On holiday with the average NZ family: Teenager hates family holiday

HUMOUR - By GRAHAM REID


Fourteen-year-old Howick schoolgirl Amber Riley-Thompson said yesterday that this year's family holiday at Kakamoana Beach in the Far North was going to be the worst ever.

"I mean, like, it's just going to be stink," said Riley-Thompson, whose family arrived at the beach's picturesque camping ground yesterday afternoon for a week-long holiday.

Riley-Thompson wasted little time telling others in the camp how bad she thought the week would be, according to other holidaymakers.

"They'd barely pulled in when she was over here saying what a useless place this was," said neighbouring caravanner, Dave Raymond, also of Howick.

"She seems a nice enough wee thing, but a little sour. She perked up when she saw our dog, but when her mother called her to help unpack she became very sullen. That's when she yelled out to everyone that this holiday was going to be 'the most stink ever' and that she wished she'd stayed at home or gone to Whangamata with her boyfriend's family."

Riley-Thompson's parents were reluctant to be interviewed as to whether they thought their holiday would be spoiled by their daughter's attitude, but later Mrs Raylene Riley-Thompson offered that Amber had been "a right little madam all year so this outburst was no real surprise".