Kiaora. I have been pondering how to do one last blog about Anne and my travels in Sydney, on the cruise and in New Zealand. Particularly New Zealand, Aotearoa. It made a deep impression on me but it is hard to pinpoint exactly why that is so. We saw and experienced so much while we were there, from cities, Wellington, Auckland, to natural springs flowing from deep in the earth, and natural hot pools, used only by locals and lucky travellers. So I have decided to predominately use pictures.

First the cruise.

Lincoln in our bathroom. About a 6” x 6” tile, high up on the wall. Why?

It was a very strange mixture of styles.

We had just seen this original in London, by Seurat, and this,
both in his Pointillism style. Note the strange pink spots beside it, which were everywhere. These pictures were in the stairwells

The stylized women were in the corridors. Not sure which decade they represent, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s.

Just the length of corridor from our door.

And to top it all off, as if there were not enough styles, I think that some of the ship was refurbished while Pirates of the Caribbean was popular.

Notice the pink pearls, just like the stair wells. I have no explanation for the completely mixed up styles.

Sydney was amazing.

Dangerously Modern, Australian and NZ women painting in Europe between 1890 and 1930
Iconic. Way ahead of it’s time and still awesome.

And on to New Zealand

Hot springs in the middle of Rotorua, fenced off of course. And no entry fee.
More water bubbling up from a spring in the Hamurana Golf Club, Rotorua, and such a lovely walk through more trees, redwoods included
Redwood tree walk in Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty. They are young yet, an introduced species. The walkway is hung in such a way as to prevent or minimize harm to the bark. Timber is a major export.
The ferns were amazing, this one is at least 10’ across, but I don’t seem to have a good picture of the silver leaf fern, their national plant and the symbol of the All Black Rugby Team, and on the NZ team shirts during the current World Cup.
The mineral springs, steam and boiling mud of Puia Maori Village
And the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute in the same place, funded by the entrance fees. The picture is straight, the roof is slanted. 2 – 4 year apprenticeships in wood carving, stone carving and basket weaving, free for participants.
Bilbo’s home, Hobbiton of course.
Napier and the Art Deco Festival, around which all of the trip was planned, and was as great as hoped for.

Such a great shot of Anne

And another

Full regalia
And the dog show.
Illusive, scurrying, solitary Kiwi at the National Aquarium in Napier
Beautiful Seahorse
A lovely day at the Mission Estate Winery
Ohau Channel, near Rotorua, more skyscapes…..
Sky from the cruise ship.

The Maori name for the New Zealand is Long White Cloud
Auckland
On Mount Victoria
The Ladies Rest, Memorial Square, Napier

Sky scapes never get boring

Sunrise on our last morning in Sydney.
The Moko artist, Te Wehi Preston and a piece of Maori art I brought home with me.

I had the large paw done first, it was supposed to be subtle, but they persuaded me it would not be seen in brown. I should have insisted. So later I added the small paws but it still did not feel finished. Te Wehi spoke to me for a while and we chatted about life and my dogs, etc and he picked up a marker and drew the design. Towards my elbow it is about strength, and life’s ups and down, with fine lines to protect from negativity. They represent the stockades around their villages. The other half is about love, for my dogs, they for me and all the others who I love and love me.

Maori are very present in every day life, and I think that is a large part of what impressed me. Maori is one of the official languages, and signs are often in Maori and English. Their presence is very much present in conservation work and many acres of land have been preserved or are now used in a way that serves many people rather than being exploited. To them the land, water and soil are treasures and sacred, and they are the guardians. And it is evident. They have been able to exert their beliefs in an effective way.

These are small examples, but I got the feeling that not much happens regarding the environment that they are not included in. There is a right wing government in power at the moment, and there has been push back against some progress achieved, but I think it has too much momentum not to continue in the future.