7 February 2018
Happy Waitangi Day! Waitangi Day in NZ's national day. It recognizes the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (establishing British sovereignty) by England, European New Zealanders, and chiefs of Maori tribes. It is not without controversy. Many Maori leaders believe it was misrepresented to the chiefs of the times and used to steal tribal lands. In the South Island where the Maori population is sparse, it is widely considered a nice day off after school resumes after school holidays. Ruben's clinic was closed for Waitagi day, but it wasn't a great day to be outside. Cool (high of 14˚C) and misty. I had a heap of work to do, so we hung around the cottage for most of the day. A quick work digression revealed that the hot pools complex in Hanmer Springs was running a promotion for half-off entry Tuesday night after 5 pm. Hammer is ~45 minutes drive from Waikari, we were hankering after a good kebab, and there was not work for R on Wednesday, so we took it. It was a really nice evening (we even got some good length swimming done in the big pool) and ate too much for dinner.
Wednesday was chilly in the morning, but definitely sunny. We headed for the Lakes District, about 1 hour out Hwy 7 past Hawarden. Gorgeous. We tramped for about 3 hours. Ruben really wanted to swim back across the lake. I wimped out.
 |
Ruben is in the car bracing to negotiate medalled, windy, mountain roads
from the right-side drivers seat. |
 |
| We stopped here to open a gate and I required a photo. It was still pretty chilly. |
 |
| This was active sheep pasture and we disrupted hundreds of sheep. We are not so scared of them these days. This guy poked his head out after we passed to see where we went (and in which direction his mates had scattered!) |
 |
| Huruni River |
 |
| Huruni River |
No comments:
Post a Comment