Category Archives: New Zealand

GPS Tracks, New Zealand, Topo Map, Tramping, Youtube Videos

2. Auckland: Coast-to-Coast

Thursday, February 12: Overcast throughout the day, clearing a little in the evening

Tramping: Coast to Coast (Te Araroa), 16.3 km

Chinara’s

Slept through to 9:30 and didn’t hear Chinara leaving at 8. I wanted to do the Coast-to-Coast Walkway today (a section of the Te Araroa Track) and had a map prepared but … First of all, couldn’t find the glasses, then couldn’t find the file, except finally on the safe page on the web. WTH. Saved it to the laptop, packed the pack with only the laptop and some water, and was eventually ready to go by 12:00. Read more…

New Zealand, Swimming, Travel Planning

1. Auckland

Wednesday, February 11: Warm and sunny

Swimming: 1200 m

Chinara’s (airbnb, $56)

Kayaker Intrepid has landed

The plane from Kuala Lumpur was very full, and I was seated in my old seat but had a Maori family sitting next to me who I struck up conversation with (a couple, their daughter and her boyfriend). I had the fish this time round (very spicy) and then took in one half of Walking in the Graveyard until I wasn’t following the story any more and slept a good three hours. My rowmates slept the whole way through to dinner, as did most other people. Passengers today included a variety of people wearing religious attire except for Jews, Hare Krishnas, and Bhagwanis. Read more…

Kayaking, New Zealand, Photography, Travel Planning

Countdown

It’s time for the preparations to draw to a close, after ten months. Of course, there’ll be stuff that still has to be bought because it was forgotten back at the ranch. I’m still wrangling with the car hirer about whether a larger suitcase than the current one will fit into the boot of the car I’m hiring, and that may continue for several days. I’ll at least try to pack the existing case, but I suspect that, with all the camping gear, too much will be left for the pack. Read more…

New Zealand, Society and Culture

Rebounding Natives – The Maori

Polynesians arrived in New Zealand in the course of the 14th century. They were part of the last great Polynesian expansion which started somewhere around the Cook Islands and led to the establishment of populations in the Eastern Pacific (Easter Island), the North-East (Hawaii), and the South-West. Read more…

New Zealand, Society and Culture

Politics and Government in New Zealand

New Zealand is regarded as one of the most democratic government systems in the world, and is based on the Westminster system of a head of state (the Queen, represented by the Governor-General), a head of government (the Prime Minister), and the trio of legislature, administration and judiciary. What puts New Zealand ahead of the rest, is the development of the political system over the last century, which has allowed it to address the needs of a multicultural society, while minimising cultural biases at the same time. Read more…

New Zealand, Society and Culture

Kiwi English

New Zealand English is essentially the English somebody forgot to take out of their back pocket before putting their jeans through the laundry.

—Hamish Ritchie


Australian English is essentially Cockney without the refinement.

—Öjevind Lång


(https://ccil.org/~cowan/essential.html#English_Specific_Varieties, November 20, 2014)

Although National Geographic seems to have difficulty distinguishing Australian from New Zealand English, it would be doing both dialects a disservice to lump them in one pot together. Yes, yes, I know there are people who cannot reliably hear the differences between the major dialects of North America, either, or of the British Isles for that matter, but let’s have a look at what makes New Zealand English unique. Read more…

New Zealand, Society and Culture, Travel Planning

Oh, No, National Geographic!

NatGeo cover
National Geographic Traveler New Zealand (German Edition), ISBN: 978-3-95559-056-7

I had a gift book voucher left over from some celebration or other, and as the shop was closing its branch in town I thought I would redeem it before it went into recycling. Had a look at the maps first, because the pair that I have adorning the living room wall are gradually fading away. Not much more than a street map of Wellington was available so I had a look at the tour guides instead, hoping to find something that might give me a few tips that I had not seen before. The National Geographic volume looked like the sort of thing that I wouldn’t have bought without the voucher anyway, and it looked quite impressive, so I settled for it.Read more…