With family joining us over the Christmas-New Year’s holiday period, we had to decide what to see and do with them. We chose some favorite things to repeat for their benefit, and selected some options…
Maui, half-man and half-god, is credited in Maori legends with many great feats. He lengthened the day by subduing the sun and slowing its progress through the sky. And he created the land of New…
In 1770, Captain James Cook, the historically inescapable Englishman who first explored New Zealand, sailed past the many fjords, or sounds, of southwestern New Zealand, an area now appropriately called Fjordland. At one of those…
Since before the Europeans started to explore New Zealand, the vast southwest area of the South Island called Fjordland proved quite inhospitable. Captain Cook passed it by; the Spanish lit out for Australia after seeing…
He was a baker of breads and pastries, as was his father before him, and he was talking about Kiwi karma. He first mentioned his sister in England. Over and over again she would call…
Why travel? Sure, Auntie Em, there is no place like home, but the world is full of stunning natural wonders, historic human creations, and exciting cities. Like many inveterate travelers, we hope to see a…
According to somebody’s official estimate, about 100,000 people thronged the central avenue of Courtenay Place yesterday to gawk at those who created the Hobbit movie. This in a town of about 400,000 people. Imagine if…
Maori legends tell that the Whanganui River formed as a result of a love triangle among volcanoes. Mount Taranaki once lived next to three kinsman in the center of the North Island, his fellow volcanoes…
Since 1989, the town of Whangamomona has been an independent republic. According to legend, back in 1989 the New Zealand government decided to move Whangamomona from one administrative region to another. This proved very disturbing…
We were checking out at the natural foods store of Commonsense Organics, and the cashier asked where we were from. The States, we said, and Texas. Ooh, he said, then maybe I shouldn’t ask you…