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.
June 29th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Napier
Just before we left, i had dinner with my great friends Sarah Cox and Anna Holman. Sarah's husband, Richard, asked me about the approaching trip and i was more than happy to describe all our excitin ... 16 photos[full story]
May 14th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay Well, it is time to catch you up to date on our travels! We have been having a lot of fun and covering much ground but getting to writing and finding internet less. Our last blog brought us to the N ... 20 photos[full story]
April 7th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Hastings Yo!
For the past 5 weeks we have been earning a crust and honing our apple picking talents. We were advised to contact Phil and Kirsty who own an orchard on the outskirts of Hastings. Unfortunately, ... 15 photos[full story]
March 28th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Hastings It's surprising how much can happen in a few weeks. I'm still picking blueberries, and actually enjoying it....sometimes. I've met wonderful people, and I'm having so much fun. Me and Tove are going t ... [full story]
March 26th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Hastings The date is Wednesday, March 26th, and I am continuing my theme of writing on Wednesdays. I would first like to wish happy birthday to both my parents, this is that special day of the year when my dad ... [full story]
March 22nd 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Hastings
As the old adage goes, you can’t polish a turd (during some of our work days I would have preferred to do that), hence there being little glitz and glamour in picking apples. I know what you ... [full story]
March 19th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Hastings The title of this blog are my thoughts as I drove for the first time in NZ today. Everything is inverted, and I don't think it is so much the driving on the other side of the road that gets to you, it ... [full story]
March 16th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Hastings After spending our last couple of days in Cairns wandering aimlessly, drinking a lot of coffee and trying to avoid the heat we headed to the airport on Sunday 24th February six hours early for our fli ... [full story]
March 16th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Hastings
Australia will always remain to in my memory as the place where I truly understood what people meant when they referred to the following points:
* Being a traveller and not a tourist; and
* "R ... [full story]
March 14th 2008Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Hawkes Bay » Hastings Before I start this blog, I want to address some of my last blog. I talked about a pill I took called "party pills". This pill, which I bought over the counter at a liquor store, was legal (today, th ... [full story]
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