As the Gathering approached YouTubers from around New Zealand made the trek to Auckland for the second ever meet up. Tubers flew up from around the country, and some even drove to pick others up, with Patrick (Patrickblog) giving Corey (storycorey) a ride, and Lewis (lewisbostock), Tenani (nanisnap) and Dannie (ThatEnglishGirl111) made a 6 hour trip to Kerikeri to pick up Levi (corporalcadet).
Dannie travels to Kerikeri to collect her boyfriend.
Gathering morning:
As the initial awkwardness faded away, the group began introductions and meeting new YouTubers. Anna (aaannarose) started her scavenger hunt game to try and break the ice. The clues led players to a YouTuber, who then gave them the next clue in the game. YTers were wondering where Juno (junoluvsu), Kate (kbellebee) and Simon (pommypictures) were, when someone saw them peeking out from around the corner. Tenani went running over to see a hyperventilating Juno and encouraged them all to come meet the group. Rache (wizardneedsfoodbadly) arrived late and Juno went running up to say the password and claim her prize.
YouTubers share a picture.
Juno attempts to each M&Ms with fangs on.
After an hour or so of chatting and mingling, the group started to wonder where Damien (DamienEstreich), the community manager of YouTube AU/NZ was, as well as Juan (JuanMann) aka Free Hugs Guy. They were supposed to arrive at 10AM when the Gathering started like everyone else, but instead didn’t show up. The Tubers gave them two hours, and at 12pm left Britomart for the covered foodcourt of SkyCity Metro. Rumours were flying about the reasons for the no show by Damien and Juan, with the common thought to be that they were deported from New Zealand because they wrote ‘YouTube’ as their occupation on their immigration cards and passport control thought they were taking the piss.
The ever expanding club of English-New Zealand YouTubers.
James (TehDancingKiwi) schools the others on how to boogie.
On the way to SkyCity, the Tubers encountered an anti-Scientology group on a street corner, with signs which read such things as “WE’RE FROM THE INTERNET” and “SCIENTOLOGY IS A CULT” Apparently Corey managed to get the number of one of the girls in the group, and so will be staying with her in Auckland for a few more days. A few of the YouTubers also told the protesters that they were actually from the internet and so took the pictures below…
Self explanitory.
Levi, Tenani and James form a cult.
After a few adventures along Queen St and a random tour by Tenani of the history of the place, the YouTubers found themselves in the SkyCity Metro complex. The group split in two and half of them went to get food while the other half played in the rocket shaped elevator. After packing out the elevator to dangerous levels, and numerous attempts by Tenani to actually make the elevator work, the group were off, shooting towards the ceiling while watching the other group with their food.
The fangs really came out at the Gathering.
James poses for the cameras.
Once the YouTubers regrouped they ordered food where many were suprised to see Levi actually eating. The kid is a stick, it was such a shock! Soon it was time for a few of the YTers to go and check into their hotels. While they were away, the group moved downstairs to Borders where they hid from eachother and had book readings. Security asked them to leave. Boo.
Kate found a book for the occasion.
The chain-spoon went down a treat.
After leaving Borders and meeting up with the kids who went to check into their hotel, the group posed for some pictures outside the store, and then moved on to Aotea Square, where they again posted for photos, filmed some collaborative ideas, and mingled some more. Then the group played YouTube’s Got Talent and tried to do things ranging from rapping to dancing, but failed miserably and proved once and for all that YouTube does not in fact Have Talent. It was at this point that Simon and Juno misteriously dissappeared into Starbucks for a few minutes, only to return with Simon slightly distracted. He then proceeded to jump directly into a concrete bench, as witnessed by all. What did they possibly do in their absence from the group? Surely they weren’t buying coffee?
The boys pose on the steps.
Happily married.
It was suggested that the group commit some acts of flash mobbiness and decided to infilrate a small convenience store near the square. The small store, about 2m x 3m was slowly but surely packed with about 20 people, all while the woman behind the counter looked bewildered and asked some people to open the other door so people could get out. She had no idea what was going on.
Mini Nerdfighters convention.
