Taniwha are supernatural creatures whose forms and characteristics vary according to different tribal traditions. Though supernatural, in the Māori world view they were seen as part of the natural environment. Taniwha have been described as fabulous monsters that live in deep water.
I saw this while wandering in Rotorua's geo-thermal park the other day and wondered about the Maori legends and the Taniwha ...
The small New Zealand town of Tirau offered up something quite different to anything I've seen before, in terms of advertising signs. And I loved it.
I went searching for the story and found the website - Corrugated Creations.
The photograph below is of the huge corrugated iron sign that advertised the garage we pulled into after hearing the most terrible grinding sound coming from under the bonnet. We were lucky ... a stone had bounced up into the brakes but the mechanic there ... what a sweetie.
A small glimpse of Auckland city ... taken in an unusual light, back on that first day here in New Zealand.
Way back when ... when my first husband joined the New Zealand airforce, he was recruited by Peter Kirker. And Peter, being the kind-hearted soul that he is, told his wife that this new recruit had a wife and she might need some support as her 30 year old husband disappeared into 6 months of basic and officer training.
And that was where our friendship began ... so many years ago, it played out on Base Woodbourne in Marlborough and we've stayed in touch over the years.
So when they heard we were coming home, they suggested we arrive in Auckland so that they could introduce Gert to the North Island of New Zealand ... a territory that has remained relatively unknown to me. I'm a South Island girl and was always so completely in love with the other island that I never did get round to the roadtrip 'up north' before leaving home.
Since arriving on Monday, we have been introduced to Auckland, wandered in Rotoroa, slept at Taupo, eaten enough exquisite food to make me wonder why it was that I left and, last night, we have arrived in Wellington.
We have laughed often as we've wandered with this lovely couple, talked endlessly, been taken care of like we were special and we have had a most marvellous time.
Returning has felt something like someone opening up their red wine cellar up to us, and bringing out all their treasures, inviting us to taste each one and, rather than getting drunk, we find ourselves filled up with the goodness that is a return to New Zealand.
I'm really struggling to focus down in on each individual story ... the people, the places, the sights seen. The stories, the 'incidents' (mmmmm, there may have been some incidents), and the details of this return home after 8 years away.
Last night I was talking to my dad and my sister, anticipating arriving in their world at the weekend. And exchanging mails with Giovanni and Inge, lovely friends made via the internet ... people I'll be seeing while here in Wellington. There are people to visit with all over this country of mine and I love that.
This morning, 5am (the new normal), and the dawn chorus exploded into the room. I love it. I have missed so much about 'home', deep inside of myself, in that place where these kinds of memories hide themselves.
Anyway, enough of the deluge of words ... I photographed our lovely friends while they were showing Gert a Fantail on one of the pathways in Rotorua. Meet Christine and Peter Kirker, people I am so honoured to have as friends.
We just completed our trip down the North Island. Today found us photographing New Zealand's erupting volcano, Mount Tongariro. This, after a delightrful hour or more spent at L’Art'e Cafe, enjoying stunning food, exquisite art, AND, the best coffee I've tasted outside of Italy.
It's been magic ... a truly magic couple of days. And there's the fact that early summer in New Zealand is not to be sneezed at. I hope my body clock has made the switch though ... otherwise I'm drinking red wine at 6.49am Belgian time. (NZ is 12 hours ahead).
Yesterday we were wandering the paths of Wai-O-Tapu, one of Rotorua's thermal parks, as per the photograph that follows.
Tomorrow ...
Tomorrow I will begin writing up some of the things seen ... sharing photographs taken of that erupting volcano.
Sleep ... must sleep now.
Peter Kirker loves photography too. He caught me, at breakfast, out on the balcony this morning.
How strange to be on the other side of the camera ... patient while photographed from all angles.
