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Published: November 20th 2006
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Nga Manu
Attempting to drive the tractor! Nga Manu Nature Reserve We said goodbye to Yvonne, Pernille, Jen and Renee who left the program so it was just Damien, Adrian, Karen and I off to work for the day with Toby. We went to Nga Manu to clear out the kiwi enclosure. I got to have a go at driving a tractor too. I actually surprised myself and was ok at driving it, even reversing it with the trailer attached! I did however have Toby and Damien telling me exactley which way and how much to turn the wheel though.
When we got back to the house new volunteers arrived: Rod and Jeanne (from the US), Sean (Canada) and Pippa and Tom (from the UK). We all went to Nga Manu again that week to finish the kiwi enclosure. We were painting the enclosure, and to follow on from the mud fight the last time we were there, fight session part deux broke out involving paint!
Cape Palliser and Honeycombe Rocks Went seal surveying at Cape Palliser, which is located at the southern most tip of the north island. Saw alot of seals! When we finished, Dan (the other GVN ecologist) suggested we climb
Cape Palliser
258 steps up to the lighthouse! up to the lighthouse. A good 258 steps later we got to the top!
Had a trip to Honeycomb Rocks the other day also to do a seal survey. Stopped at an award winning bakery on route! Very remote area where we were as we had to go through private farm land to access the stretch of beach. There had been a mud slide so it was a bit of a walk too to get there. On the way back after the survey karen and I managed to get stuck in the mud. Situation got a bit serious though when Karen started sinking! Luckily just as Damo and Dan came to our rescue we got ourselves free. However, they then got stuck! All got back ok though. Not as clean as we started though!
Bushy Park again! Another trip to Waganoui to see Moari guy Robin at Bushy Park! They were building another pest proof fence surrounding the horse paddocks and house within the park so we were helping to seal in the fence. The weather was rubbish most of the time. We helped to create water channels in one of the tracks to help drain the
water that was flooding the track. It was then however that Sean and Tom discovered the electric fence to keep the cattle in in the neighbouring field. They thought it a 'good idea' to test out it's strength. (What you get with having two 18 year old boys on the program). I was stood at the end of the human chain and yes I felt it! I swear my arm was aching the next day. Fine now. (Don't worry Mum/Dad!)
Because of the bad weather we ended up spending one whole day in the bunkhouse. Kept our selves entertained playing cards and suduko. Rod also entertained us with his many jokes!! We managed to find time in the dry spots of weather to come up with a new game to play on the trampoline.....'Ultimate Dodgeball'!
Halloween and Kiwi-ana Part-ey and good old Wellington!! We celebrated Halloween in style with a Halloween fancy dress party at the house. We were all pretty scared by Damien's devil outfit, especially also when he did 'the devil voice'! Toby came as 'Tobina' for the evening......(any excuse to dress as a girl!)
Had a Kiwi-ana GVN party too with the GVN
Bushy Park
How we kept ourselves entertained at Bushy Park!(Picture edited by Rod) staff and other volunteers both on the NZ Nature and Internship programs. Involed 'Welli Wanging' competion (the Europeans won!) and drinking games- 'zip, zap, bop' and 'slam-em' which Rachel introduced us to!
For bonfire night we ventured into Wellington and went up Mount Victoria to view the fire work display over the harbour - amazing view.
Went to the rugby last weekend to see Great Britain vs Kiwis Rugby League Tri Nations match at the West Pac Stadium in Wellington. We lost, badly, but was brilliant to see. I blame the loss due to GB being intimidated by the NZ Haka....even I was a tad terrified by them sat in the crowd!
End of the program.... Sad to be leaving the program. I have made some great friends on the program. Amazing really how quickly you do. It is kind of a 'Big Brother' experience (but without the cameras!). I'm off to explore the South Island now for a few weeks then going to come back to Wellington for a few days to see people before I leave NZ to hit Australia. Time is flying way too quickly!
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Pernille
non-member comment
Hope I see you soon, Hannah
Hi Hannah! Couldn't help it...I'm so nosy you know...so I read your blog...I wish I had been there. Though maybe not for the electric fence - Toby showed me the video! I hope you like the South Island. I'm in Christchurch now, so my time down here is almost over. I hope I'll see you soon Hannah and of course I'll keep writing you emails about my exciting life...:) Love, Pernille