Vlogbytes cast together at last.
The next great plan was another act of randomness. This time the plan was to freeze in the middle of crossing the road in a big group. The group split up and went on different sides of the roads, and then froze in the middle of a crossing. The first attempt wasn’t very good, but on the second go, cars started honking their horns and other pedestrians looked very confused. Check out this video by Jessums31 for the crossing freeze footage:
The TDL saga, live in the flesh. Here Levi tries to rape Tenani.
The original FiveAwesomeKiwis.
Once again at Britomart the group decided to go to check out front for the elusive Damien and Juan. They found Damien in the foreign exchange desk and surrounded him. He didn’t look very suprised to see them and led them outside to where Juan was waiting, explaining that they had been running on Australia time and that’s why they were late. The afternoon was filled with Free Hugs Related fun and even some chain spooning. Passersby were mostly positive and accepted offers for free hugs and didn’t look too shocked to see a line of mostly boys spooning on the side of the road.
As the afternoon wore on the group decided that it was again time for food and went inside the nearby Westfield mall to grab a bite to eat. Here they pulled together a bunch of tables and sat around it, playing chinese whispers, which all ended up dirty (shows what’s on the minds of YouTubers).
Stragglers.
End of day photo.
After the food and chinese whispers it was time for the group to split up and head home, the Gathering was over. But that was not where the gossip ends, NZYTGossip got the scoop on the afterparty of Tenani, Dannie, Levi, Anna, Lewis, James, Jess and Corey, with Juno, Simon, Kate, Rache and Juan and Damien there as well.
LATER THAT NIGHT…
YouTubers Levi and James could not go one day without checking their online accounts.
During the first part of the night, it was a time to get honest, and it was Juno’s time to shine. Not one, not two but THREE YouTubers professed their love for Juno. James, Tenani and Corey all proclaimed their attraction to her, making things more difficult to figure out for her, as she had been considering divorcing Tenani for a while now. With the choice of two potential lovers, her decision had gotten a lot more difficult.
Levi and Damien talk YouTube after the Gathering.
While Juno, Simon and Kate had to leave early, the rest of the gang proceeded to get heavily intoxicated and attempt to crack my identity. In their drunk state they interrogated eachother to see what information about me everyone knew and then tried to work out from that who I was. After many many discussions and a day spent with lots of NZ YouTubers they still hadn’t figured it out. *ahem* fail.
Juan shares stories with Anna and Jess about Oprah.
While dancing around the room to Womanizer, James threw his leg straight up in front of Tenani, who got a full on view of what James was packing, much to his disgust. This caused Tenani to lose his dinner and promtly throw up out the window and onto a group of Levi worshippers camped outside.
Dannie and Damien get close.
Meanwhile Dannie attempted to get close to Levi, only for him to shun her for the attention of Damien, who obviously has the power to make or break his YouTube career. To deal with this Dannie turned to drinking, and ended up running off with Tenani in the hallway for an hour, no one quite knows what happened while they were away, but rumour has it Levi wouldn’t like it if he found out.
Lewis and Rache snuggle up.
Wine and shots got the best of Anna, who ended up thinking it would be a good idea to lick the YouTubers present, and proceeded to lick her way around the room. Dry humping also became a favourite way to pass the time for her, and she even dry humped Tenani, Lewis and Jess in the elevator of the hotel, quite brutally, I hear.
2.33am and Levi and Patrick fall asleep together. Lovers or friends?
Levi seems to be working his way around YouTube quickly huh? Is he now onto Patrick? The two were spotted sleeping together in the early hours of the morning.
Check out the video below of Tenani recieving a very awkward massage from Patrick, who also seemed to be working his way around the group (maybe he and Levi are perfect for eachother afterall):
With the Gathering barely behind us, Tubers are already talking about the next one.
That’s all from this epic Gathering update, hope you all had a blast.
What did you think of the gathering? Did you go?
What was the most suprising thing you found about another YouTuber?
In real life, who was the most like and who as the least like their YouTube persona?
Regular gossip to resume soon.
xox GG
