Gorgeous with Attitude

Hokianga Harbour Crossing on the Kohu Ra Tuarua

2012-01-25T07:03:00.003+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

The Kohu Ra Tuarua coming in to Rawene, Hokianga

For locals 'The ferry is a community event where people meet, catch up on gossip, and share their lives.'*

As visitors we had no gossip to catch up on, but we were still excited to be having a ride on the Hokianga vehicular ferry.

Vehicles disembarking from the Kohu Ra Tuarua at Rawene

Our car was parked in the 'ferry lane' at Rawene while we waited for vehicles to disembark.

View from our car as we drove onto the Kohu Ra Tuarua

The Kohu Ra Tuarua crew member in his high visibility vest waved for us to drive up the ramp and indicated where we should park our car. The Kohu Ra Tuarua is a double sided mono hulled 146 tonne vehicular ferry owned by the Far North District Council.**

Kohu Ra Tuarua crew member at work, Rawene, Hokianga

The Kohu Ra Tuarua has the capacity to carry about 20 cars and 150 passengers.**

Cars parked on the vehicular ferry, the Kohu Ra Tuarua, Rawene

As the ferry filled up, we headed upstairs to the passenger lounge to enjoy the view.

The building built over the water with 'petrol' painted in large letters on the corrugated iron roof is the Rawene Garage (circa 1920).

View of the passenger lounge, the Kohu Ra Tuarua, Rawene

Although the day was overcast, it was warm outside so almost everyone chose to stay outside.

We were in Rawene long enough for one of the cars passenger (plus car) we'd seen disembark, embark for the return journey (presumably having done a quick bit of shopping or something).

Life preserver, Kohu Ra Tuarua

Rua in Maori means two, hence the Kohu Ra Tuarua is the second Kohu Ra Tua boat. She was built in 1998***

The Kohu Ra Tuarua leaving Rawene, Dec 2011

Once everyone was on board, the safety barriers were closed and the ramp winched up as we departed Rawene.

Rawene viewed from the Kohu Ra Tuarua (on an overcast day in December 2011)

It was beautiful out on the harbour. We watched the township of Rawene get smaller.

View of Motukaraka from the Hokianga Ferry

Across the harbour we could see Motukaraka with the prominent spire of The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (circa 1910).

Vehicles in transit

The 15 minute ferry ride saves a 90 minute drive around the harbour.

Vehicles waiting to board the ferry on the Kohukohu (northern) side of the Hokianga Harbour

As we approached our destination on the northern side of the harbour we could see a line of parked cars waiting to take the vehicular ferry back to Rawene. Time to get back into the car and get ready to disembark.

The Kohu Ra Tuarua about to go around a harbour buoy as it approaches Rawene

Well, that was fun! Tempting to park the car and do it all again as passengers but we needed to move on.

The Kohu Ra Tuarua was designed for the Hokianga run and was built by Ship Constructors Ltd in Whangarei in 1998.****

*http://www.kohukohu.com/resources/Kohukohu-Design-Guidelines.pdf
**http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/hokianga-ferry-marooned-vandal-attack-suspected/972367/
***http://www.nzmaritimeindex.org.nz/index.htm (New Zealand Maritime Index vessel ID 549030215)
****http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/car-ferry-comes-ashore-in-the-hokianga/952001/

http://historic.org.nz/TheRegister/RegisterSearch/RegisterResults.aspx?RID=72 (the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption)

Thoughts of Rawene

2012-01-22T12:48:00.000+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

When I think of Rawene I think of ...

Carrying the shopping, Rawene

...people with a friendly warmth that made us feel very welcome...

View of Rawene from the Hokianga Harbour

...a small township almost surrounded by the beautiful Hokianga Harbour...

View of the Hokianga Harbour from Rawene Holiday Park

...magnificent harbour views...

Mehaka Tautai's fishing canoe, dating from 1881 (Rawene)

... a rich history ...

Mangrove walkway with view of old wooden posts, Rawene township

...traces of a past when Rawene was a much busier, noisier place, such as the remains of the old Rawene timber mill and box factory (that formerly covered much of the mudflats beside the township and worked 24 hours a day)...

The remains of an old wooden dinghy (foreground) with a stop bank made of Sydney rocks used as ballast by ships exporting kauri timber (background), Mangrove walkway, Rawene

...reminders of a time when the harbour was filled with many cargo carrying sailing ships ...

Poupou (Maori carved poles) of Jane Takotowi Clendon and James Reddy Clendon by carver Nopera Pikari outside Clendon House, Rawene

...inspiring people including Jane Clendon who showed great resilience, determination and good character and who despite having eight children managed to clear a huge debt left when her husband died *. Also Dr. G. McCall Smith whose legacy is free healthcare in the area.**

Poupou of Jane Clendon (of Hokianga Maori descent) and her husband James Reddy Clendon, Rawene

...beautiful, interesting art...

The lizard's tail on the poupou of James Clendon in reference to his nickname tuatara because he was like a hungry lizard poking around into the nooks and crannies of Northland*

View of Lane's Store/Boatshed Cafe [red corrugated iron-clad building with off-street-over the water parking] looking towards the old Customs House (1902) [blue building] from small jetty, Rawene

...beautiful old buildings including some built on piles over the harbour...

Shops over the water, including Lane's Store/Four Square, Rawene (viewed from the ferry parking area)

...the old-world charm...
... the cry of seagulls and the absolutely delicious, freshly baked bread (from a shop on Parnell Street)...

Tyre swing beneath a flowering Pohutakawa tree, Rawene township

...a tyre swing beneath a flowering Pohutakawa tree...

Sailing dinghys (P-class yachts ?), Rawene

...the clean, fresh salty air...

View of boats from Rawene including the Hokianga Harbour Vehicular Ferry

... lovely old boats, and of course the vehicular ferry.

*http://www.historic.org.nz/Publications/HeritageNZMagazine/HeritageNz2008/HNZ08-Poles.aspx
**http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4s32/1

Kotu Boulders (septarian concretions), Hokianga Harbour

2012-01-19T15:44:00.000+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Kotu Boulders, Hokianga Harbour

While the tide was out we took the opportunity for an evening walk along the Hokianga Harbour foreshore to the Kotu Boulders.

Some were perfect balls of stone, others had broken over the years, some lay in pieces like giant puzzles.

Kotu Boulders and mangroves , Hokianga Harbour

They were spread out along the foreshore, some at about the high tide mark, others would have been covered at high tide. The occasional one was covered in oysters.

Kotu Boulders, Hokianga Harbour

They varied in size from small to well over our height.
The Kotu Boulders (like the Moeraki Boulders down south) are septarian concretions.*

Children's hut, Kotu

The light was fading, so we headed back along the beach. On the way we passed this little beach hut made using in-situ boulders, driftwood, an old wooden pallet... It even had a name; Whare (Maori for house) Taka-something. There was no sign of the kids who'd made it but I'll 'bet' they have heaps of fun playing here.

Fish trap, Hokianga Harbour

We also passed a large semi circle of stones in a tidal area. I thought it might be a fish trap. Sometimes they can be hundreds of years old.

Once we'd walked back to our car we headed off to stay in nearby Rawene for the night.

*Concretions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concretion

The Hokianga Harbour; Omapere and Opononi

2012-01-10T11:16:00.000+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Hokianga Harbour viewed from the south side, Northland (west coast)

Now this is a view that stays in the memory! I've only been to the Hokianga once before, but this beautiful, sweeping view made such an impression that it has (joyfully) remained with me. Last time (about 20 years ago) it was sunny and the colours were fabulously vibrant ; the deep azure of the harbour waters, the bright blue of the sky, the rich greens of the vegetation and spectacular golden yellows of the enormous sand dunes. This time the sky was mostly overcast, so we got to see the Hokianga Harbour in a different 'mood'. Other than that, not much appears to have changed.

The Hokianga Heads viewed from the south side, looking out to the Tasman Sea,

Northland (west coast)

It's a quiet place now but is rich in history. It's neat to pause and imagine the great Polynesian explorer, Kupe, who made the Hokianga his home, first entering the harbour in a great Waka. Also the Waka fleets and sailing ships with cargoes of flax fibre, Kauri timber and gum, that sailed these waters afterwards. Kupe originally named the harbour Te Puna i te ao marama (The spring of the world of light) .* Perhaps this was in recognition of the great beauty of the area.

Track leading down to ocean beach,
Arai Te Uru, Hokianga

After stopping at a rest area for lunch, we headed down to the Arai Te Uru Recreational Reserve for a walk.

