NZ: Top 5 Things We'll Miss

THE PEOPLE

They are unassuming, practical, skilled, helpful. generous, good-humored, and incredibly friendly (except when behind the wheel of a car).

Who wouldn't like a country that produces its own soft drink,
proudly labeled "World Famous in New Zealand"?

And where freshly baked pies--
meat pies, that is--
are the most common fast food?

Two of our favorite kiwis: Rod & Brenda on State of Mind, our closest neighbors at Riverside Drive Marina. 

When they're not sailing the Pacific,
Brenda works at Whangarei Hospital...

...and Rod bikes to his job at Norsand Boatyard.
He built the sailboat they live on

BUSH WALKS

Ferns! Huge shrub ferns, tall tree ferns, gigantic fronds overhead and a myriad varieties underfoot; it's no wonder the fern is NZ's national icon.

View down into the forest canopy;
these fronds are about 3' wide and 8' long

Bird songs! With no original land mammals as natural predators, NZ boasts a spectacular array of birds--many of them ground-dwellers--that developed long and melodious calls. We can't begin to count the number of times we stopped in our tracks just to listen to their music.

At this site you can hear recordings of two of our favorites, the tui and the bellbird. The dawn choruses are delightful; also try the Bellbird/korimako group and the Chatham Island tui song:

www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/bird-songs-and-calls/ 

MAORI SONGS AND DANCES

Speaking of music, we never ceased to be moved by the kapa haka (group performances) throughout Aotearoa ("land of the long white cloud", the Maori name for New Zealand). With the resurgence of Maori culture and language--we actually learned quite a few words ourselves--there is great pride in continuing their traditions.

Many schools have their own kapa haka groups, and all we heard were excellent; these young students are singing and dancing at the Auckland Pasifika Festival.

Recordings are sadly rare, but it's worth checking out videos on YouTube. Some samples:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olO3K_BtVX8  

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neTjlWb8DHM 

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Zjgj9x4Yc

(The constantly 'fluttering' hands are symbolic: "where there is motion, there is life".) 

KIWI ENGLISH     

     "G'dai, mate!"

     "Headed out for a sweet as bush tramp?"

     "Yees. Kit's ready and I packed heaps of gouder, sultanas, and biscuits."

     "Kahl going with you?"

     "Don't think so. Sahr him yeesterday and he had bits chucked everywhere, his torch was buggered and rah rah rah. It's not likely he'll sort it out."

     "Beeter for you; he likes leevel tracks anyway."

     "I'm kinder the same, but I'll just pop by for a flat white from the dairy and everything will be tickityboo."

     "Good on ya!"

     "Cheers, bro!"

Between the accent and the colloquialisms, we had a hard time at first trying to decipher what people were saying. Now we rarely miss anything, though occasionally Aht Shore*

still has wee troubles...

*Art Shaw

Translation:

                "Hi, buddy!
                "Headed out for a terrific forest hike?"

                "Yes. My gear is ready and I packed a lot of gouda, raisins, and  cookies."

                "Karl going with you?"

                "Don't think so. Saw him yesterday and he had stuff tossed everywhere, his flashlight was broken, and blah blah blah. It's not likely he'll get it taken care of."

                "Better for you; he likes level trails anyway."

                "I'm kinda the same, but I'll just stop by for a coffee with cream from the convenience store and everything will be just fine."

                "Good for you!"

                "See ya!"

WHANGAREI

Whangarei: Love it Here! It's the city's slogan, and one we repeated often; we love it here! It's a complete package, with everything we could need or want: specialty stores and services that could fix/make/supply absolutely anything, most within walking distance; easy access to all kinds of food; an active art and music scene; heaps of scenic activities nearby; and a close-knit cruising community.
As icing on the cake, we even got New Zealand driver's licenses and Whangarei library cards: home away from home.

Town Basin, with a photogenic marina in its midst;
an Arts Market flourished on Saturday mornings on the Canopy Bridge in the background

When we waded into nearby Waipu Caves and turned our torches off,
we found a living galaxy of glowworms overhead

The Riverside Drive Marina gang gathered for a potluck BBQ every Sunday evening.
I often played a tune or two; for our last night,
Art joined me on the ukulele that David Ingalls made for us

 NEW ZEALAND: LOVE IT HERE!