Cliffsides, Cave Rock, and Cricket

After brunch, we all hopped in the GatorWaka to begin our day. We had planned on visiting a Kiwi sustainable home but the owners had to cancel because of a family matter; instead, we went to a shopping complex in a restored historic tannery. We had a morning tea time, and looked through the shops in the Tannery including an upscale thrift store, an apothecary, and a bookstore. 

Group photo at teatime

On our way to our Godley Head hike, we passed through Sumner (where there were many surfers out enjoying the day), a subdivision of Christchurch; Godley was the founder of Christchurch. Before hiking, we utilized the playground equipment in the Taylor’s Mistake parking lot. 

Messing around in the park before the hike

We had a pleasant hike with stunning views of the ocean and cliffs, but we saw lots of 
unpleasant flowering Pig’s Ear along the trails (we spent a day of restoration pulling 
Pig’s Ear from a conservation site). We were able to spot the predator proof fence that 
marked our destination from the beginning of the hike. Once at the fence we passed 
through it and descended down a ladder to the coastline. We were on the search for 
white flippered penguins in the artificial burrows that had been placed there for them as 
part of a restoration project. We were rewarded by a few containing penguins, including 
burrows number 86 and 92. 

Penguin burrow that is currently inhabited 

Little penguin inside the burrow. Photo courtesy of Grace

Cave Rock 

After our hike concluded, we headed over to Cave Rock (Tuawera). The rock provided many adventuring opportunities, including climbing to the top, running from incoming waves surging through the hollow rock, and a log prime for a king of the hill style game. We then journeyed back to the Tannery for a lunch of sushi.

Playing a nice game of cricket

We began our journey back to Lincoln, but the university dorms were not our destination; instead we went to the cricket fields at the local domain, where we were schooled in the terms and rules of the game. We played a half-court version of cricket that reduced the field size and incorporated foul balls so our baseball-oriented minds could understand. The Killer Kiwis beat the Wacky Wekas by a score of 70 to 67 (go kiwis!). 

Ice cream Sunday courtesy of Colin

After dinner, Dr. Colin Meurk and some of his grad students stopped by the dorms for an ice cream Sunday (pun courtesy of Colin). Irish Creme, Triple Chocolate, and Forest Fruit Yogurt all tied for the best ice cream flavor, but Colin's yogurt was most definitely the favorite of everyone. We had a good chat with Colin and finally got to ask him about the much anticipated sea lion story; the grad students discussed the different ecological issues facing our respective countries with us. Overall a fantastic day and a great way to end our last weekend in New Zealand. - Lexie

Saturday, July 27 - Here Comes the Sun

On the last day of our overnight trip, we woke up to the sound of “Here Comes the Sun” in the Marae meeting house, or Wharenui, to see that the fog had lifted. We had slept under the sacred and spiritual carvings of ancient Maori stories and gods that lined the inside of the Wharenui, through which Maori ancestors had filled our heads with many colorful dreams, and even some prophetic ones. After a short breakfast at the Maori Wharekai (dining room), we put everything back the way it was and headed out.

A fierce tribe performing a haka outside of the Wharenui

At this point in the day, seven of the group split off to go whale-watching while the rest went on the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway to have a fun walk up to the Huttons Shearwater predator proof area. The whale-watchers took a bus to South Bay on the west side of the Kaikoura Peninsula, where we got on a boat that took us Southwest along the Eastern coast. Whales are a very important part of Maori culture, particularly the southern right whale or Tohora, the whale that Paikea rode in the Maori Whale Rider legend that was later made into a movie. Where we were, there were mainly sperm whales, however, we were lucky enough to see a sei whale shortly after our journey started. Sei whales are the third largest whale species, after the blue whale and the fin whale. After this sighting, the crew was on the hunt for sperm whales for the rest of the day, while our host educated us. Sperm whales are the largest predatory animal in existence, reaching lengths of up to 20.5 meters and weighing up to 65 tons. They prey on large squid (such as the giant squid), octopus, sharks and other large fish, but their diet consists mainly of arrow squid. They will dive as deep as 3000 meters, and when hunting they will let out a call at 238 decibels, 34 decibels louder than a NASA space launch, that will stun and sometimes even kill their prey. Today we saw three sperm whales, all males, each with names the crew had given them. We also saw two New Zealand fur seals and several albatrosses and giant petrels. The most notable of the sperm whales was Tiaki (Maori for “protector”), a very large male that seems to have taken up protecting the other whales in the area, and our host’s favorite of the lot.

On the top deck looking out at the East coast

Watching Tiaki surface

Tiaki surfacing with an albatross overhead

A diving sperm whale

The peninsula-walkers left from Point Kean and took the Peninsula Walkway along the hillsides facing the ocean and the rocky sea floor that had risen 4 meters out of the water. There they got to experience the twisted limestone on the rocky coastline and spectacular panoramic views of the Pacific.

The Huttons Shearwater predator proof area on the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway

Everyone regrouped for lunch at the world-famous Kaikoura Seafood BBQ, where we ate a variety of seafood delicacies, such as crayfish and whitebait fritters, prawns, and salmon steak.