The beach pictured above looked inviting and had it not been so windy we'd have gone down the track to explore it. As it turned out it was fortunate that we hadn't because the two of our party who'd forgotten to apply sunblock got quite sun burnt in the 20 minutes or so we were out in the sun.

Looking south down the coast with manuka or kanuka and NZ flax in the foreground,
Arai Te Uru, Hokianga

The many flowering manuka or kanuka trees were alive with small black buzzing insects. Until I stopped and had a good look at one, I'd thought they were flies. They were however, extremely busy native bees. Many carried little bundles of pollen on their hind legs like honey bees do.

New Zealand Flax (Phormium) blossoms

Probably my absolute favourite scent is the incredibly subtle smell of New Zealand flax blossoms. The flax at Arai Te Uru were a beautiful bright orange; brighter than the ones we're used to at home in the Waikato.

Arai Te Uru (South head) Recreational Reserve, Hokianga Harbour

John Martin, the first European settler to the area set up a signal station here in the early 1800s. It was needed to help ships safely navigate the sometimes treacherous sand bar at the mouth of the harbour. I'm not sure, but I think the structure that the person on the left is standing on may be the remains of the signal station.

I read somewhere that you can sometimes see dolphins or whales entering or leaving the harbour from here. We had a good look and didn't see any. Australia is out there somewhere, over 1,000 miles (more than 2,000kms) away.

Wind-blown hair,
Arai Te Uru (South head) Recreational Reserve, Hokianga Harbour

It was fun in the wind for a while, but then we decided to head down to the harbour beaches.

View across the Hokianga harbour from the Omapere wharf to Niua (the north head)

At the Omapere wharf we watched a fisherman load up his boat and head out into the harbour.

Boy on a Dolphin Sculpture by Russel Clark (1960) commemorating Opo the dolphin, Opononi, Northland

A few minutes later in Opononi we stopped to look at the Boy on a Dolphin sculpture. The plaque read:
Opo the Dolphin
(Turiops) [ie a Bottlenose dolphin]
Who came in from the open
sea and lived along this
shore becoming so tame
that children could ride
upon her back
1955-1956
Sculpture by Russel Clark

In 1955 and 1956 a wild dolphin, nicknamed Opo started following fishing boats around Opononi and swimming daily in the bay close to the town. 'Unlike the majority of dolphins, she had no qualms
about human company, and would perform stunts for locals and allow children to swim alongside
her. The dolphin became a local celebrity but news of her soon spread, and visitors from
throughout the country would come to watch her. She stayed in the waters around the town for
two summers. * She's buried at Opononi and the fact that she's commemorated with the Boy on a Dolphin sculpture reflects the huge impact she had on the hearts of many people and on Opononi itself. There's at least one lovely children's picture book that tells her story.

Opononi Four Square Store,(est 1894, A.S.Andrewes and Sons)

Hokianga, Northland

The sign on the Opononi Four Square Store reads 'A.S. Andrewes and Sons, est 1894'. Apparently Alfred Sprye Andrewes purchased a store and gum store (selling Kauri gum) from the original owner, John Webster in 1894. Later he converted the gum store into a two storey hotel.* It look like the business is still run by the same family.

Opo sculpture (foreground), with the Opononi Store (left) and Opononi Hotel (right)

In 1959 the store and hotel were destroyed in a fire. * The two buildings pictured above, therefore, would date from about 1959.

It's a beautiful area and warranted a longer stay, but the weather wasn't great so we kept going.

To get a better feel for the area, there's a lovely film and poem about the Omapere wharf on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLuo1tGVzOA

* http://www.fndc.govt.nz/your-council/strategic-planning/community-development-plans/Opononi_Omapere-Community-Plan-Draft_1.pdf (History of Opononi and Omapere)

http://thisistheplace.org.nz/index.php?option=com_kttw&view=storydetails&story_id=98&Itemid=28

Books on Opo the dolphin include
Opo: The Gay Dolphin by Avis Acres,Little Mammoth, 1993
Opo: The Hokianga Dolphin by Eric Lee-Johnson, David Ling Publication,1994

Waipoua Forest and Waimamaku

2012-01-06T19:24:00.000+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Ta Matua Ngahere (Kauri tree), Waipoua Forest, Northland (Dec 2011)

I'm going to show my bias here because I really love this part of the country (the Waipoua Forest and the Hokianga). It has wonderful character, old-world charm and friendly locals (as well as beautiful scenery).

Tiny native orchid flower (Caladenia catenata ?), Waipoua Forest, Northland (December 2011)

Many people come to the area to see the enormous, ages-old Kauri trees in the Waipoua forest; to stand in their presence and feel in awe of their impressive age, size and majesty...but there's a lot more here to enjoy.

Native greenhood orchids (Pterostylis banksii ?), Waipoua Forest, Northland

There are plenty of beautiful, tiny things in the Waipoua forest too, such as these native orchids.

View across Waipoua Forest from the lookout

We drove up a rough, corrugated gravel road to the Waipoua Forest lookout. Visibility was limited by wet weather, but it was still a great view and we were amazed at how many large, rounded Kauri heads were visible standing proud above the rest of the forest.

'Street art' on what appeared to be an old surveyor's trig, Waipoua Forest, Northland

I delight in finding art in unexpected places so enjoyed this piece just beside the viewing tower.

'Street art' on what appeared to be an old surveyor's trig, Waipoua Forest, Northland

I'm not sure, but I think it might be an old surveyor's trig that's been transformed into an interesting sculpture by someone adding images to the surface at the top.

'Street art' on what appeared to be an old surveyor's trig, Waipoua Forest, Northland

It looks as if someone's used it for target practice, but the rusty holes just add to the effect.

Waimamaku Service Station sign, Northland

After enjoying a few walks to see the various named trees we continued our journey north. A group of signs attractively displayed in a paddock at the side of the road alerted us that we were almost at the village of Waimamaku.

Mr Four Square, sign near Waimamaku, Northland

Mr Four Square, has been used since the early 1950's to advertise the Four Square chain of grocery stores.*

Waimamaku Four Square, Community Centre and Cafe/Art Gallery

We stopped just down the road from the service station at the Waimamaku shops; the Waimamaku Four Square general store with its high wooden facade, the Community Resource Centre and Cafe/craft shop. I love the green wooden bench seat by the Four Square front door; no doubt a friendly meeting place. You've got to admire the community-minded gesture on behalf of the Four Square proprietors. Many would place a higher value on the space at the shop front for the display of advertising material. A bench seat in a sunny spot is so much more welcoming! Inside the store a woman was busy decorating the store for Christmas, stringing tinsel across the ceiling (we visited in mid-December).

Waimamaku Four Square viewed from the side

While the kids went into the cafe, I took a photo of the lovely old Four Square building from the car park side. Both the roof and most of the building (other than the front) were clad with corrugated iron.

Thick cork insulation at the Waimamaku Community Resource Centre

As I stepped into the Waimamaku Community Centre and Op shop I was surprised to see a thick wad of cork insulation visible in the doorway. The friendly lady in the shop told me the building had originally been part of the old Waimamaku Cheese Factory. Cork and pumice were used to insulate the building.

Waimamaku Community Resource Centre

Apparently the ceiling is similarly insulated with cork and pumice. In its day the factory won various awards for their cheese over the years (including an international award in the early 1900s), but was closed in 1972.** ***

Old Puriri tree , Waimamaku

Beside the cafe, in a paddock was a beautiful old tree. This time it's a very old Puriri tree, possibly a remnant from the forest that once covered the land here prior to it being cleared for farming. I marvel at how it's hung on to life despite most of it's trunk having rotten away.

Red berries on old Puriri tree, Waimamaku (Dec 2011)

Somehow it had even managed to produce berries (seeds).

An annual attraction in Waimamaku is their Wild West Festival (sounds like great fun; I wish I lived a bit closer!). Amongst other fun events, they have a cheese rolling contest, gumboot throwing, a hangi...

*http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/food-shops/1/5

**http://www.ourhokianga.com/HokiangaHistoryHHS.htm

***http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=WC19170606.2.52.2

You'll need to check the Hokianga Tourism website under 'upcoming events' and 'news and happenings' for details http://www.hokiangatourism.org.nz/

For some pictures of the Waimamaku Wild West Festival 2011 check out this blog; http://ourweefarm.blogspot.com/2011/02/waimamaku-wild-west-festival.html

Sandspit Baches to Kaipara Kumara

2012-01-03T13:43:00.000+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

'The Bach', Sandspit, Warkworth

Part of the New Zealand dream is to have a family bach ; usually a small, unpretentious structure made from cheap or recycled materials.* The price of coastal land means that inevitably some have been replaced with very grand structures, so it was refreshing to see a line of more traditional models like the one above while we were on holiday recently.

