Background: The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.
July 15th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel As our journey through Narnia (check out the photo) draws to a close it's time to reflect once again on the ridicolous distance we've covered and the lack of oil we've put in the car (I'm right in thi ... 4 photos[full story]
July 14th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Thames
Friday 13th June. I had cancelled my flight to Melbourne that day for a very special occasion, which I felt very honoured to be a part of. Naeri, Take (Naeri’s son), Stuart, Meilia, Lorna&rsq ... [full story]
July 10th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Thames Graham went down to Thames last week to view a rotten Wharf at Coromandel. He didn't make Coromandel as there was a nasty accident and the road was closed for the entire afternoon so he had to turn ar ... 6 photos[full story]
July 8th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Waihi Remember the south americans that have been staying with us? Franco is from Argentina, and Gonzalo and Esteban are from Chile. They were all here in New Zealand to backpack and work for a while, and h ... [full story]
July 3rd 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Waihi
I think we are celebrating it with Christoffel and Alison at a tavern down the road that is having a blues night! Should be good!
So, remember good ol' Rusty Gun Warder? Santa Claus guy? He is ... [full story]
July 2nd 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Whangamata A kiwi is a local New Zealander. They call each other and themselves kiwis, and it's not in an insulting way, either.
Jack says his hand is a little sore, but only when I jab the wound. Makes sense ... [full story]
June 30th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Waihi Well, my husband punched a hole through his hand with a rusty nail.
He and Christoffel were out back in the bar mounting the projector and working on other rennovations. Jack was drilling somethin ... [full story]
June 27th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Waihi We are still having the time of our lives here, drinking as much coffee as we want and laughing our heads off with Christoffel and Alison.
Wednesday was our day off, so we went over to Christoffel ... [full story]
June 25th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Waihi Hey, Jack and I have planned a three day ski trip to the largest ski field in the southern hemisphere! Mount Ruapehu has two skiable peaks: Turoa and Whakapapa (the "wh" sound is pronounced like an "f ... [full story]
June 22nd 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Waihi John, how did the races go on Saturday? McMenemy staff, I had Jack watch Old Greg! He loved it and wound up watching the full episode. Now he is quoting it telling me to "make an assessment." Tiff, I ... [full story]
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