Free Day - July 30th

Today was a free day spent catching up on sleep, laundry, journals, etc.  Good day for the sleep part - lots of rain.  The big news of the day was the Christchurch Blueprint for how the Christchurch City Council is proposing to rebuild Christchurch was unveiled.  - Meryl

Tenacious Tuis, 46, Tequila Mockingbirds, 43 - July 14th

One might say we had an action packed day...

Graeme explains his solar panel system

We started out at the home of Graeme and Karen Rodgers so we could see how an individual is able to make a difference toward sustainability.  Graeme, a greenhouse gasses scientist with Landcare Research, has adopted many energy saving devices at his home/farm.  He was eager to show us his solar panel set up, LED and compact fluorescent lamps, coal stove, and more.  And while we all knew that you should not drink distilled water, we all learned why.  It is always good to visit Graeme as he is up on all the latest United States sustainability gadgets! We also were reminded that even if you are a college student you can still reduce your electrical bills with simple measures like the types of lightbulbs you use and turning off all devices when not in use (watch those phantom loads!).  While at the Rodger's farm, we even got to feed a three-week-old lamb and enjoy some pav and other treats that Karen had so graciously set out for morning tea.

Feeding the baby lamb

Karen's beautiful Pavlova

Onward to Riccarton for the Saturday food market where some of us sampled delicious treats from empanadas to organic fruits and soups topastries.  Then to lunch before the big Cricket Match...

Riccarton Saturday Market

Cricket at the domain

Go Crusaders!

We had a go at Cricket at the local sports field (domain).  It was a close (and world's shortest) match with the Tenacious Tuis just nudging out the Tequila Mockingbirds, 46-43.  Then on to Lincoln Uni to take in a college rugby match before taking in a professional one in Christchurch.  Rosie had won two tickets to the Crusaders match at the Lincoln University International Quiz night and the whole class decided to go as well.  Good  fun! - Meryl

Touring Along the Top of the World - Hinewai Trip, Day 3 - July 12th

View from Tourist Drive #3

Toe Toe in the sunlight at Hinewai

Sheep!

Another amazing sunny and relatively warm day!  After tidying up at Hinewai, we left for the Tourist Drive along the top of the Banks Peninsula. The hills looked blanketed in green velvet, the toe toe (a small native grass like Pampus pronounced "toy toy") was glistening in the sun, the water was glacial blue, and the sheep were fluffy.  

First stop, Okains Bay and the Maori & Colonial Museum where we saw a large collection of dug out maori boats (waka), bone carved fish hooks, a model of a Marae, and many examples of colonial life in early New Zealand (such as saddles, cheese presses, and jail shackles).  

Okains Bay Beach

Lunch was on the beach at Okains Bay and then an afternoon of views of the various bays and hillsides along the peninsula.  

Looking down on Okain's Bay Beach from Tourist Drive #3

Measuring a Totara tree

We saw from above where we had had lunch on Onawe Pa, and measured a large, old Totara (five of us finger tip to fingertip) before we ended up with an afternoon tea break in Little River and arrived back at Lincoln under a norwest wind sky.  

"Hogs Back" in the sky - typical of a norwest wind

We are a good tired, and will sleep well after the band stops playing for the Lincoln Hoe Down that is welcoming back students tonight. - Meryl

Green Developments Kiwi Style - July 9th

University students are back in the dorms and campus is a bit busy!? We went over to Landcare Research to learn more about green developments and the importance of design, construction, and post-construction phases. We broke into groups and worked on a hypothetical example on how to design a green development in New Zealand.

Group Discussion - Green Development

After lunch, we ventured in the Gatorwaka up to Pegasus Development to see first hand how planned developments are put together. Pegasus is the largest planned community in the south island and they incorporated some natives, maori art, and conserved greenspace. 

Pegasus Development

Pegasus House For Sale

We went to the back of the development and spent some time on the beach. Beautiful day!
Cheers, Mark

Another JC Penny Pose!