Power pole on tidal rocks, Sandspit, Warkworth

We walked past a group of baches next to the Sandspit Holiday Park. Many had names : Sand Box, Wine Box, Tool Box, Toy Box, Corporate Box, Da Udder Box and Match Box. Elsewhere in the campground a dwelling was called Spring Boks, continuing the theme.

A lonely power pole on the tidal rocks indicated that there was yet another bach, tucked under the enormous Pohutakawa, Totara, Kowhai and Puriri trees. It looked like the only access to it was along the beach/rocks. Appropriately it's name was simply The Bach.

Flotsam (decoratively used) at 'The Bach', Sandspit

A collection of flotsam including old jandals (flip flops or thongs) and buoys decorate The Bach.

Interesting rock formations (concretions?), Sandspit, Warkworth

The rocks were regularly dotted with these interesting formations. I have no idea what they are ; concretions perhaps?

Dingy sheds or lockers on the sandspit itself, Sandspit, Warkworth

In spite of light rain (what happened to summer?) we also enjoyed a walk on the other side of the camp ground along the sand spit itself and onto the Sandspit wharf.

Painted toilet block created by Mahurangi College, 1993, Sandspit

I enjoy seeing the ways communities decorate public facilities. This one seems to have a childhood theme and was created by Mahurangi College.

'Kapanui', Warkworth

I can't resist an old boat. The Kapanui was moored beside the wharf at Warkworth. She's a steam powered timber tug in the style of an old river boat ferry.**

Eutopia cafe, Kaiwaka

This building caught our eye as we drove through the town of Kaiwaka.

Abandoned church with sheep grazing, between Matakohe and Ruawai

There's something poignant about abandoned buildings, especially one that would once have been central to the local community.

Mr Four Square , Ruawai

Four Square grocers are few and far between at home, but seemed to be plentiful up north.

'Northland Kumara'

Around Dargaville it's kumara country. Many fields beside the road contained long raised rows of cultivated kumara plants. It was tempting to buy some from a roadside stall, but we had no room in the car!

'Kaipara Kumara' supporting the 'All Blacks', Dec 2011

We may not have had picture perfect weather but there were still plenty of interesting sights to see.

*Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/creative-life/4/3
** Kapanui restoration http://www.robertsonboats.co.nz/showcase
http://www.kumara.co.nz/about_kumara/

Historic Nikau Cottage and Magnificent Pohutakawa Tree

2011-12-30T11:09:00.001+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

We 'threw caution to the wind' recently and headed away on holiday despite storm warnings for the region (the far north of New Zealand). We did, however, ditch the tent and stay in in cabins instead.

Front view, Nikau Cottage, Sandspit Holiday Park, Warkworth

We were surprised and delighted on our first night to find our cabin was an adorable little historic building.

Side view of Nikau Cottage, Sandspit Holiday Park, Warkworth

It was originally the Sandspit school master's house and dates from the early 1900's. The school was probably a 'sole charge' school (ie only one teacher).

Back view of Nikau Cottage (bedrooms at front and kitchen area at back left of picture), Sandspit Holiday Park, Warkworth

Judging by the roof-line it looked like it had stared off as a really tiny dwelling, that had been made larger by the addition of a couple of 'lean tos' (the bedrooms and kitchen area).

Single bunk beds in second bedroom, Nikau Cottage

Despite the tiny size there were two separate bedrooms and an open plan area large enough to accommodate a kitchenette, dining table and fold out couch.

Worn door sill, Nikau cottage

The lovely old floor boards (probably Kauri), the door sill and tongue and groove wood of the veranda felt good underfoot having been worn smooth by generations of bare feet.

View from front door across camp ground to beach, Nikau cottage

It's a standing joke in our household that we attract stray birds, so a tame drake on the doorstep brought a smile.

Front door and sash windows, Nikau cottage

I loved the wooden front door, especially the way it had worn over time so that there were sizeable gaps between the top of the door and the lintel, and the bottom and the sill.

View of ceiling/wall junction, main room, Nikau Cottage

The walls and ceilings were also made from wood with board and batten on the ceiling, tongue and groove boards on the walls. The main room had metal (iron?) coving.

You've got to wonder if would have survived had it not been part of the Holiday Park complex.

View across ceiling, front (main) room, Nikau Cottage

We weren't sure why the ceiling of the main room was divided. Perhaps it indicates that the tiny original schoolmaster's dwelling had two rooms.

It wasn't until the 1930s that the road from Auckland to Warkworth (about 7kms away from Sandspit) was metalled ( ie had stone chips). Steamboats provided the only link between Auckland and Warkworth prior to this.** The boats to Warkworth would have gone right past Sandspit.

Puriri cabin (1930's post office)

On a noticeboard they had an old photo from when the only buildings were the Nikau Cottage, a small post office, school and homestead.

The old wooden school building (now the holiday park's games room)

Looking down onto the Sandspit Holiday Park (old school house in centre of photo with orange roof, homestead with red roof, Nikau cottage hidden behind norfolk pine (LHS)

We went on a walk to find some donkeys that live nearby. ..

Enormous pohutakawa tree, Sandspit, Warkworth

..but didn't find them. We did, however, find this absolutely magnificent old pohutakawa tree.

Underneath the enormous pohutakawa tree, Sandspit, Warkworth

When we walked under its branches it was like entering the tree's domain. Discarded leaves covered the ground forming a soft leaf litter. We were spellbound. The tree's trunk was enormous and went up some way before branching.

Aerial roots on pohutakawa tree, Sandspit

Huge aerial roots hung from the branches high above like giant red beards. The camp's 'nearby walks' leaflet described it as being 200yrs old.

Pohutakawa blossoms, Sandspit

It was even flowering. Magnificent!

Reference
http://www.sandspitholidaypark.co.nz/accom.html
**http://www.warkworthnz.com/warkworth.php?page=ww_heritage

Quirky Letterbox Update

2011-12-26T16:48:00.000+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Wooden man letterbox with Santa hat, Dinsdale Hamilton (December 2011)

House letterbox with festive decorations, Russell (December 2011)

'1954 JR' letterbox signed P. Ronout (or Ronouf), Paparoa area, Kaipara, 2011

Lighthouse letterbox, Sandspit Warkworth (Dec 2011)

We'd have loved to have seen this one at night. It looked as if the light comes on when it's dark.

Decorative gate posts (painted dog sculpture on the left and letterbox on the right), Russell, December 2011

Painter/artist letterbox, Russell, December 2011

Retired microwave mailbox decorated with pot plant, Whirinaki area (Hokianga), 2011

Retired microwaves seem to be a popular choice for letterboxes in northland. I've chosen these three because their owners have made an effort to personalise each of them.

Retired microwave with painted purple decorations, Broadwood/Herekino area, Northland, 2011

Retired microwave 'hot mail', Houhora Heads, Northland, 2011

Vintage metal (cast iron?) post box, Paihia, Bay of Islands, 2011

Mosaic letterbox decorated with a sailing boat and waves in the coastal settlement of Opua, Bay of Islands,2011

Train themed letterbox, Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, Kawakawa, 2011

Outboard motor letterbox, near Marsden Point (Whangarei Harbour), 2011

Distant view of a round (buoy themed?) mailbox, 90 Mile Beach, Northland, 2011

I'll be adding these to my post, Letterboxes with Personality http://gorgeouswithattitude.blogspot.com/2010/10/quirky-letterboxes.html .

Vintage Advent Calendars

2011-12-23T21:10:00.000+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Vintage advent calendar

Oh, we used to love getting advent calendars like these when we were kids. They had such sweet little pictures and were decorated with silver glitter.

Vintage advent calendar 'No.851 Made by Kruger in Western Germany'

The idea was to open a little numbered window each day to count down to Christmas Day.

Vintage advent calendar

These days the ones with chocolate behind the windows are popular in New Zealand, but these vintage ones just had charming little pictures behind each window. Window number 24 usually had a little nativity scene.

Vintage advent calendar 'No.851' 'Made by Kruger in Western Germany'

Some days I just couldn't help myself and opened more than one window.

Vintage advent calendar, made in Western Germany by Stuttgart-Rohr, 'Order-NR.47'

December in New Zealand is in Summer, so it's not unusual for people to go to the beach for a swim in the sea on Christmas Day. Despite this we loved all the Northern Hemisphere pictures of snowy Christmas scenes.

