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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.

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By Max4k
July 29th 2009

The First Sunrise Behind the First Clouds Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » East Coast

East Cape Lighthouse

In contrast to the busy tourist bus route of the centre of the North Island, New Zealand's East Cape promised to be a venture into the rural, remote, and beautiful culture, lifestyle, and scenery that makes New Zealand unique. The first night was spend in a tiny lodge, boasting the only wild stingray feeding in the world. Unfortunately they had been scared away by a recent storm and would not respond despite the guide standing knee deep in the sea throwing out fish oil for a good hour. The saving grace was, without doubt, an immense barbeque and mussels banquet - [View Full Entry]

By twotravelbugs
April 10th 2009

East Cape - an experience in many ways Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » East Coast

East Cape scenery

Tuesday 7th April 2009 Darkness in a DOC campsite in the bush isnt always a good thing. We lay in bed listening to stags roaring. Loudly. Getting up in the night to visit the compost long drops involved not looking at several pairs of eyes glowing in the dark at us. Not to mention the bush rustling... We were up and out reasonably early, back down the forest road to Kawerau and on to Whakatane. We stopped briefly to load up the last blog (free wireless in the i-site, bit slow though and wouldnt let us check the blog to make [View Full Entry]

By twotravelbugs
April 7th 2009

Pacific Coast Highway - Seabird Coast to Lake Tarawera Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » East Coast

Paragliding

Friday 3rd April 2009 Despite a day at work, today was still the start of our holiday. We left the dogs and house in the (hopefully) capable hands of Lee, the house sitter, and headed off into the sunset. We got as far as Wellsford before stopping for dinner. Nothing special, we got a foot long sub each (Subway) and drove a bit down Highway 16 to the first lookout. We ate half the sandwich, leaving the other half for lunch the next day. The views are awesome from, and we werent the only ones having dinner there. Another camper van [View Full Entry]

By Charmita and Olarse
February 28th 2009

51. “Let me act as a man!” Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » East Coast » Gisborne

Carving detail, Gisborne Marae

We gave this name to the blog because its Maori translation, Whakatane, is the name of a place that we passed through on our 3-day trip to the east coast. The name arises from an 800-yr old tale in which a young woman did the man’s work of steering a huge Maori canoe to shore, thereby saving everyone from great peril at sea... (N) At the start of the month, I had a company conference on nearby Waiheke Island for a couple of days. It was a mix of work and play, including a treasure hunt by car one afternoon, which [View Full Entry]

By Stanislas
February 2nd 2009

East Coast - Nouvelle Zélande Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » East Coast

Phartastique

Le paysage est couvert de forêts qui avaient été plantées dans les années 1930. Durant la période de dépression, le gouvernement avait ordonné les travaux pour occuper les personnes sans emploi. Aujourd'hui, l'industrie forestière abat des hectares et sur la route on croise des camions chargés de bois toutes les trois minutes. Ils sont d'ailleurs difficiles à dépasser et devant nous un cinglé a tenté sa chance mais une voiture vennait en sens inverse et il l'a évité de justesse en allant complétement de l'autre côté de la route. Il était moins une pour que nous soyions témoins d'un accident de [View Full Entry]

By LISASTU
January 22nd 2009

NZ - North Island update.... Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » East Coast » Gisborne

Stu's Walk

A little update of what we have been up to in NZ. Stu, Simon, Steve(Simons dad) and Wayne (Sys friend from work) went on a 3 day/2night hike around Tongariro National Park (Whakapapa Village, Ski area for the North Island), they said the hike was excellant but challanging at times, poor Stus feet proved this, they were covered all over the bottom and heels of both feet, they stayed in huts which had a basic kitchen area and a long drop loo. Bonnie and I had a hard few days we had Pedicures and facials!! We have been to the local [View Full Entry]

By missy moo
December 19th 2008

800 km bike trip for charity Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » East Coast

biking to L&P Town (PAEROA)

Our mission was to bike a whopping 800 kms from Hamilton to Mahia Peninsula (just south of Gisborne) via the coastal road. This journey is a celebration of the opportunity that is life - of getting back up and again taking on challenges. A once extreme adventurist fought for his life after a freak accidental fall off a 12 metre cliff. Twenty months later he has miraculously bounced right back to a state of physical fitness he formerly owned. Both Stefan and his partner, Madeleine, have learnt appreciation for people with disabilities. The objective of our journey was to raise aware [View Full Entry]

getting packed up ready for day number two

By ReneeandTimmiOnTour
December 8th 2008

toa toa farm Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » East Coast » Opotiki

Wummer

Guten Tag hoffe euch gehts allen hervorragend mir gehts fantastisch... so langsam is hier der sommer am anrollen und eigentlich koennte man den ganzen tag schon nackt rumlaufen...schade eigentlich das ich nicht alleine bin hier auf der farm...ethan der bruder vom andrew und mitbesitzer der farm hat mir erzaehlt das wenn er alleine hier ist rennt er halt den ganzen tag nackt herum...warum denn auch nicht mitten am arsch der welt, alle paar monate kommt mal en nachbar rueber und die schweine wirds wohl kaum jucken... im kurzen und ganzen muss ich sagen das mir fuer diesen ort einfach die wort [View Full Entry]

By Shauna
October 5th 2008

Waioeka Gorge Mission Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » East Coast » Opotiki

Looking at the Map

I was getting antsy with 2 weekends in a row in Gizzy and needed to hit the backcountry big time. Good thing for me, there's always others keen on the same. Charl, Mags, Julie (a couch surfer who had been staying with me since Thursday) and I loaded up the truck with probably more than one night's gear and headed out to the gorge. A treacherous drive, but beautiful scenery, between Gisborne and Opotiki. We hiked the 2.5 hours to the Koranga hut, met some Zimbabwean and young kiwi hunters packing dead pigs on shoulders and deer in their backpacks. A [View Full Entry]

By Romiuk
September 18th 2008

Day 228 - 230 / 228. -230. Den (15. -17. 09. 2008) Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » East Coast

Buddy driver / Buddy ridic

Waking up in proper bed was rather nice, as Paul had to leave early for work, it was early start for me and Buddy too. As I left Paul's, not that far down his road I have found this free hot bath pools, ...sweet. I was so lovely and hot... nice start to a day... Once I have arrived in Whakatane unfortunately found out that swimming with dolphins is out of question. So I just went to a lovely look out point. Buddy was still very timid and not sure of himself, we had lunch, man never feed dog bake beans [View Full Entry]

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