A waka (war canoe) in Waitangi

Up to Paihia

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February 12th 2010
Having been all the way down to the bottom of the South Island, figures I might as well go all the way up to the top of the North Island! First went up to Paihia, which is a weird plasticy place. Maybe it's because cruise ships stop there a lot, so there's a different kind of tourist to the ones I'm used to (that is, backpackers like me)? can't really define what's different about it, it just is. ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Paihia

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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... ... read more