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Christchurch Travel Blogs

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 Ibbus
December 27th 2009

Kaikoura, Christchurch og Brisbane Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Foerste rundrejse uge efter Queenstown stod paa delfinsvoemning og Whale Whatching i Kaikoura og Jul i Chrstichurch. Mandag stod vi klar 7.30 og tog fra Queenstown med bus mod Kaikoura. Det var en 10 timers bustur op gennem sydoen med et enkelt stop ved Mount Cook og Lake Taupo. Vi havde sindsygt godt vejr den dag, saa udsigten var helt fantastisk! Ved Lake Taupo spiste vi frokost med udsigten ud over Lupiner, bjerge og Lake Taupo, der var helt turkis den dag. Virkelig smukt. Om aftenen ankom vi til Dusky Hostel i Kaikoura, hvor jeg indkvarterede paa samme vaerelse som Jones, [View Full Entry]

By Laurene
December 18th 2009

December so far... Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Pictures So the last couple of weeks have been so so so busy!!! It's been great though. I still love my job and feel like ive settled in now and it's good. I've made a few changes to my room and made it more 'me' as much as I could anyways. Michelle who is the other receptionist and I get on really well, she's a super cool girl. She was traveling through Canada before coming to New Zealand which is cool and she went through Calgary and Banff so it's cool that she's seen where i'm from and i've been [View Full Entry]

By TommyandZoTravels
December 17th 2009

New Zealand - Goodbye! Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Bluff

Invercargill As we got out of Milford Sound we were going to stay the night at Te Anau again. When we got there we decided against it and headed off to Invercargill. This is the southern most city in NZ and has a strong Scottish heritage as you could probably guess. We headed to the info site and found a nice campsite to stay at. As out tent was so wet we asked for the cheapest accommodation and it turned out to be an on site caravan. We let our tent dry out and the owner told us it was prob [View Full Entry]

By Elly Haycox
December 10th 2009

Return of the long lost blog or one hit wonder? Only time will tell! Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Where to start. I am living in Christchurch and have been here for 1 year and 5 days. I have not updated my blog for probably 1 year and 6 days. God I sound like I am at an AA meeting. And, actually, the wine here is good enough that alcoholic could be a serious career move! I have been watching facebook like an addict -seeing all the changes that you guys are going through. There seem to be enough children for a least a football team (I would not be at all surprised if a little league was already in [View Full Entry]

By Llewellyn
December 8th 2009

Arrived in Christchurch Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Onepunga

The first day we arrived in Christchurch we spent the day with Anne, Mary's mother. Next day we went out to the farm where Mary grew up and had dinner with John, her brother, who now runs it. The place is beautiful. 4000 acres and as many sheep at least. It's a well known farm. John's done an wonderful job of it. [View Full Entry]

By Ferdi and Talita
December 4th 2009

Day 307-309: Karamea to Christchurch, New Zealand Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Talita and her first Beer Bread

Sunday, November 29th We woke to a beautiful sunny day. It’s hard to believe that the rivers flooded yesterday. Oh the fickle New Zealand weather! We weren’t complaining though. We wanted our van finished and packed before the end of the day. We made tasty apple and cinnamon oats for breakfast, then Ferdi set about finishing the last bits of the van while Talita tried her hand at Beer Bread. It was a complete success and we devoured half of it for lunch. Ferdi fixed the wonky cupboard doors and we started packing all our belonging back into the van. We [View Full Entry]

What could be better than beer and bread all mixed together?

By Laurene
November 29th 2009

Moving day! Oceania » New Zealand » South Island

Moved my stuff up into my new room, all mine!!!! Hehehe. It’s a big room with my own double bed and HUGE windows. Threw my bags in and then headed down to reception to start my training. Tom showed me the ropes. I only did a couple of hours today as there is a lot to learn. It’s fun though. Today was one of the cleaner girls birthday so we had cake at lunch time for her. Everyone who works here is super friendly. After a couple more hours training in the afternoon I was back upstairs for dinner and there [View Full Entry]

By Laurene
November 28th 2009

New Moon Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

We woke up to a rainy gloomy day. I decided since my birthday was coming up I would go see a movie. So I caught a bus down to the movie theatres for a matinee. Well NZ doesn’t do matinee prices so for me to see a movie it cost $16 NZD!!!! Yikes!!!! Thats just for the movie. Also, in NZ they do this assigned seating thing for the movies which is weird to me. I understand when it’s a busy movie just coming out it makes sense but yea, my assigned seat was in between two groups of younger kids [View Full Entry]

By Laurene
November 27th 2009

Interesting news...... Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

I slept really good, this hostel is great! I walked over to the supermarket in the morning and then met back up with Carolyn since we were going to walk into town and then go and try to find a cheaper store that sold jade that she found out about. On our way out though Tom caught me and pulled me into his office. I GOT THE JOB!!!!! He was really impressed with me and said that I fit in really well with the people so yeah!!! I start on Sunday for training. Am sooo happy!!!! Carolyn and I walked in [View Full Entry]

By Laurene
November 26th 2009

Interview and Thanksgiving??? Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch

Was up early and on a bus back to Christchurch by 9:30am. We pulled in to Christchurch at 1:45pm. I strapped on all my bags and set off for The Old Country House for my bed for the night and the place for my job interview. Got myself checked in and found Carolyn in my room. This is a different Carolyn, I met her in Picton as well but she was just staying at Sequoia Lodge. She’s from Connecticut and worked at The Old Country House in the winter months here. Since it was American Thanksgiving she was having a big [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch