Wet Wellington

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Today started off with a bang when Geri broke the hotel's french press coffee pot, showering glass shards, coffee and grounds all over the floor. Thankfully, hotel management didn't seem to care. You would have thought we'd told Linda, the manager, that she'd won the Lotto when we told her about the broken pot. Geri is drinking tea for the duration of the trip, at least when she's in charge of making her own beverages.

After that trauma, we braved the rain and wind and headed off to Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of New Zealand. (Te Papa translates to "Our Place.") It's a huge complex that includes natural history, cultural, scientific and art exhibits. Plus about 47 different places to get coffee. Kiwis are very into espresso all of a sudden.

After Geri indulged Brian by going through the natural history exhibits (she really doesn't like stuffed animal displays), we got on to the part we both enjoyed - the Maori cultural exhibits. It's truly striking how similar the British colonial policies were with regard to both the Maori and North American first peoples. Unsurprisingly, both were stripped of their land and many of their rights, both have been on the short end of national policies (including interesting parallels between the Maori and Manitoba Cree tribes with regard to hydropower development). There is also a parallel in the lack of common understanding between the British colonial governmant and the indigenous peoples around the language of the treaties they were signing.

The important distinction is that there exists in New Zealand a national body dedicated to mediating Maori land disputes and violations of the country's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, which guaranteed the Maori many rights, including control of the natural resources. And although the process can be a long one, it has apparently resulted in the resolution of many of the disputes in favor of the Maori.

So, 6 hours after entering the museum, we went back out into the rain, having missed the few sunny moments of the day, and walked around Wellington, taking in views of the harbor and civic square. We haven't eaten in at least two hours, so we're off for more food. Tonight it's Malaysian.

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Photos

Te Papa Museum
Te Papa Tongarewa - NZ's National Museum.

Comments

[Beth]

Feels like home?
My first thought when I saw the photo of the museum is that it has a strange resemblance to the Mall of America - did you get that same creepy feeling like you were in Bloomington?

[Julie]

hey there!
It seems like you are having a wonderful time. I miss you both and hope the sun returns! Are there any common themes in New Zealand visual art?

[Other Mom]

Our weather
We, too, are doing what good Minnesotans do, obsessing about the weather! First, more devastating storms on the Gulf Coast, followed by our own two tornadoes, one straight-line windstorm with hail, 90 degrees F, followed by low 40's last night and highs in the upper 80's to 90's for the next week. The poor trees are really confused about what is going on but the colors are beginning to look beautiful although the leaves are falling very quickly. At this rate we'll have snow by the time you come home so keep the crampons handy. Continue having a great time and enjoy the coffee in a tube.