Vintage advent calendar, Made in Western Germany, Stuttgart-Rohr, Order-Nr.35, with envelope (still in original plastic wrapper)

There are a few of the original envelopes with this collection.

Vintage advent calendar envelope

The words read 'This Christmas Calendar is a great delight to every child. It adds to the enchantment of the pre-Christmas time. Starting on the first day of December door number one is opened and on each following day till Christmas eve another door is opened with always a new surprise behind. On the 24th then, the delightful Christmas scene will be revealed!' ' Printed in Western Germany'

Vintage advent calendar envelope

'Adventkalender Advent Calendar Calendrier Illustre' 'Made in West Germany'

Tanner Couch Ltd cardboard backing sheet for a vintage advent calendar

'The History of the Advent Calendar
The custom of the Advent Calendar
originated in Germany and the Scandinavian
countries during the 16th Century
as part of the preparations
for Christmas.'

Hoera

2011-12-09T06:42:00.001+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Hoera
London Street, Hamilton

In the past my experience of Maori art was pretty much limited to museums/art galleries, tourist attractions, New Zealand souvenirs and marae. More recently I've noticed Maori art in association with Maori commercial developments (such as the pou [ carved poles] outside the Novotel [hotel] Tainui and The Base/Te Awa shopping complex here in Hamilton). This pou differs in that it's located in a public space, at the end of a quiet no-exit road, at the start of a walk by the Waikato River (presumably on Hamilton City Council land) and therefore might be seen as an example of Maori art as a civic public sculpture.

Hoera

'This Pou whakarae is named Hoera,after Hoera Taonui, the last Ngati Wairere chief to live at Kirikiriroa Pa' (quote from information sign on-site).

Hoera

The Gate by Richard Page

2011-12-02T11:10:00.001+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

The Gate by Richard Page

The arch shape in The Gate (above) by Raglan sculptor, Richard Page 'signifies the passing of one era into another.' (quote from on-site plaque). The work dates from 1999/2000 and was commissioned to mark the new millenium. It's one of several sculptures in Te Awamutu's Sculpture Park on Albert Drive.

The sculpture is also a celebration of 'the union of family' (plaque on-site). The various parts of the sculpture represent the different members of a family. The column represents the male. A sense of great strength is achieved by the linear nature of the tapering column. The vertical lines tend to hold your gaze. Richard Page chipped flakes of stone off the column and this brings to mind ancient stone tools.

The smooth, gently rounded form represents the female. The pod/seed / pregnant belly form implies fertility and fecundity. I find my gaze goes around the oval curve of the polished form before moving up onto the lightly textured stone of the arch and ending in the space between the 'male' and 'female' sides. The child is represented by this space. I like the implication that the (strong) bond between male and female differs from the bond with their offspring. The 'male' and 'female' parts form the 'child', yet the 'child' has no boundaries (it's space).

Detail, The Gate by Richard Page

I love Richard's choice of black basalt as the medium. The dark colour is a refreshing change and forms a lovely contrast to the soft greens of the surrounding vegetation. Basalt's a really hard stone, so I imagine it was difficult to sculpt. Despite this he's achieved fabulous textures. The flakes or chips and strong linear grooves of the column create a multifaceted surface that makes for a really interesting play of light and shade and emphasizes the sharp edges. By contrast the smooth, gently rounded and polished form of the female has a 'soft', reflective quality. The connecting arch and back of the pod has a lightly textured surface giving a matt appearance.

The Gate by Richard Page

The basalt has a wonderful solidity appropriate to the family theme. It's weathering well. I like the patches of lichen growing on the top of the column and the touches of green (algae or moss) in the crevices. They soften some of the lines and give the work a sense of weathered maturity, grace and being one with nature. It makes a nice contrast with the clean, polished surface of the female part of the sculpture.

Rear view of The Gate by Richard Page

The two halves of the sculpture complement and counterballance each other. The shape and placement of the bulk of the mass in each 'half' differs - the 'male' side is heavier at the top and on the 'female' it's lower down. Both sides of the sculpture taper where they meet the ground giving an uplifting impression of lightness.

To see examples of Richard Page's recent work go to his website:-
http://www.richardpagesculpture.com/?page_id=49

http://www.teawamutu.co.nz/info/attractions/sculpture-park/

for a virtual tour of the sculpture parkhttp://www.teawamutu.co.nz/vta?mco=-38.00869,175.33032&mz=16&pco=-38.00869,175.33032&pz=0&py=105&pp=2

Alison Holst's Rhubarb Cake

2011-11-29T07:08:00.001+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Rubarb cake (using Alison Holst's recipe from her Kitchen Diary Collection )

As a fun, father/daughter activity my two decided to do some baking together. After flicking through our recipe books they chose Alison Holst's Rhubarb cake from my old copy of the Kitchen Diary Collection. It worked out rather well. To quote my daughter, 'the cake was extremely 'scrummy'' (ie delicious). Lovely and moist, sweet but with tart, rhubarb overtones.

Kitchen Diary Collection by Alison Holst

Our cake was a gluten free (wheat free) version. We substituted the flour with a non-wheat mixture made up of a ratio of 3 parts fine corn flour : one part tapioca flour. The fine cornflour is a yellow flour I purchase from our local Indian bulk store (not the fine white cornflour you get in supermarkets). If you are celiac and need to be 100% sure the flour is gluten-free, then use a certified gluten-free flour.

150g (5 oz) butter
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1. 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup milk

Topping
500g rhubarb
1/2 cup sugar
1Tbsp flour
1tsp cinnamon
Icing sugar

'In a food processor or bowl, cream the warmed but not melted butter and sugar, add the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the dry ingredients alternately with the milk, until both are combined.

Line a loose-bottomed, 23cm square tin with two 23cm wide strips of paper, so all sides and the bottom are covered, then spoon in the cake mixture, in 16 spoonfuls, without spreading these smoothly.' If your rhubarb is fresh from the garden remove and discard the leaves.
'Remove all tough strings from the rhubarb, and cut it into 1cm lengths. Toss in the sugar, flour, and cinnamon, then sprinkle over the surface of the dough so that much of the rhubarb is between the batter rather than on top of it. Sprinkle the remaining sugar mixture over the batter.

Bake at 190 degrees C' (375 degrees F or gas no. 5)' for 40-45 minutes, until the centre is golden brown, and springs back when touched. Cool the tin for 15 minutes, then lift away from the sides of the tin, and remove the paper at the sides of the cake.

Sprinkle evenly with icing sugar, using a fine sieve...cut into squares or rectangles and eat within two days.'

Alison Holst recommends to serve it warm or reheated, so we ate our first (generous) helpings warm with ice cream. We enjoyed the rest, however, just as much later on when it had cooled to room temperature.

Rhubarb plant

When our rhubarb plant has 7 or more stems that we can remove we'll definitely make another rhubarb cake!

Kitchen Diary Collection by Alison Holst, Inprint New Zealand, published in 1991, p 142

General Election and Referendum, New Zealand 2011

2011-11-26T10:46:00.001+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

It's election day today.

Sign indicating where to vote, Waikato,
2011 NZ General Election and referendum

Part of the voter's information pack

This year we need to cast two votes. One to determine the governing political party / coalition for the next 3 years and the second is a referendum (to keep our current MMP [Mixed Member Proportional] system for electing parliament) or to change it to another system.

Full car park outside a rural Waikato school (the local polling place)

If this polling station is any indication there will be a good turn out of voters today.

Schools, community halls, retirement villages, civic centres, council offices, sports centres, churches, electoral headquarters and post shops are serving as polling stations today from 9am to 7pm.

Electors casting their votes in a school classroom

School classrooms like this one all over the country have been converted into polling stations with cardboard polling booths and a line of cardboard boxes in which to cast your votes into.

A new voter (only just 18 years of age and therefore eligible to vote) casting a 'special vote'

Like many other New Zealanders, we'll be eagerly awaiting the results.

Tree Form Sculptures, North Carolina

2011-11-20T20:55:00.001+13:00

Miranda (from our holiday in America)

When we came across these bottle trees in the University of North Carolina Botanical Garden, it got me thinking about trees as a subject for sculpture.

