"Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu"

---

At this southern end of Hawkes Bay is an unassuming hill which has the worlds longest place name. It translates into English as:
"the place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as 'landeater’, played his flute to his loved one".
We continued along through the twisting country roads with dry and yellowing hills that rolled way off into the distance. The vines and orchards have given way to fields of pumpkins and huge conifer forests.
Our DOC site was very small and there was no one else using it. It bordered the Ngapaeruru Scenic Reserve which was a sort of ancient temperate jungle. Hat, Ed and I went exploring and Ed was put off by the large spider webs (I got a faceful at one point which reminded me of the scene from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom). The noise of the birds was very jungle-esque. Tame Fantail birds followed us very closely with their unusual displays of mini swoops and fanned out tails. The Maori believe that these are reincarnated people and a sign of good luck.

---