Wellington

23rd December

Driving towards Wellington, the weather turned terrible - windy, rainy & poor visibility.

I had stopped for petrol and at the garage, if you had a reward card you could get a discount on the fuel - he asked if I had a card & I said no, 'I think you need a NZ address!' - my card didn't scan first time, so he put it through at the discount price! - nice of him & saved me $6.

Drove into Wellington - a city by the sea - although you could hardly see it! - and parked at the Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand. Tongarewa means 'treasure' in Maori & Te Papa Tongarewa is 'Our Container of Treasures'

It was a great museum - packed with kids though - it being school holidays.

Some Kiwis - there are more than one type!

The first exhibition was about Gallipoli - a very graphic and honest portrayal of the New Zealand soldier's experience - with enormous statues and displays.

The New Zealand soldiers were in Egypt when The Turks sided with Germany and were sent to back up 'the Aussies'

On April 25th 1915 they landed at Anzac Cove - excitement soon turning to chaos

It was trench warfare, at close quarters and conditions became abominable, with infected wounds, rotten rations, and lice. Sometimes, it got so bad they would risk getting shot, to swim in the river, being so desperate for a wash.

The Maori contingent were sent later, to relieve tired troops. There were Soldiers accounts and life stories. Some inspiring, some very sad.

It all ended with the evacuation of Allied forces between December 1915 & January 1916, 

'marking the campaign's only success after months of brutal trench warfare and heavy casualties for both sides, ultimately achieving no strategic gains for the Allies'

I moved on to the Nature exhibition. I remembered from the Museum in Hobart how 200 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period, there was a huge Southern Super-continent named Gondwana and how Australia (& Tasmania) had separated over millions of years.

There was a similar time line for the forming of New Zealand and its positioning on the globe, which is the same latitude as Italy today - although without the warming of the gulf stream, ensuring a slightly different climate - similar to the UK, they say, but it must be warmer to sustain the more tropical plants, flowers & palm trees. 

I was musing the other day that New Zealand does look like an upside down boot - with a broken ankle!
 

I learnt that Lake Taupo is actually a super-volcano and was formed 25,500 years ago in a massive volcanic eruption

and that New Zealand is constantly having earthquakes - the most recent being that very morning!

I wanted to know more about Maori culture. 

There was some information. The reason for their tatooing, from stories and ancient legends - the marks reflecting the scarring and layering of the land and being a permanent reminder of the need to be gentle and respectful. 

I have seen a few people with tattooed chins.

They have a deep connection to the land & the earth with the word, 'Whenua' meaning 

both Land & Placenta.

I had an idea that the Maori people were not 'indigenous' to New Zealand or Aotearoa as they call it, and there were many different tribes.

They first arrived in Waka from East Polynesia & their settlement was well planned 

They knew how to build strong boats:

and how to use the seasons, cycles and phases of the Moon to know when to plant certain crops etc 

......sadly, however, all the settlers have made a destructive impact on the land, prioritising farming & later 'comfort' over protection of the land & indigenous animal species 

.....with animals & forests rapidly decreased

 

Go back 1000 years & this is what you would have heard sitting in the forest 

It really hits home, as New Zealand is so lush and green & full of bird life,  yet so much has been lost 

It was only in the 20th century that people began to realise the importance of protecting the nature, with farmers such as Herbert Guthrie-Smith, becoming concerned about the Impact on the land.

Now there is a strong ethos to protect and preserve the nature that still exists, with communities working together to save what's left for the following generations.

Let's hope it's not too late and that other countries can learn from this example.

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There was an interesting art section.

I liked this stop motion video reflecting Maori culture 

and a couple of other pieces that caught my eye

There was a good view of Wellington from the roof terrace

Stopped off at Woolworth's to get my shopping - it was typically - last few days before Christmas - busy!

I checked into a campsite for a couple of nights and met a couple of young people from England who are cycling around New Zealand. Sounds like they had a horrendous time in the gales and rain but they were laughing about it. There is a group of them travelling the same route but at different speeds, some meeting up in certain sections like these two have. Lots of them are getting together in Wellington for Christmas.

Dunno why but this song on the radio made me feel a little nostalgic

and this - actually one of my favourite Christmas songs