Monday 30 October 2017

Maketu has gone to the dogs...


Like I've mentioned before, Cemeteries interest me...this one we visited in Maketu also has historical part graves to it - these ones are in the newer part. This one caught my eye....judging by the headstone on the grave I'd say this one is affiliated with a local gang, looks like the Mongrel Mob and the dogs on top show that the person must've loved bulldogs.


According to local history many Maori pa were situated in various parts of the area around the early part of European occupation. The history lies in it's numerous burial grounds especially in Wharekaru are graves of some Pakeha and Maori leaders including Philip Tapsell and Anne Chapman who established the first local school in Maketu. The open fields of the Peninsula are considered sacred ground (Tapu).

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Friday 27 October 2017

Stormy view over Port of Tauranga


Since we've moved over to Mount Maunganui I've been wanting to walk along the walkway/cycleway of the harbour bridge to take a photo of the Port of Tauranga.  Finally a couple of weeks ago after a stormy weekend I bit the bullet and got it done.

In the distance you can see the Mount, on the left is part of the port with a small number of containers only in view (it literally goes for quite some distance) and on the right is the Tauranga Marina. Still in Spring here with an equal number of rainy and sunny days.

Thanks to all for well wishes while I've been sick, I hope I literally never have to go through that again. I feel like I'm on the mend :-)

Wednesday 25 October 2017

Wiremu Neera Te Awaitaia


I'm one of those people who have a fascination with old things, houses....cemeteries. I don't see them as morbid or useless...I see them as places full of history and memories.  On our recent trip through Raglan it was a blustery freezing cold Spring day, New Zealand had seen alot of rain that almost seem to keep going and going so this area was flooded in places. This small cemetery and monuments are in honour of Wiremu Neera Te Awataia, who was a Maori chief when the first ever contact was being made with European settlers.


He was born in 1796 into the Waikato Tribe of Ngati Mahanga and was known as a friend of the Pakeha (white people) and a person of great influence in Raglan. His name in the English language means "William Naylor".

Sooo do you ever visit historical areas and what are your favourite places?

btw I'm home from work for the rest of the week, seems the flu has developed into a chest infection leading to Laryngitis. Anti-biotics are now being taken and boredom has set in. Can't wait to get back to real life.

Sunday 22 October 2017

The old Petrol Station of Pongakawa


On one of our road trips not so long ago we drove past this old building on the corner of the road leading into Pongakawa a small town about 40 minutes out of Tauranga. Old buildings especially those covered in graffiti catch my attention so we stopped briefly so I could take some photos.

According to people who have lived around the area this use to be the old petrol station, not sure how old it is or when it was last used as there seems to be very little information available online about this. It's kind of a pity it hasn't been used for another purpose but then again the building doesn't look very stable anyway...

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Friday 20 October 2017

Time for a morning surf


This week I've been struck down with another Spring flu, seems like when you work in a job that deals with the public people come in all the time sick, coughing and sneezing so it's easy to get bugs.

In NZ this week it's going to be Labour Weekend. I have family coming down here from Northland for a visit so we're hoping to spend some sunny days outside at the beach.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday :-)

Wednesday 18 October 2017

Karangahake Gorge Cliffs




This is one of my favourite spots, about an hour or so out of Tauranga as I've posted before is the Karangahake Gorge a very historical place. The main highway has been carved out of the cliffs and on the left is the stream and waterfall that runs through. It's certainly a formidable place.

Linking with Wednesday around the world.

Tuesday 17 October 2017

Looking out on Spring


As the sand dunes make way for the beach there are plenty of grasses, daisies and wildflowers growing in clumps. Yesterday while enjoying the sunshine I sat on the sand and looked out at the view - hardly any clouds, blue skies and plenty of colour. Looks like Spring to me!

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Friday 13 October 2017

The LEDA Maersk is in port


Wednesday morning while out on my daily beach walk I saw there was a new container ship coming into town. This one, the LEDA Maersk (all the way from Denmark) was sailing fast past Rabbit Island, even seeing it in the distance it looks quite large.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday :-)

Tuesday 10 October 2017

The old Tauranga post office


A very interesting building this one. While I was on my way to an appointment in the city I walked past this building, the old Tauranga post office. Apparently according to some research the original structure on this site was made of wood and was meant to be used for farm training for the local Maori people but land wars broke out and it was used by the military as a hospital. After it was rebuilt in 1902 it burned down and an architect named John Campbell redesigned it in an Imperial Baroque style. For many years local residents visited the building when it became a post office on the lower floor and on the second floor housed a courtroom.

The post office moved out in 1938 and the courtroom found elsewhere to be. In 1987 when people thought it would be demolished in favour of new high rise buildings, the local council purchased the building in 1990 then resold it to a new owner with instructions that it be restored to appropriate conditions. Since then it has been restored and now accommodates 4 office areas. There is also a display area on the lower floor showcasing exhibits relating to the buildings history.

Sunday 8 October 2017

Days of Summer surfing...


Since NZ is going through Springtime at the moment, we've had more than enough rain to last us a long time. It's enough to make you feel a bit over it. To sum up my week we've had my daughter's best friend from school here, we dropped her off at the bus stop at 7.30 this morning so she could go back home up north to her family. Today, being my day off the housework is done and there's not alot to do except watch some movies. Until the weather improves I'm going to dream of warm days of Summer :-)

Thursday 5 October 2017

Poor little abandoned house...


On our last road trip through Rotorua, we drove through various parts of the city. This was one area the other half wanted to show me in a poorer section of town. An old state house from what looks like the 1960s/1970s era when it was fashionable for the government to build properties like this for families of a low social economic background. These days most of them are being torn down in favour of newer houses but unfortunately there are still alot of them that have been used to make/use drugs so they are unsafe and unhealthy to live in. This poor little abandoned house looks like it's been left in a big decaying state with broken windows and timber along with gang graffiti.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday...

Monday 2 October 2017

Lake Karapiro Kowhai and Carvings


When you're on a road trip it's nice to pull off the main highway and explore some unfamiliar surroundings. Normally people go camping from Summer through to Autumn, however we spotted these campers who set up their tent and caravan on Lake Karapiro in early September (Spring in NZ).


Although it was a dismal overcast rain on/off again day it was nice to see some colour such as these Maori carvings and a Kowhai tree behind it flowering.


These trees that bloom in bright yellow flowers are native to New Zealand and feed native birds such as Tui, Kaka and Pigeon and Bellbird.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Sunday 1 October 2017

Cherry blossoms on 17th Ave


On my day off yesterday I drove my car to our trusted mechanic so it could get it's usual yearly warranty check completed. After having at least 45 minutes to spare I decided to walk from 11th Ave up to 17th Ave.


Very good exercise too! I was originally going to try and walk further up to Greerton as the cherry blossoms are flowering out there at the moment but knew it would probably take longer to get there on foot.


On the way I spied some trees in bloom along 17th Ave and took some photos of them in their pink finery. And down the opposite end of the street was Tauranga's historic village.  Quite alot of walking was done in all but by the time I got back and chatted with the mechanic I was dismayed to learn that the front shock absorbers in my car need replacing at a hefty cost. Thankfully I have a very handy other half who can replace when for me so that I can take the car back for it's warranty to pass :-)

Cobden Observation Post

  We've been living in Greymouth nearly 2 years now and we finally got to complete this walk to the Cobden WW2 Observation Post . It too...