Reunited at the Kaikoura Seafood BBQ

Finally, after a long three days at Waipara and Kaikoura, we headed back to Christchurch, with the uneasy feeling that the end of our trip was approaching more rapidly than we would like.

-Dylan

Friday,, July 26 - On the road to Kaikoura

We awoke from the Waipara Sleepers to gather our things, eat breakfast, and clean up before heading out in the Gator Waka for Kaikoura.

The group huddles together for warmth while waiting to enter the Waka

We made a stop along the way to Kaikoura at Cheviot for morning tea time. After tea time, we continued along, passing many farmlands and hills with sadly very little native vegetation (although the hills looked like they were draped in green velvet in the sun - editors m&m).

  

We saw the Kaikoura mountain range on our way to Kaikoura

We were able to see the Kaikoura mountain range from far away, which was neat, but we didn't actually see it while we were there because of all the fog that rolled in and stayed strong day. Some background context for the Kaikoura mountain range: the Kaikoura mountain range is the northeastern most part of the Alps mountain range on the South Island, with the city of Kaikoura, which lies near a fault zone, about a 3-hour drive from our Lincoln Dormitory rooms.

Knowing that the city of Kaikoura is close to a fault zone is key information for understanding that a major earthquake (7 on the Richter scale) hit Kaikoura four years ago, which has had lasting impacts that could be seen as we drove in and around Kaikoura. Once we got to Kaikoura, we stopped for a restroom break before heading north through the Hikurangi Marine Reserve, a road very close to the rocky coast that is undergoing some serious construction because of the damage that falling rocks from the earthquake did to the road.

We saw lots of construction in and around roads to Kaikoura

Although it took extra time to get through the construction, we did make it to Ohau point where we saw a large colony of New Zealand fur seals before eating some lunch in a newly reconstructed car park.

We saw many fur seals at Ohau point

This fur seal in particular was the biggest we saw at Ohau point

After lunch at Ohau point we then headed back south to Point Kean in Kaikoura where we saw more fur seals, native vegetation, and a rocky zone that had previously been sea floor but was uplifted by 4 meters to what you see in the pictures below. Also shown in the pictures below is a fur seal taking a nap amongst the vegetation with the group in the background.

Uplifted rock that was previously sea floor at Point Kean

Fur seal napping in front of group at Point Kean

In previous years sea stars and sea anemones have been found, but this year that wasn’t the case. Instead, we saw some brown algae and a few different birds, including black-backed gulls, oystercatchers, and shags.

Oystercatchers searching for food at Point Kean

 

Right as we were about to leave, we ended up meeting Brett, a department of conservation person as well as a Maori member of the Takahanga Marae (Maori meeting house) that we would be staying in later on. He told us that unfortunately he couldn’t be with us at the Marae tonight as he had a public event to partake in but he did tell us about the process at the Marae and did a hongi (Maori greeting: a “sharing of breath”) with us before we departed for the Marae.

Brett talking to the group at Point Kean

When we got to the Marae, they didn’t have the formal (powwhiri) welcoming ceremony like we were expecting (usually there is a male and a female speaker of the Maori, and the female will call out to the female “chief” of our group who responds back, and the Maori decide if we are friend or foe and act accordingly) because many Maori of the Marae were either sick or obligated with tasks elsewhere (like Brett and some others that were in different parts of the country), but there was a male speaker to welcome us with the informal welcome who welcomed us with a traditional speech in Maori (letting us know of his homeplace, mountain, etc), and the Maori sang a song for us, to which we sang one back ( “Sweet Caroline”) after our Chief, Mark, let the welcomers know if our mountain and place from which we come. After that, we shared kai (food) with them (a tradition that shows we are now all equals and share the space as friends), and then one of the Maori told us the stories behind the wood-carved panels in the special room we would be staying in (even more special because the Maori told us that at night the knowledge of the Maori ancestors will flow into our minds while we sleep). No photos were allowed to be taken in the Marae since it is the Maori sacred ground, but here is a picture of the outside of the Marae.

The outside of the Marae that we stayed at for the night

After the Marae, we went to get dinner at an Indian restaurant in Kaikoura (which was quite tasty) before heading back to the Marae to rest up for the night. Tomorrow some of the group will go whale watching in Kaikoura while others go for a short hike, before all of us head back together to Lincoln.

-Chris

Over the Hedge and Through the Bush, "Hey Give Me a Push!"

Throughout New Zealand in the winter, it is acutely noticeable which plants are native and which are exotic. Non-native plants, those not adapted to the climate, tend to shed their leaves during the colder and darker winter months. In turn, their barren grey branches await sunnier October days to take full advantage of their photosynthetic potential. Endemic plants, however, are better acclimated to Aotearoa. In the states, we would colloquially call these plants "ever-green". Most land owners plant hedgerows lined with exotics to surround their property and protect it from wind (especially if farming), but some land owners break the mold and choose to plant natives instead.