Phyllotaxy Bottle Trees by Lyle Estell and J.R. Massey

Coming from New Zealand I'd never seen a bottle tree before and initially thought they were purely interesting sculptures made from recycled materials. Bottle trees, however, 'are an old tradition of the southern United States formerly seen in rural areas, especially in black communities.'* It was believed that the bottles (especially blue ones) would attract and capture bad spirits overnight. These would be destroyed by the first rays of the morning sun. 'This tradition was brought to America with the arrival of the first black slaves and eventually evolved into a form of yard art.'*

Detail Phyllotaxy Bottle Trees by Lyle Estell and J.R. Massey

Creators Lyle Estell and J.R. Massey have given this traditional folk art-form a new twist, using it to demonstrate the different ways leaves are arranged along a stem as follows :-

Alternate: one leaf at each node, arranged at alternate angles along the stem (brown bottles)

Opposite: Pairs of leaves at each node on the same plane along the stem (blue bottles)

Decussate: pairs of leaves at each node, arranged at right angles along the stem (clear bottles)

Whorled: groups of three or more leaves at each node (green bottles)

Also in North Carolina is this large aluminium and steel tree form, Gate of Earth ,by Lydia Rubio.

'Gate of Earth' by Lydia Rubio, 2008, RDU NC

It's at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. I was fascinated with the way it's grounded on the outside of the building and appears to come right through the glass to the inside of terminal 2. By implication the 'roots' of the tree are firmly in North Carolina soil. It doesn't show well in my photos but from memory the tree doesn't go 'through' the glass. Instead the outside sections stop just shy of the glass and the inside sections are attached inconspicuously to vertical support structures.

'Gate of Earth' by Lydia Rubio 2008, RDU NC

Nearby there's a bird in flight sculpture by the same artist. It's a Cardinal, the North Carolina state bird. You could say that on one level it symbolizes a North Carolina resident (the Cardinal) leaving or returning home (the tree) by flight.

'Gate of Earth' terrazzo floor with text by Lydia Rubio

' Traditional North Carolina symbols — trees and birds — are combined with the words of North Carolina writer Thomas Wolfe.'*

Terrazzo floor detail, 'Gate of Earth' by Lydia Rubio 2008

In the North Carolina Museum of Art grounds we happened upon another enormous branching (or dendroid) structure.

'Askew' by Roxy Paine 2009, North Carolina Museum of Art

Our first glimpse of Askew by Roxy Paine was a distant one from a path that wound its way down a large, open, grassed area.

A combination of features makes Askew particularly imposing. The low grass knoll the sculpture stands on gives it a heightened impression of size (it's already an imposing 30-odd feet tall***) and implies a continuation of the branching beneath the soil (roots).

'Askew' by Roxy Paine 2009, North Carolina Museum of Art

It's made from 'heavily altered steel pipes' and the wonderful, metallic sheen of the stainless steel reflects all that's around it... the crisp, bright, blue, winter sky of our visit... the browns and greens of grass and soil... *** I particularly enjoyed the juxtaposition of the stainless steel dendroid structure with the softer forms of nature on the one hand and the straight lines of the adjacent N.C. Museum of Art building on the other.

'Askew' shaddow

The building and the sculpture were a lovely foil for each other. We visited in January and the low winter sun cast a dramatic shaddow of Askew across the grass and onto the building. In this manner the building's wall acted like a blank canvas or screen projector for the sculpture's shadow.

'Askew' reflection

This interplay between sculpture and building could also be seen in the interesting reflections of Askew in the N.C. Museum of Art's windows.

Detail of 'Askew' by Roxy Paine 2009, North Carolina Museum of Art

Another thing I really like about the sculpture's reflective surface is the way it creates a sense of change, moods and movement. It doesn't just look different under varied weather conditions, seasons and angles of view, it feels different too.

Surprisingly on our short stay in North Carolina we happened upon three different tree form sculptures. I wasn't sure if it was purely coincidental or if sculptures based on tree forms are particularly popular subjects for public sculpture in North Carolina. One day I hope to return and have a better look!

*Plaque adjacent to phyllotaxy bottle trees, University of North Carolina Botanical Garden
**http://www.rdu.com/whileatairport/art.htm

http://www.lydiarubio.com/

***http://www.newraleigh.com/articles/archive/roxy-paines-askew-dendroid-at-ncma/

If you're interested to see more bottle trees, this website has loads of photos:- http://www.felderrushing.net/BottleTreeImagess.htm

Creative Recycling, Vintage-Style

2011-11-15T08:07:00.002+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

It amazes me how enterprising and creative people can be. How many of us, after a meal of fish, would think to save the fish scales and use them to decorate an elegant evening bag?

Vintage evening purse

Well someone, a long time ago, did! This beautiful, little, hand-made, vintage evening purse is decorated with fish scales.

Detail of fish scales on vintage evening purse

The fish scales have been dyed a lavender colour. Some have been cut into flower shapes with a bugle bead at the centre, others are layered. Judging by the size of the scales, it must have been quite a large fish!

In case you're wondering 'no, it doesn't smell'.

Detail of fish scale evening bag interior

The inside is beautifully finished - it's lined with a contrasting fabric that matches in colour and has little rows of bugle beads sewn onto it. I'm not sure how old it is, but think it would be pre-1970 (at least).

Vintage lightbulb brooch

Another vintage example of taking an object intended for one purpose and using it for another, is this little brooch. A tiny light bulb has been encased in silver and little beads glued on to make a novel brooch. Pre-1960s.

Vintage dough brooch photographed on a mohair stole.

Apparently during the great depression (1929 to early 1940's) people used white bread dough as a sculpting material. I'm not sure if it was the dough before it was baked, or squished-up, baked bread which was then dried. The hand painted, floral brooch pictured above is one such example.

Vintage apron with a Northern Roller Milling Co. Ltd, Auckland 4lb Net Champion Rolled Oats bag (left) and a 25lb Crown Flour bag (The Crown Milling Co. Ltd, Dunedin) on the right.

Grocery items like flour, oats and Christmas ham came in cotton cloth bags (like the two pictured above). Sometimes they were washed and used 'as is' to store items in (such as stockings) , but they could also be cut up and used to make other things. I'm pretty sure the apron (above) is made from just such a bag as well as two floral print remnants (probably left-overs from home-sewn dresses).

Hessian bag (left), oven cloth (middle), hessian apron (right)

Other commodities such as potatoes, sugar or blood and bone fertilizer came in hessian (burlap) sacks and these could also be cleaned and re-used. Examples above include a hand-painted bag with natural rope handles. It was purchased in Africa in the mid 1980's. The words Siri Yako (my secret ?) are painted on the reverse side.
The middle item is an oven cloth (pictured from the back). The words Auckland sugar Company, Pure Grain Sugar (hard to read the last three words) are printed onto the hessian indicating the original purpose.

The apron with the pocket (to hold pegs while hanging up washing on an outdoor clothes line) is also probably made from re-purposed sack fabric.

Vintage nylon petticoat pieces with lace from the hem (bottom right)

Sometimes materials were re-used more than once. The nylon fabric of the de-constructed petticoat pictured above may have had a previous life as a parachute, possibly during WWII. The petticoat has been carefully cut along the seams and the hem ,with lace still stitched on, has also been preserved. It looks like the intention was to re-use the fabric as well as the lace.

Vintage child's pinafore dress viewed from the back

Our thrifty forebears also adapted garments to fit subsequent wearers. Initially I thought the child's pinafore dress (above) was made out of an old winter coat, but the mixture of hand-stitching and machine overlocking suggests it may have been significantly altered instead.

Detail of vintage child's pinafore dress with label

Vintage child's petticoat pictured on a mulberry bush

This little hand-made vintage petticoat is made from soft, brushed cotton, possibly the less worn parts of an old sheet. I really like the miss-matched buttons.

Vintage doll with hair made from nylon stockings

Some enterprising person used old nylon stockings for hair and socks on this quaint, home-made, vintage dolly. Her celluloid face suggests that she's old. How old, I'm not sure.

Detail of old doll showing stockinged feet

The stockings or pantyhose and some buttons were used to make little stockinged feet.

Doll's hand

The doll is a little worn and grubby suggesting she's been well loved. Perhaps the dolls clothes were made from remnant fabric to match a home-made outfit belonging to the original owner.

Vintage doll's clothes made from remnants or discarded clothing

Other examples of vintage doll's clothes (possibly made from pre-used garments) are pictured above.

Doll's furniture made from a cotton reel

Old wooden cotton reels could be used for a multitude of purposes such as 'beads' for toddlers, threaded to make wooden dolls, with a ring of nails at one end to make a french knitting loom or a funnel for a wooden toy train. The picture above shows one used to make a small doll's chair.

Doll's chair made from a cotton reel

Home-made wooden toys (early 1960's)

An old wooden cotton reel has been used for the toy train's funnel while the firebox is a large, painted tin can.

