The Journey Home and Beyond - August 3rd

Our Iwi

Kia Ora! Having been immersed in Kiwi and Maori culture for the past five weeks will make the journey back to American culture another adventure.  Our students will take with them lasting memories of the challenges and opportunities of what not only New Zealand faces, but what the rest of the world faces as well.  Preserving biological diversity, conserving resources, and maintaining a balance between natural and human built environments are key to a sustainable future.  And, it will take all of us with our diverse backgrounds to come together in many different ways to help make lasting change for a bright future.

Dear students, we hope that what you have experienced with us in New Zealand will help shape the decisions you make for our future in exciting and positive ways.  We thank you for giving of yourselves openly with your hearts and minds so that our time together could be such a special learning opportunity for us all.  We have really enjoyed being with all of you, touring the wop-wops, and sharing a daily cuppa. Sweet As!

From the land of the long white cloud, safe and happy travels!  See you in the land of the flowers (La Florida).  With a Hongi and hug to each of you, m&m

Life among the animals, giving poi a go, and a hangi - August 2nd

Tuatara, a living fossil!

Thursday afternoon we experienced Willowbank Reserve.  Willowbank cares for New Zealand wildlife that occurs both naturally in the country as well as species that are part of the country's history (i.e., species that were introduced by colonists over time).  Some of these species are domestic such as chickens and horses, others have become pest species such as wallabies and possums.  The park seeks to educate residents and visitors as to the heritage and challenges New Zealand's animal species bring to the table.  Our tour also included native New Zealand species where we saw our first Tuatara, Kiwi, Takahe, and Morepork. We also got to size up the extinct animals of New Zealand that roamed this wondrous place not too long ago.

An additional tour was to experience Ko Tane - a Maori cultural performance.  I got to be our chief and made sure to let the Maori Village know that we came in peace by accepting their offering and performing a proper Hongi. 

Girls learning a Poi dance

We all had a wonderful time, and our gals got to give Poi a go, and our guys got to give the haka a go as part of the show (they felt well prepared after our private lessons at the Takahenge Marae - thanks Bret).

Following our tours we had a traditional Hangi dinner and had a chance to thank Colin, Tupelo, Jámm and Meryl for their assistance with the course, and of course, the students for their enthusiasm and sense of adventure for making the course a success! 
Cheers, Mark

Water Issues and Journals - July 31st

We spent the morning out at Waihora (Lake Ellesmere), New Zealand's fifth largest lake, learning about water issues and the Maori.  Very timely as water rights and the question of "does someone own the water" is very much in the news here right now.  During our morning tea break, we worked on our journals.  Another rainy afternoon was set aside as free time for working on journals. Cheers, Mark

A leisurely day sightseeing - July 28th

Pororari  River, Punakaiki

We enjoyed breakfast at Maggies in Greymouth and looked around a bit before getting in the road and heading north along the West Coast up to Punakaiki where Paparoa Nathional Park and the Pancake Rocks lie.  Along the way we stopped to search for Pounamu (jade) at Barrytown beach, and took in a hike along the seemingly prehistoric Pororari River.

At the Pancake Rocks

Weaving flax

Then we got to see the Pancake Rocks at sunset and high tide.  We ate dinner in Punakaiki and Meryl and Jámm taght us how to weave some of the Maori flax figures.  On our way back to Greyouth, we stopped to explore a glow worm cave and listen for Morepork. 

Cheers, Mark and Meryl

From Seals to the Rainbow God - Exploring the East Coast, July 24th

After days of nice weather, we were greeted by a cold and wet morning. We ate a quick breakfast at the sleeper cars and then we set of for the town of Kaikora on the East coast. We didn’t make it very far before our obligatory tea break at the Two Rivers café and art gallery. Besides the usual café fare, there was lots of beautiful artwork of many different styles by many different local artists. A few of us picked up some souvenirs. We drove for another hour, past Kaikora to Ohau point, where we observed the resident fur seal population. The beach was covered in seals.

 We then went on a short hike up the Ohau River to a waterfall. To everyone’s surprise, there were about 30 seal pups in the pool at the base of the waterfall, one was exceptionally friendly. During this time of the year, the mother seals take their young up the river while they feed at sea to protect them from the much larger male seals hanging out on the beach. It’s kind of like seal daycare. After staying at the falls for a few days they reunite with their mothers. After everyone got their fill of seal watching, we headed into Kaikora for lunch and some more shopping. 

We reconvened at 4 and headed to Takahanga Marae where we spent the night. A marae is a traditional Maori meeting house that is used for religious meetings, funerals, marriages, and all other manner of serious meetings. After going through the traditional acceptance and welcoming process with our Maori friends Bret and Karen. We were given a brief history lesson before we sat down to dinner and were officially accepted into the marae. After dinner we learned more about the Maori culture from Brad and were taught a non-threatening haka. The inside of the marae was adorned from floor to ceiling with beautiful and colorful wood carvings, paintings, and weavings of traditional Maori designs and figures. The pictures and carvings told stories about the local Maori tribes, the creation of New Zealand, and paid tribute to many of their gods.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures inside of the marae but I can assure you that it was a beautiful place and a great time was had by all.

- Kevin