These "ever-green" native plants are exactly the kinds of plants Pauline and Malcolm choose to circle their 15 acre property. A decade or so ago, Dr. Hostetler worked up the gumption to visit this retired couple after driving by their property many times. Ever since, every UF in NZ class has visited them and been a hit! Today we saw the usual suspects when it comes to native flora: Harekeke, kahikatea, totara, kowhai, five finger, juvenile lancewoods, manuka, cabbage palm, tarata, and a whole slew of pittosporums. Spread out amongst these natives, a few exotics stood: Gum trees, oaks, pines, rhodendrons, and azaleas. Pauline and Malcolm are admirers of birds, and their property was very conducive to bird spotting. Their property is one of the few unique ones in the Selwyn area to feature natives over exotics.

Malcolm greets the group and introduces his property.

Malcolm and Pauline's beautiful home.

Spot of tea in hand, Pauline regaled us with tales of the couple moving to the area, the evolution of their piece of land, the first exotics they planted, the earthquakes, and the rabbit problem. Malcolm is more keen to removing rabbits with a .22LR rifle, but the couple agreed to lay out poison from now on. Malcolm manages 20 head of cattle on his property, but used to raise sheep in the paddocks. A pair of "chooks" - chickens - , also roam their section of the yard, but prefer the warm and dry coop far away from the prying eye of harriers and falcons. Other birds that call the residence home are California Quail and pheasants. 

Native hedgerow in the background with exotics in the foreground.

Chook house in the foreground with more native hedgerows in the back.

"I saw a bunny outside the window looking right at me!"

After heartfelt goodbyes and a quick group photo, the class filed into the Gator Waka to head towards Christchurch and the Art Gallery. Te Puna o Waiwhetu hosted many collections of art from both European and Maori sources. The most compelling piece was "chicken/man", which has been described by the artist, Ron Mueck, as "just the right blend of the mundane and the surreal." A seated man in only his undergarments stares balefully at a chicken standing atop a kitchen table. The chook returns the gaze and now both are locked in a humorous staring contest. The humor is undercut by an air of uncertainty.

If you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.

Humorous? Absurd? Surreal? Serious? What do you think?

As 19th century philosopher Georg Hegel once formulated, "Art is the sensuous presentation of ideas." What ideas does such a piece present for us to perceive? Is it commentary on humanity's exploitation of animals and their by-products? A more general criticism of man's alienation from nature and how at odds we are with the surrounding environment? The absurdity of life that undercuts existence as a whole? Is it merely art for art's sake? What do you see? Leave a comment below.

After an hour of exploring the museum it was time for lunch and then a quick walk up to the Arts Centre. The Arts Centre was home to many boutique stores selling jewellery, stationary, fudge, and much more. Some bought goods for personal use, others bought gifts and mementos for home. The final stop in Christchurch for the day was the Margaret Mahy Playground. With enough room for all of us and the local children, we burned off our excess energy on the slides, swings, and jungle-gyms. We also experienced a flying-fox! We missed out on the opportunity at New Brighton Beach and were glad to have pushed our classmates off to zip around.

There go Tati and Grace! Never to be seen again (not really).

Exhausted, we made a quick tea-time stop and Coffee Culture and were briefed on our last overnight trip, Waipara and Kaikoura. Hard to think we only have a week left in New Zealand! - Bauer

planting, planting, and more planting!

Today consisted primarily of restoration projects.  Our first stop was at the Ka Putahi Creek.  Here we meet with Antony Shadbolt who has worked in conservation and gardening for 32 years.  Antony started off as a gardener but then got his bachelors and Lincoln and his graduate degree at the University of Canterbury.  The property we were at was next to the Sticks River.  With the Sticks River having mostly a rural surrounding, there was a huge push for Canterbury's environmental organization to buy land around the river, especially with it being the second most potent waterway in Christchurch, and possibly to best one in the future. The six values for land use that are guidelines to the restoration process are the following: Drainage, culture, heritage, recreation, ecology, and landscape.  Antony explained how these values are incorporated into restoration projects, such as sedimentation ponds that improve the water quality, or their protection of multiple fish species in the area so that the Maori can harvest them.  We quickly stopped at a lookout for different birds, including the paradise Shell duck and Grey Tail duck.  Interestingly enough, there are no Canadian geese in this area, due to there being no grass around the ponds.  Another cool part of the property was that instead of fully unwanted trees, they saved enough of it so that they could use it as a structure for bird nests.  They would also put a metal sheet around the tree so that possums could not climb up and harm the birds.  We then planted marble leaf, small leaf coprasma, and matai at the first site.  The soil was extremely soft, which made for a quick finish to the 89 plants planted at the site.  We then went to another spot by Sticks River, where we got right into the mud and planted some tussock grass in order to restore the wetlands. One interesting fact Antony told us was that the Magpies will come and try and take out the grass, basically because they don't like them. At our final site, we pushed on through the rain to help a local park ranger spread mulch around plants on the gated property.

Antony explaining to the group the different birds and plants around the property

Antony shows us how to property plant 

The group hard at work at the first site

Proud of our hard work planting at the first site

Pete the pinecone poses with his spade in front of his hard work

Mulching through the storm

Filling up a wheelbarrow through the rain

After we planted 238 plants at the first two sites, and over 20 wheelbarrows full of mulch moved at the third site, we made our way to C1 espresso to warm up and reward ourselves for a hard day's work. - Joe