Vintage teddy made from an old, grey, wool blanket

Art and crafts (such as cushions) made from vintage woolen blankets is currently popular in New Zealand. The unique little home made teddy pictured above is made from an old, grey wool blanket, once common in NZ households. They're the type of blanket that would would have had felt or embroidered souvenir badges (think Girl Guide Camps) sewn onto.

Grey wool teddy's little legs

It has so much character. I love it's unusual proportions, especially the skinny little legs of differing diameters and the large stitches on the ends.

Decorative containers/boxes made from old greeting cards

Decorative containers made from old greeting cards sandwiched between plastic and sewn together were popular at one time.

The inside of a lidded box made from old greeting cards

What I enjoy about these items is the (often surprising) ways in which materials of old were recycled. Somehow they have more 'personality' than if they were made from all-new materials.

If you're interested to see some interesting, contemporary art using vintage blankets, go to my blog post :- http://gorgeouswithattitude.blogspot.com/2011/09/imagining-antarctica-by-meliors-simms.html

Noel Lane's Grand Atrium, Auckland War Memorial Museum

2011-11-08T07:20:00.000+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

WONDERMENT is the typical response of first-time visitors to the Auckland War Memorial Museum's new Grand Atrium.*

The quote above is from the Auckland War Memorial Museum's web site and 'wonderment' was exactly how we felt when we entered the Museum and gazed upwards at this magnificent structure for the first time. It was designed by Noel Lane Architects with Peddle Thorpe Architects and is located just inside the southern entrance to the Museum.

Auckland War Memorial's new Grand Atrium (Architect Noel Lane)

It's a wonderful utilization of what was previously the Southern Courtyard within the old Portland stone, neo-classical style building. I can remember looking down into an internal courtyard ,(perhaps this one), from one of the Museum's windows as a child and thinking what a desolate, cold-looking (yet somehow fascinating) space it was. Great to see it transformed into a large, welcoming, practical, fascinating and imposing space.

On our visit I snapped off a few photos, unfortunately not one looking at ground floor level. From memory the supports for the large pod-type (or precious vessel-type) structure are surprisingly slender and unobtrusive so the entry has a lovely spacious feeling and the structure above seems almost to defy its weight and float.

Band sawn Fijian Kauri cladding

Natural light from the copper and glass dome ceiling creates subtle changes in mood as the light and shadow in the atrium fluctuate.

The soft horizontal lines and warm colour of the band sawn Fijian Kauri cladding give the new structure an organic feel in bold contrast to the adjacent neo-classical structure (a 1960's addition to the original 1920's Museum building) which has a colder,traditional, conservative feel to it. The juxtaposition of the materials and distinctly different architectural styles creates an interesting tension and paradoxically also, in my opinion, a beautiful harmony.

Auckland War Memorial Museum's new Grand Atrium

One aspect of the Grand Atrium that I particularly enjoy is the way the curved and lined windows of the new structure reflect the adjacent neo-classical structure. In the process the straight neo-classical lines take on curves.

The new Grand Atrium reflected in the 1929 neoclassical building.

Likewise the windows of the original building reflect the soft horizontal lines and golden colour of the Fijian Kauri. The effect is to gently blur the distinction between the two styles, creating a unity and a satisfying harmony to the space.

As the spectator moves, the reflections change creating an interesting sense of movement.

For me the new structure not only sits comfortably and harmoniously within the much older, heritage building, it adds a whole new dimension to it and both structures are all the more impressive and beautiful for the marriage.

I've added the images below in order to show the opposite side of the building (formerly the only main entrance).

Old Croxley aerogramme featuring a picture of the War Memorial Museum and Domain Gardens, Auckland

1974 postal stamp featuring the Auckland War Memorial Museum

http://www.nzwood.co.nz/case-studies/auckland-museum-grand-atrium-refurbishment
http://trendsideas.com/ViewArticle.aspx?article=9079&region=1
*http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/159/history-of-the-museum
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/322/atrium

Supporter Flags and Signs for the R.W.C

2011-10-31T19:08:00.010+13:00

Miranda (NZ)
It's been a week since the All Black's won the Rugby World Cup final and we're still talking about it! Those whose voices were hoarse for a few days from shouting during the final are back to normal, but plenty of signs of the R.W.C remain.

Go the Mighty AB's,
Victoria St, Hamilton, Oct 2011

A few adjustments were made to these graffiti-style signs the morning after the win, changing them from encouraging support to jubilant congratulations of the All Blacks (and captain Ritchie McCaw in particular).

We Got It
October 2011

Well Done Boys
We Did It !!!
October 2011

8-7 Well Done Richie
You Deserve it
(Hamilton, October 2011)

Despite not being much of a rugby follower I found a new passion for the game over the six week duration of the RWC. There was a general air of excitement throughout the country which was contagious and as the various teams played each other we'd pick different teams to support. As a family we eagerly anticipated watching each game on Maori T.V (we liked their commentaries best) and of course the final was unmissable!

One large, three small Silver Fern (New Zealand) flags and an All Black one in the distance,
Rural Waikato

Kiwis and visitors alike expressed their support for the different teams , often with flags.

Flagpoles with the All Blacks flag (front) and the All Blacks above the Irish flag (distance),
Ngahinapouri, Oct 2011

Those fortunate to have a flag pole at home generally had a supporter flag (or two, or three) flying and those of us who don't have a flag pole improvised.

Flags viewed from the Southern Motorway, Auckland

Flag attached to fence for the RWC,
rural Waikato

People attached flags to letterboxes, fences, gates, cattle yards... In a roadside paddock in Te Kuiti someone had carefully arranged all the participants flags (large ones on poles) in order of the countries who'd dropped out of the quarter finals.

Two Argentinian flags and two New Zealand supporter flags on a cattle ramp, rural Waikato,
Oct 2011

Sometimes flags appeared in unexpected places...

Fishing boat with All Blacks supporter flag, North Wharf, Auckland

... on fishing boats, attached to road signs, on graves in cemeteries and there was a massive silver fern flag atop a tall tower at the Te Kowhai Airfield.

Samoan Flag atop a tree in Druces Road,South Auckland

We also saw a number of flags atop tall trees and several swaying above a stand of very tall bamboo swaying in the wind beside Auckland's Southern Motorway.

Flags in South Auckland viewed from the motorway

How on earth had people managed to secure them in these places ?!

Mooloo sign (Waikato rugby supporters) and Silver Fern New Zealand flag (instead of the usual Waikato one).

Even the usual Mooloo flag familiar to travellers just north of Huntly had been replaced with a Silver Fern New Zealand flag.

Silver Fern All Blacks flag flown with Tino Rangatiratanga and the New Zealand flag alongside green official RWC banners,outside the 'Plastic Waka' on Auckland's Waterfront

Many of the flags were small ones fluttering above car windows.

Campervan with Argentine, French and New Zealand supporters flags,
Te Awamutu

Some people limited themselves to just one per car, but others went all-out and had lots (sometimes the same ones, sometimes all different). A few enterprising types somehow managed to attach large flags to their vehicles using what looked to be broom handles and guide wires. These flapped dramatically as they drove by.

Options for All Blacks supporters included the New Zealand flag and at least a couple of versions of the Silver Fern flag.

Plenty of Welsh supporters travelled around the Waikato in campervans emblazoned with Welsh flags.

Rugby fans supporting Samoa and Wales,
Hamilton Fanzone, Oct 2011

Some flags were simply waved during games, others were worn.

We also saw a couple of vehicles filled with excited Tongan supporters after an they'd done an inpromptu parade down Hamilton's main street on the first day. One was festooned with loads of red and white balloons, the other had large woven mats attached to the car's bonnet and roof.

RWC participant's flags, The Cloud, Queens Wharf, Auckland

The fence at The Cloud (Auckland fanzone) was be-decked with colourful flags and many companies displayed similar sets of colourful flags.

RWC bunting, Hamilton Fanzone

R.W.C. bunting was also popular.

Vogels Go Black billboard, cnr Owens and Market Rds, Epsom, Auckland

Only official R.W.C. sponsors were permitted to display the words 'Rugby' and 'World Cup' together, so advertising agencies and companies got creative with signage. Many clever billboards (like the 'Go Black' one above) appeared. The company makes and sells bread (a type that is particularly good toasted). The line of toasters is reminiscent of stadium seats.

Many of the home-made signs supporters had put up were great too. Somewhere between National Park and Te Kuiti we saw a small bus shelter at the end of a farm driveway completely covered in black material with slogans painted in white with a go All Blacks type message on it. At another farm gate in the King Country a long length of black polythene had been beautifully signwritten with a similar message of support for the AB,s and yet another adorned a fence in the township of Pirongia.

