Wellibobs

It was a long, tiring drive down to Wellibobs and I arrived at couch surf hosties' pad around 7pm. Marco and Ursula are fantastic hosts and genuine down to earth people. They were having a barbeque with friends to celebrate Ursula's birthday; many happy returns petal, 63 years young. Everybody made me most welcome and I spent much of the evening talking to Frank, originally from Todmorden no less! For those of you who don't know Tod is where my hugely eccentric piano teacher hailed from. She was marginally famous in the region and Frank had indeed heard of her.

Left: Edward, Gemma, AL, Frank
Head of table: Marco, Ursala
Right: Fang, Trevor,  John, David

The following morning was spent in the Ta Papa museum trying to learn something about Maori history. I learnt about the treaty and how the Brits tried to trick the Maori elders out of their land rights.

I learnt about the Brits taking the land anyway and trying the 'divide and rule' tactic by supplying tribes with guns in the hope they would kill each other.

I learnt that the Maori were cannier than the average bears and got their heads together to choose a sovereign to unite all indigenous people against the unjust land theft; Maori culture doesn't really understand the concept of ownership. The king gifted the remaining land to all people, Maori and European. This meant settlers could cultivate any land they wished (they owned it) as long as they got permission from all the other land owners ha ha.

I saw some great carvings. This is a replica of a famous war canoe.

NZ wasn't actually discovered by Captain Cook but by a Dutch guy called Abel Tasman. He moored his fleet just off the south island but before he could disembark he was greeted by over a hundred war canoes filled with fierce Maori warriors, a screaming and a tongue waggling; the scariest of all sights. The Dutch fleet thought 'fook it' and buggered off, better that than to be broiled alive and eaten. Talking of being eaten I also learnt that the Maoris practically wiped out the Morioris, a peace loving people who resided on the Chatham Islands. In Moriori culture it was forbidden to take the life of another human being; no matter what. Having longpig for dinner was completely beyond their comprehension although I'm pretty sure they provided lunch as well as slave labour until they were extincto. Such a shame that a peace loving people didn't actually get to inherit the earth:(

I saw a beautiful meeting house donated by a Maori tribe from Gisborne, the carvings were stunning. Unfortunately I couldn't photograph it because it was sacred but here are some other carvings for you to look at.

At 1pm I met Adam and Frankie for lunch; do you remember them from my great walk in Tongariro? They fed me food and wine at NY:D
Afterwards Frankie went shopping and Adam took me on the cable car and to the botanical gardens, all very pleasant although they don't call Wellibobs 'windy Wellington' for nothing; it was blowing a gale.

 Adam and me.

 View of the rose garden.

 Some weirdy plastic flowers that caught my attention.

 Parliament building, affectionately called 'the beehive.' Adam thinks it's beautiful but I remain to be convinced.

Back to Marco's and Ursula's for dinner, I cooked them chic pea curry. It was nice spending an evening chatting to bright, interesting folk after spending so many nights alone in tentage, although I have been spoilt by the family Clegg recently too. Hurrah for me!

Today I have been into Wellibobs library to catch up on bloggingtons, correspondence and choros. This sculpture is suspended outside, I rather like it.

I bought myself a Maori greenstone pendant, it is a  Hurihuri or twist. The twist represents the path of life and all its highs and lows. It also symbolises the permanence of a close relationship that will last a lifetime; an eternal friendship...

I am currently sitting on the ferry waiting to go to south island,  how exciting. I will check in again when I am able. This is Adilady saying lots of love to you all and over and out xxxx