnerable children travelling to New Zealand for a holiday of a lifetime will experience ancient Maori traditions first hand when they stay with the Ngati-Toa tribe.

The children from Wiltshire will not only visit the tribe, they will be staying with them in their settlement in Hongoeka Bay, Wellington.

Chippenham charity Kandu Arts aims to take 12 children in care on the spiritual adventure this Easter.

Actor Jerome Flynn, who is patron of the project, will be meeting the group on New Zealand's South Island.

The children will be taken to the tribe of Karen Grove, a Maori who emigrated to Britain and set up Collectors Corner in the Causeway, Chippenham.

Mrs Groves said there was something special about her culture, which affected anyone who came into contact with it.

"It is a very spiritual culture and I think the children will come away with a spiritual awareness. It is something very special that even New Zealanders don't see as they are not directly involved in it.

"I think the children will come away with a richness. It is hard to explain but you know when you are there. It had a huge impact on Jerome and made him more aware of himself and other people," she said.

The children and their carers will be staying in a traditional Maori building called a marae. This is a meeting house consisting of one large open room.

To stay at the marae Kandu boss Ed Deedigan will have to perform the welcoming ritual with the Maori hosts.

Kandu needs to raise £35,000 for the trip and has already hosted fundraising events including the Tommy Cooper gala night in the Neeld Hall, starring Mr Flynn. Mrs Groves aims to hold a fundraising event for the trip, featuring performances of Maori dances by the children.