I guess eventually the flags will come down, but in the meantime I'll continue to enjoy them.

Flair Aviation Expo at Te Kowhai and the Martin Jetpack

2011-10-23T14:20:00.005+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Martin Jetpack at The Cloud, Queens Wharf, Auckland

How cool is this - a personal jetpack! We had our first glimpse of the Martin Jetpack while visiting The Cloud in Auckland. A few days later we got to hear about how it was developed from the man himself ,Glenn Martin, at Flair aviation expo which was held at the Te Kowhai Airfield near Hamilton.

Glenn Martin, Flair, Te Kowhai Airfield,
October 2011

The four of us were really keen to hear the Martin Jetpack talk 'From the Shed to the Sky, Kiwi Style', so arrived early. While we waited a gentleman, who was also waiting, chatted to us in a relaxed manner. We found out when the talk began that he was Glenn Martin, the man behind the Martin Jetpack himself and we got quite a buzz from hearing him give his own account of the Martin Jetpack's development. G.M. talked about how, from a young age he was fascinated with the idea of a jetpack. Years later, after graduating from University it was still a passion, so he crunched some math, talked to people, got other scientists and engineers involved and now has a product that is possible for 'Jo Bloggs' to fly with only 20 minutes training!

Martin Jetpack at The Cloud, Queens Wharf, Auckland

He talked of how amazed and delighted he was when the Martin Jetpack was launched at AirVenture 2008 in Oshkosh and drew record crowds and how the thousands of expressions of interest they'd received came from a much wider group of people than they'd expected.

Big screen at The Cloud, Queens Wharf, Auckland showing Martin Jetpack

G.M. came across as a very genuine, down-to-earth, tallented yet modest Kiwi bloke with a great sense of humour who has a lovely, supportive family. We particularly enjoyed hearing how his wife and kids were involved. When one of their sons was only seven weeks old Glenn's wife, Vanessa, being of lighter weight became the first test pilot. 'I used to run out to the garage, get strapped into the jetpack, test it, and rush back into the house to our then seven week old son.'* Their eldest son, Harrison was just 15 years old when he first flew the jetpack.*

The end of the talk was disrupted a little by the loud noises and lots of smoke on the airstrip just outside as the air display got underway.

Pilot Frazer Briggs from Te Kowhai (just visible to the left of the plane) flying his 200cc, 4 cylinder motor aircraft,
Flair, Te Kowhai, Oct 2011

I know very little about aircraft so will have to let the pictures do the talking.

P 750 XSTOL at Flair, Te Kowhai Airfield,
October 2011

The P 750 XSTOL demonstrated landing and taking off on a short area of the runway.

Waiting their turn, Flair, Te Kowhai Airfield,
Oct 2011

P 750 XSTOL at Flair, Te Kowhai Airfield, Oct 2011

Calidus Gyroplane,
Flair, Te Kowhai Airfield, October 2011

Bantam Microlight at home at the Te Kowhai Airfield for Flair,
October 2011

Formation flying at Flair

The Red Checkers in formation above Te Kowhai Airfield,
Flair, October 2011

The Red Checkers are the Royal NZ Air Force's aerobatic team. They fly Pacific Aerospace CT-4E Airtrainers.

The Red Checkers in formation above Te Kowhai Airfield,
Flair, October 2011

One of the Red Checkers near Te Kowhai Airfield,
Flair, October 2011

One of the Red Checkers above Te Kowhai Airfield,
Flair, October 2011

One of the Red Checkers touching down while another moves onto the taxiway, Te Kowhai Airfield,
Flair, October 2011

One of the Red Checkers, Te Kowhai Airfield,
Flair, October 2011

The Red Checkers, Te Kowhai Airfield,
Flair, October 2011

Composite Helicopter Manufacturer,
Flair, Te Kowhai Airfield, Oct 2011

My knowledge of this is limited to the fact that it's a helicopter.

To quote the Flair website 'New Zealand has more helicopters per capita than any other nation on earth...'**

Vertical takeoff rotary wing unmanned aircraft with camera gimbals,
Photo Higher exhibitor stand, Flair (Te Kowhai Airfield, October 2011)

One of the Photo Higher staff showed us the camera gimbals and gave us the larger, black one to hold briefly. I don't know what they're made from but it was incredibly lightweight. It's designed so that as the craft moves the camera maintains its orientation.

X - Craft Enterprises

VSTOL
Flair, Te Kowhai Airfield, Oct 2011

The screen behind this one read 'characteristics for spot landing, integrated airbrake for worst case scenario landing'.

Shearwater aircraft, Flair, Te Kowhai Airfield,
Oct 2011

Vehicles (some for road travel, others for air travel) parked at Flair

We enjoyed seeing the planes and helicopters parked behind the usual road vehicles in the spectator's parking area when we returned to our vehicle on our departure.

**http://www.nzflair.com/about-trivia.php
*http://martinjetpack.com/ (Martin Jetpack) and http://martinjetpack.com/the-martin-family-story.aspx
http://www.gyrate.co.nz/ (gyroplane)
http://www.microaviation.co.nz/products.php (Bantam microlight)

Aaron Scythe Workshop, Waikato Society of Potters

2011-10-13T12:47:00.008+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Tea Bowl by Aaron Scythe

If one of the purposes of art is to uplift the spirit through beauty and cause the viewer to pause in contemplation of the object, then Aaron Scythe's pottery succeeded with me.

Aaron Scythe tea bowls, Waikato Society of Potters Workshop, September 2011

The beauty wasn't limited to visual beauty, these Japanese tea bowls felt wonderful to hold. I found them surprisingly light weight and they nestled into my hands in a most satisfying manner.

I was surprised at their large size and imagined them full of tea, but apparently the tea only covers the bottom of the bowls and consists of about three mouthfuls. Each bowl is created so that the tea collects in an interesting manner at the bottom.

Aaron Scythe Pottery (including tea containers)

I not only really enjoyed the wonderful shapes of Aaron Scythe's pottery, but the manner in which he had decorated their surfaces - the colours and the variety of textures, some smooth and glossy, others silky matt, and some almost bubbly. Some were decorated with broad brushstrokes, others with delightful,delicate drawings of blossoms, a cartoon-like car, an '@' sign, a questionmark ... Some of the decorations were taken and adapted from Sixteenth Century Japanese works and translated into modern form, others are purely modern.

Clay in the hand (Aaron Scythe at work)

Aaron's 'love of Oriental ceramics ... led him to Japan, where he ran his own studio for many years'.* He has only recently returned to New Zealand following the earthquake in Japan and is currently working from his studio in Te Aroha.

The pot reflects the maker (note the fine purple line on the LHS of the pot - it's a reflection of Aaron's purple T-shirt!)

Aaron worked really quickly. Perhaps because of this his work doesn't feel laboured to me, but has a lovely spontaneous feel to it.

Aaron's hand carved plaster bats and slabs

Aaron often throws onto round, customized plaster bats which leaves decorative marks on the bottoms of his pots. The plaster is carved with things like blossoms, dots, lines and Maori proverbs.

Work in progress

His theory is to make his pots in ways so that the clay naturally distorts. I think this gives his work an uncontrived feel and you get a sense of the movement of clay on wheel and Aaron's hands in the finished product.

Fingerprint, Aaron Scythe pot

Aaron adding the finishing touches

He created the most amazing shapes, often with stamped clay additions.

Aaron with some of his work

Early in the workshop Aaron mentioned Yanagi's Mingei theory. He explained that it's about valuing things made for useful purposes by craftspeople. Seeing the simplicity and beauty in these things (that may not have been appreciated by the maker).

Detail, Aaron Scythe pottery

To quote Aaron, 'If the feeling is right the beauty will show through in the pot'.

Aaron Scythe making a mug / cup

Aaron making a sake bowl

'Spinning this mud is fun'(quote from Aaron's blog).**

Newly made Sake cups by Aaron Scythe

The gentle creases and curves formed intentionally or accidentally in the soft clay are preserved in the finished product.

Aaron cutting one of his tea bowls off the wheel

He mentioned that a lot of people buy his pots because they can feel the fun he had in the making of them.

Decorating a tea bowl

Aaron had made some tea bowls prior to the workshop.

Red hot pot from the kiln about to be placed in dry leaves and sawdust for raku firing

They were removed hot from the kiln and placed into metal containers filled with dry leaves and sawdust for raku firing. When the dry matter in each container burst into flames wet newspapers and towels were placed over the top to extinguish them.

Aaron Scythe raku fired tea bowls cool in the foreground as another is lifted from the raku firing in the background

After a period of time (half an hour to an hour and a half, I can't recall), the still-hot pots were removed and placed on a table to cool.

