Embarkation in Sydney with Anne, my high school friend

Anne and I were at sea. From February 1 to 12th, and the cruise ship kindly provided us with digital detox, being unwilling to pay the exhorbitant fees to be connected to the internet. We did have shore time, i.e we could squeeze in some connectivity addiction but not long enough to write a blog.

Auckland was our third stop on our cruise around the North Island of New Zealand, and although we had not booked a shore excursion, we found a hop on, hop off bus.  I suggested we go to the end of the tour and work our way back.  Slight problem with that thinking, it is a circular tour! But none-the- less enjoyable.  We alighted at Bastion Point, where you can see amazing views, although where can’t you in Auckland?  

View of Auckland, sea and sky, returning from from Bastion Point

There is sea on both sides of the city and the architecture is interesting and varied.  It makes Toronto look sad to my mind.  

In the 70’s an Auckland mayor, name forgettable, decided to sell what is know as Bastion Point for an upscale residential development.  However, the land is sacred ancestral land to the Māori, and they set up an encampment which remained in place for over a year, but did not succeed at the time.  Due to persistence, however, in the 80’s it became Takaparawhau, owned by Ngati Whatua Orakei and co-managed with Tamaki Makaurau.  Wish I knew completely what that means, probably different tribes working together.

 However, at the top of the hill is a monument which is quite elaborate and dominates the area.  It did feel a bit like tit for tat to us. 

A mini Taj Mahal?
Just someone that was popular.
Rosemary hedge. Always a pleasure to see rosemary growing so profusely, it is a tender perennial in Ontario and winter survival is always a happy surprise and never ever a hedge.

I enjoyed the tour of the city, we saw popular residential and shopping areas such as Parnell, and Newmarket.  At only about 1.5 million it seems like a very liveable city, and the sailors among you may be tempted by the fact that there are more boat owners per capita in NZ, and I think specifically Auckland than anywhere is else in the world.

The above success, at Bastion Point, in reclaimed sacred land reminds me of similar encampments and confrontations in Canada, some with and some without success.  One that did not immediately succeed in Auckland was a prime area for development. The Māori residents were moved to government housing and their homes burned.  Only the cemetery survived.  Now however the area is a park for the enjoyment of all, very much in line with Maori beliefs.

New Zealand has three official languages, Māori, English and New Zealand sign language.  Māori appears first, and then English.  It is enjoying a strong revival and is taught in school to all children.  Their respect for the land and their cultural wisdom are becoming part of everyday life here from what I am hearing and seeing.  Kio ora is said as a welcome, by all people, it is the equivalent to hello, but it translates to a wish for them to have life and health, and can also mean goodbye.  I still cannot pronounce Aotearoa, but would like to.  It is the Maori name for New Zealand, and means long white cloud, which we could clearly see from the ship.

My hesitation in using another’s language is getting the accent right, which is silly, because most like people to try anyway as a sign of respect.

Our big ship, Carnival Splendor, their spelling, not mine or Annes’ who it particularly annoyed.

My first towel art occurred on this cruise

I went on the yellow slide. And Cathy, I could not persuade Anne to do it.