The party tree in Hobbiton

Flora, Fauna and Hobbitses

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October 2nd 2008
Our last few days in New Zealand have been pretty chilled. Yesterday Emily and Lydia came with us to Katikati (what a fab name for a town!) bird park and Karangahake Gorge. The bird park was in a really lovely setting and we were given some bird food to take round with us. The first birds we saw were ducks so we fed them enthusiastically! This was a mistake as they followed us round the ro ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Matamata

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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