The Birth of a Nation

New Zealand, being far removed from the rest of the land masses of the world, is considered to be the the last land inhabited by man. According to Maori oral history, Polynesians arrived here in 1280 by sailing large canoes from some distant island.   The same type of canoes are around today.

The land was kind to the people, but over the years the population increased to a point where there was competition for land and resources.  Tribal warfare developed with members of warring tribes donning warpaint and developing elaborate dances and chants to prepare for battle and as a way of intimidating the opponents.  Even today the New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks, start each game with a fearsome chant called the Hakka which ends with all the members making a face with bulging eyes and the tongue sticking out.  Google it if you want to see it.

The British brought muskets and disease to the islands which severely decrease the number of Maori. 

In 1840, the British negotiated unity and peace by bringing some 500 Maori chiefs and a number of British officials together to sign the Treaty of Waitangi granting British citizenship to the natives and recognized their ownership of the land.  It was at this small town where we entered New Zealand. This is mainly a vacation town where the most common store sells food or souvenirs.











Most of the boats have sails, but one hulk has an interesting story.  A sea captain sailed into the harbor for "just a day or 2" and promptly got drunk.  After a time, the city asked him to leave or at least move his boat because he was in a lagoon and the city was going to build a bridge connecting two islands.  He ignored the request and they built the bridge.  When he sobered up, he told them to take down the bridge.  No way! So the boat is now locked into the bay and just sits there as a tourist attraction.  Moral of the story?  Don't get drunk and ignore the city fathers.

Our tour took us out into the country where we admired the rolling hills, saw the first stone building and first church as well as a waterfall and fields growing kiwi fruit as well as many other fruit.

Stone trading post and little white church on the hillside.

Kiwi fruit grows as a vine on trellises like grapes.  The kiwi bird is nocturnal so we did not see any of them.

We did stop at a town called Kawa Kawa, which has 2 distinctions.  It has a railroad track running down through the middle of the main street.  Don't worry, it only runs a few times each weekend.  The other famous site is a public bathroom, designed by someone who must have taken lessons from Gaudi.  In fact the whole town is a bit strange.

There's always a line for the Women's.