A Jaunt Around The Volcano

We are out and about for the next three days on our first road trip.  We got an early start on the day so that we could take in as many sights as possible from Lincoln to Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula which is an extinct volcano.  On the map we came from the area called Tai Tapu, and made the following stops along the way...

Views of the Southern Alps across Lake Ellesmere (New Zealand's third largest lake).

Looking for semi precious stones at Birdlings Flat, an all rock beach on the Kaitorete Spit between Lake Ellesmere and the Pacific.

Tea time at Little River and some time to snoop in the art gallery and craft shops there.

View from The Hilltop overlooking Akaroa.

We bought some yummy fresh cheese at Barry's Bay cheese shop and then ate lunch and explored the Onawe Spit (cool lava rocks!),

Then we headed over to Akaroa where we learned about the reintroduction of Tui birds to the Banks Peninsula and got to see some right as we got out of the van in a neightborhood where the residents are known to look after them with many nectar feeders.  We also saw three large Wood Pigeons (pictured here), and several Bellbirds.

After taking in the overview of harbor, we had some free time to snoop about the French-settled town of Akaroa before getting settled in at the backpackers.

Tomorrow we are off to Hinewai for a hike! Cheers, Dr. Hos and Meryl

Translate This! We Are Getting Excited About Seeing You Soon!

Sunrise over New Zealand from far above

Kia Ora, You might consider us like oldies, but we are going to kick off our jandals, throw on our jumpers, grab our not-so-much-anymore anklebiters, and show you a really great time (as we would our cuz)through the wop-wops of Aotearoa.  We’ll even let you use our loo and serve you up some pav and a cuppa when you arrive.  Sweet As!  Study up on a wee bit of Kiwi slang, safe travels, and see ya soon mates! – m&m&j&t : )

Anklebiter - toddler, small child


Aotearoa - Maori name for New Zealand meaning land of the long white cloud


Chips - deep fried slices of potato but much thicker than a French fry


Cuppa - cup of tea, as in cuppa tea
(Tea Time!  Wa-hoo!)

Cuz - cousin, family


G'day - universal kiwi greeting, also spelled gidday


Good on ya, mate! - congratulations, well done, proud of someone


Good as gold - feeling good, not a problem, yes
 


Jandal - thongs, sandals,flip-flops

Jumper - sweater, jersey


Kia Ora – Maori general informal greeting of hello

L&P - Fizzy soda water


Lift - elevator


Lolly - candy


Loo - bathroom, toilet


Mate - friend

Oldies - parents


Pav - pavlova, dessert usually topped with kiwifruit and cream


Rattle your dags - hurry up, get moving

Ring - to telephone somebody, as in "I'll give you a ring"


Rubbish - garbage, trash


Serviette - paper napkin


Sweet As – what you are saying is good by me


Ta - thanks


Take-aways - food to be taken away and eaten, fast food outlet
 

Togs - swimsuit, bathing costume 


Wop-wops – situated off the beaten track, out of the way location

Greetings from Colin Meurk on a Cold Winter Day in Lincoln

We are so very lucky to get to work with many amazing New Zealanders.  One of our resident gurus is Dr. Colin Meurk who sends you this message today:

Kia ora koutou (hello all)
We look forward to welcoming you all to Aotearoa-New Zealand - and your journey of discovery (if that doesn’t sound too retro). It’s been a frost here this morning (remember to bring the wool jersey - aka sweater), but then just looked out my office window to a clear blue sky here in Lincoln - and wondered if that is your jet up there – a little early! The courtyard is sheltered, so there are 6 m tree ferns (yes, we do metric here), lancewood and our cabbage tree; oh and a fantail just dropped in. You’ll meet them all.  Well, it’s ecology with biogeography, people and design in the mix – and if you hadn’t noticed, the journey has already begun 😊.

Kind wishes
Colin Meurk

 

Kidsfest

The New Zealand school system is set up so that students Kindy through High School go to school for 10 weeks, then two weeks off, 10 weeks, then two weeks off, etc, until a six week summer break (that falls end of December to beginning of February).  It is winter in the southern hemisphere and we will be in New Zealand during a two week winter break for the schools in the Canterbury Plains region.  One of the remarkably cool things that they do there for kids is Kidsfest - an annual two-week festival designed especially for children age 0-17. It has entertained thousands of children and families over the past 28 years. It features hundreds of events!  Ah, to be a kid again!
m : )

Poi E, A Kiwi Classic

Each year, there are blogs that I include as a repeat for every class.  This is one of them because it helps give a feel for the culture we will encounter this summer:

In New Zealand, the Maori culture is deeply integrated within the Kiwi culture. Throughout New Zealand, you will find both English and Maori signs, and even the government run television here has a dedicated station just for Maori programming.  While there have been struggles between the Pakeha (non-Maori) and Maori (just as in the United States between whites and other ethnic groups such as Native Americans, and African Americans), and the Maori struggle to help their youth retain their culture, the Kiwis seem to have done a decent job of trying to be inclusive and promote the Maori culture throughout the country.  Poi-E is a classic Kiwi song that became a hit in the early 1980s. What is significant about this song, is that it is viewed as part of what helped kick start renewed interest for the Maori youth in their roots. In 2016, a movie was made about it as well.  Poi balls were originally used by men and women alike to strengthen wrist muscles for battle.  Today they are used by girls and women in traditional Maori performance dances.  I can show you how to make some if you like.

-Meryl

 

Of note, you might even be able to watch a movie that was made about the song in the last few years when you are on Air New Zealand - check out the New Zealand Choice section on your in flight screen to see if it is playing (we also recommend Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and What We Do In The Shadows to give a flavor for the New Zealand sense of humor).


 

The Spirit of New Zealand Captured In Three Minutes: Mr. Frosty and the BMX Kid

Written and directed by Tim McLachlan from New Zealand. Mr Frosty and the BMX Kid was a finalist in the 2010 Your Big Break competition – a global search for the next great filmmaker. Their task was to capture the spirit of New Zealand in a 3 minute short film. Judged by Peter Jackson and produced by Barrie Osborne. I love this short film that really captures the spirit of New Zealand.  Of course, it will be cold when we are in New Zealand this summer; however, the Tip Top ice cream will still be good as! - Meryl : )