New Zealand Stonehenge, in Wairapara

I didn't believe it either, until I went there, and it is truly amazing. New Zealand's Stonehenge is known as Stonehenge Aotearoa, Aotearoa being the most widely known and accepted Māori name for New Zealand, and is located in the Wairapara region not too far from Wellington

The Stonehenge was built by around 150 members of the Phoenix Astronomical Society, and is a full scale working version of Stonehenge in England.

The location was chosen specifically, and the henge built precisely, although it's not 'actually' made of stone, it gives great insight to the skies, the stars, the sun and the turning of the earth.

Each outer stone is a different size and touches the horizon. The view through each 'window' shows a different section of the skies, 2 stones are specifically for the equinox, another 2 for the solstices... and there is so much more to learn about.

The mosaic star charts of the starsigns shows how they move in the skies. Did you know, your 'real' star sign has moved forward almost a month in the last 2,000 years?

It's a fascinating trip, and well worth the time to go.

Down at the Wairapara

Recently, we went to the lower North island to the Wairapara region, and spent some time in and around Masterton, Carterton, Featherston and Greytown.

It's a stunning part of the country, and showed me why New Zealand is the land of the long white cloud, the cloud literally sits in the mountain tops... like so... and this was in the middle of the day!

 

 

While in the region, we visited Assasi Gardens, built with love by a retired couple over the last 10 years, their dedication is wonderful, and they have an astounding location for their endeavors.

The house is actually built in a semi-circle and has a panoramic view over the valley, a lot of the sculptures they have built themselves and they tend to the garden themselves.

 

And of course, a visit to a winery, we went to Gladstone Vineyeard. The had the nets over the vines as the grapes were almost ready and they didn't want birds taking them away. 

The house on site was lovely and brought in from Masterton, and while we were there they was a display of local artists sculptures - the most intriguing being the bug car.

 

 As interesting as the bug car was - and yes, each individual bug was hand crafted from metal, it had nothing on the 'ghost house'.

This house is on a hill with a lovely outlook east of Greytown, and has been abandoned for 30 years... the owner was going to pull it down, but has decided to let nature take it's course... I'm not sure if this is brilliance or laziness, but it definitely makes for an interesting sight!

Things to do in a City of Sails

Living in Auckland, on Twin harbours, you kinda 'have' to get involved in water activities of some kind, and we have seen and experienced quite a few. We are still debating on whether we should buy a boat ourselves, but with Summer drawing to a close and petrol prices on the rise ($2.16 a litre currently) we keep thinking we should just hire.

So... here are some photos of activities we have been involved in on the water since being here.

Swimming at Long Bay

 

Cruising the Harbour

Getting ready to Jetski

 

Kayaking

 

Windsurfing

 

 Sailing the America's Cups Boats

Walking along the Beaches

 

... and of course... swimming in a fountain :)

  

As the Nation Bleeds again - Christchurch's Second Earthquake

Unreal, Surreal, Unfathomable.

The images from Christchurch over the past few days have been mind-reeling, it is a war zone, it's completely devastating, it's horrific, it's the worst natural disaster this nation has faced, and with the population being as it is, everyone knows someone who has been hurt, or lost loved ones.

Living at the other end of the nation leaves me slightly removed from it all, and not knowing anyone personally involved, but there is so much news, the radio is constantly filled with updates as well as on the TV, and you see and hear the pain and suffering, daily, hourly, and it hurts.

Today my children had a ceremony at school for a new building, and amongst the cheer and joy in erecting something for the community at large to enjoy was a minute silence of remembrance.

A minute where the hundreds of students, teachers, parents, visitors and officials joined together in thought for those hurting the most, and it's brought home again how real this is.

Through it all is also amazing encouragement. Yet again the people band together to help each other. A nation that has suffered in the past 6 months, this is the third earthquake for that region, and there has been the disaster at Pike River mines, yet the people give, and help, and love, and care.

I heard on the radio the call go out for blood donors for the blood bank, 24 hours later the call says to stop, there is ample supply.

I hear the facebook group, the Student Volunteer Army is re-assembling to go in and help clean up, listen to those who need to talk and offer support as needed - and in 24 hours there are over 10,000 volunteers, as I wrote this there are almost 15,000.

The Red Cross opens for donations, and the world responds - late this afternoon there were more donations from overseas than from NZ itself.... and it's needed, this is a small nation, and can only do so much.

Telecom enables all public phones in the region to have free calls. Air NZ puts on extra flights and offers $50.00 flights to anywhere in the country. ANZ kicks in $1 million dollars to relief efforts, local business The Mad Butcher put in $20,000, and the support comes in from around the world.

Response teams arrive from all around the world and help sift the buildings in hope for the living, and work through the buildings in the city clarifying those that are safe.

People offer tents in the disaster area for those displaced to have a roof over there heads. Trademe.co.nz makes a section devoted to the earthquake, fundraisers start up, accommodation is offered and so much more.

I am inspired by this young man - offering himself to do work for the highest  bidder, and donate all finds to the appeal.

The response has been amazing, I am truly floored by how quickly the people of this nation as well as those around the world have moved in to do whatever they can to help.

For those who have lost loved ones, I offer my heartfelt condolences. For the city that is in tatters I hope that the toll is not as high as predicted... and for the nation that is hurting I weep with you, and offer what I may to help.

Discovering Auckland

Things I love about Auckland? Let me tell you of a few.

I love the nickname for the people who reside here - Jafa's.


I know the 'F' stands for something else, but I like to think of it as Just Another Friendly Aucklander ;) I went to a conference in the city last year, and some of the people were playing on this and had a large bowl of Jafa lollies for people to help themselves to - I took a few packets home with me.

I love the Harbours.
Across Twin harbours the city scape really is nothing like anything I have seen before. I've resided in Sydney for a many year, being another famous town on a Harbour, but Sydney is nothing like Auckland. In Auckland you can pretty much drive for 10 minutes in any direction and see water, I constantly feel closer to nature, and I love this.

I'm fascinated by the landscape.
The volcanic foundation of the city makes for rolling hills and unusual architecture. There are 50 volcanic cores and dormant volcanoes around Auckland. Many of which are built upon. In Australia, I am used to the land being cut and filled - each block or section of land being leveled for the house to sit on. In Auckland they leave the land, and level the house, which may take 1, 2 or 3 levels to accommodate the amount of house that is desired.

I love the people.
They really are very friendly and helpful, and appreciate others, not all people are this way, but a great many are. I remember parking in a shopping centre, very early on being in the country, and seeing a guy doing something under the dashboard of his car. I had to go and at least talk to him, in case he was attempting to steal it. I went up to the window, nervous as anything and asked " Hey, can you use some help?" He replied "No, I'm just fixing the  <insert something mechanical here>" He showed me the packets he had from Dick Smiths and the parts he was trying to fix. Then.. he turned and said "Thanks very much for asking". Such a nice guy, thanking me for checking if he was stealing a car.

Auckland really is full of friendly people ;)