Smoking, ash covered pot fresh from the fire (raku fired)

Some were still smoking and dusted with ash. All had a lustrous sheen to them. Aaron cleaned them off and to my surprise and delight he gave one to each of the workshop participants.

Friendly Thrush checking out the tea bowl

Here's my one. I had some fun photographing it in my garden at home. No sooner had I placed it down to photograph than a friendly thrush arrived to check out the reflections created by the shiny black inside of the bowl.

Aaron Scythe tea bowl

I thought it was a beautiful, generous gesture of Aaron's to give each of us one of his tea bowls. It seemed all the more generous when you consider that he had to leave so much of what he'd built up behind in the earthquake and radiation ravaged part of Japan he's been living in.

Aaron Scythe tea bowl in a cherry tree!

I had trouble choosing the best photographs of the tea bowl taken in my garden. I liked the way it looked with the grass,the stone,the bark, the bird and the blossoms...

Aaron Scythe tea bowl detail

I particularly like the delicate paintings on mine - they seem delightfully whimsical to me and make me smile.

It was a really inspiring and interesting workshop and I look forward to seeing what Aaron produces now that he's back in Aoteoroa.

* Aaron Scythe Workshop Review by Charade Honey, Waikato Society of Potters Newsletter October - November 2011, pp10,11
** http://aaron-scythe.jugem.jp/ blog entry for 2011.10.09 (Aaron's blog is a great way to see what's new).
To see Aaron at work check out this YouTube clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3T-TnYVRQo
For an interview with Aaron (1st Annual Hikiashi Fire Show)http://www.unm.edu/~ceschiat/ASinterview.htm
http://www.aaronscythe.com/english/eprofile.html
Great pictures of Aaron's work http://www.aaronscythe.com/index.htm
Wikipedia on Mingei http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mingei

Waka Maori

2011-10-12T22:25:00.002+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Below are photos of several waka I've come across in the last couple of weeks.

'Plastic Waka', Te Wero Island on Auckland's Waterfront,
11 October 2011

The first is the much discussed giant (plastic) waka pavillion under construction on Te Wero Island (Auckland's waterfront). The interior is 'glu-laminated New Zealand pine' and 'the skin is tension membrane similar to that used at The Cloud.'*

Waka Maori, Te Wero Island,
11 October 2011

It's due to open tomorrow.

Given the controversy it's ironic that the waka can be seen as a symbol of unity. To quote Ngati Whatua's Ngarimu Blair,'We always wanted it to symbolise unity, the waka is a symbol of how we all got here, whether you're Maori, or Pacific or Asian or Pakeha.'**

Waka outside the Viaduct Events Centre

Also on the waterfront, just across the pedestrian bridge is this beautifully crafted waka.

Waka on Waikato River beside the Hamilton Gardens,
September 2011

Recently I also had the pleasure of seeing this waka on the Waikato River. It was part of the Haka cultural exposition at the Hamilton Gardens. The advertisements said you could' learn how paddle a large canoe (waka) on the mighty Waikato River'.

Detail of Waka on Waikato River

It was a beautiful (and moving) sight.

Detail of Waka on Waikato River

*http://wakamaori.co.nz/
**TVNZ One News http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/controversial-plastic-waka-open-4463483

Packaging from the past

2011-10-07T10:23:00.003+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Remember these...

St George Apricot Jam cardboard box (corrugated cardboard box manufactured by McLeod Bros., Ltd, Dunedin, NZ)

St George jam was made between about 1881 or 1882 and 1977 by Dunedin firm, Irvine and Stephenson's St George Co. Ltd (originally George Peacock and Sons in the late 1800s).

St George Jam cardboard box

Other than the cans of Apricot jam once packaged in the box above, flavours included the delicious-sounding Strawberry and Gooseberry, Rasberry and Gooseberry, Orlean Plum, Melon and Lemon and Quince Conserve *

St George Apricot Jam box (two dozen 14 oz tins, packed by Irvine and Stevenson)

Tucker's 12 dozen Sunshine Jelly Crystals box

I'm sure many people remember Tucker's Sunshine Jelly. The box was designed to display the product and is attractively printed with broad areas of bright colour. The top flap reads:-

'This side up
To use this container as a display cut along dotted line and bend back'

The same picture (as above) is printed upsidedown on the opposite side of the box.

Sunshine Jelly Crystals corrugated cardboard box (manufactured by The Banks Box Company, Auckland)

The box dates from about the late 1950's to the early 1960's but Sunshine Jelly was around long before that. The following quote dates from 1919 :-
'...Tuckers' high-quality Sunshine Jelly Crystals...are made from absolutely purest gelatine. This fine delicacy is a delight to people throughout New Zealand. The Jellies make up firmly and present a full colourful and delicious appearance.'**

Griffins Ho-pokes Cookies corrugated cardboard box (manufactured by UEB Packaging Ltd)

I don't remember Griffins ( 'Always fresh, always good') Ho-Pokes cookies and am pretty sure they're no longer manufactured (or perhaps they were re-named!). This box held 20 packets. Hokey Pokey flavoured perhaps?

Chef Jellichicken corrugated cardboard box to hold 24 x 15oz. cans (manufactured by UEB Industries Ltd, Packaging Division)

A pet food box this time. I'm not sure of the age of this Chef Jellichicken carton but assume it's pre-metric (ie pre-1967).

Chef Petfood for cats and dogs, packed by Thompson and Hills Ltd, Hastings Gisborne NZ

I'm not sure why the word 'litho' is included on the side of the box (how the box was printed?).

Crown Lynn Potteries genuine ironstone dinnerware carton with made in NZ (kiwi) logo
manufactured by UEB Packaging Ltd 20653

Moving away from food items, this box once contained Crown Lynn Potteries genuine ironstone dinnerware.

Crown Lynn Potteries corrugated cardboard box contents label

The front and the back of the box are the same (as pictured), one side isn't printed and has the contents label (as above), the other has a repeat of the fern frond motif (2 fronds rather than 3) and the words:-

'quality ironstone
dinnerware
made in New Zealand'

*http://www.otagotrails.co.nz/trails/pdf/dunedinindustrialheritage.pdf
My information about varieties of jam under the St George brand comes from viewing pictures of old paper jam labels for sale on the auction site Trademe.
** Sunshine Jelly Crystals (Hawera and Normanby Star,1919) http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=HNS19191119.2.21.3

Imagining Antarctica by Meliors Simms

2011-09-22T07:38:00.001+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

I enjoy regularly popping into the Artspost gallery to check out their exhibitions. On display recently were works with an Antarctic theme by Hamilton Artist, Meliors Simms. One of the works in the Imagining Antartica exhibition really appealed to me, so I thought I'd share.

Blizzard by Meliors Simms,
(Imagining Antarctica Exhibition at Artspost, 2011)

This is it,it's called Blizzard. The words 'I am just going outside and may be some time' were famously uttered by Laurence Oates, an English Antarctic explorer with Robert Falcon Scott in 1912. Oates sacrificed himself in order to save his companions by walking out into a blizzard.

Detail of Blizzard by Meliors Simms,
(Imagining Antarctica Exhibition at Artspost, 2011)

The letters are made from vintage blankets hand stitched (using blanket stitch) onto successive net curtains. The effect of this is to convey a feeling of the blizzard; of the white material veiling, obscuring and obliterating. The difficulty in reading the last words conveys a sense of struggle and of the sound of the words fading.

Detail of Blizzard'by Meliors Simms,
(Imagining Antarctica Exhibition at Artspost, 2011)

The most visible words are the first two; I am. For me they are so strongly associated with Colin McCahon that I can't help recalling him when I see them.
Please note that in the original work the letters are a white/cream colour and not as yellow as my photos show.

Detail of Blizzard by Meliors Simms,
(Imagining Antarctica Exhibition at Artspost, 2011)

Simms used different textures of net curtain, not just in the layers but sometimes within the one layer (by sewing two different fabrics together as above).

Meliors Simms Imagining Antarctica exhibition at Artspost, 2011

I really like the way the work was displayed in the gallery in front of the window so the natural light illuminated the top of the work more than the bottom. For some the window might represent the release after death.

My Antarctica by Meliors Simms with bergs (also by Meliors) in the foreground

I also found myself drawn to the large representation of Antarctica made out of handstitched vintage blankets titled My Antarctica.

Detail My Antarctica by Meliors Simms,
(Imagining Antarctica Exhibition at Artspost, 2011)

The use of old blankets in this way really appealed to me. I like the combination of the soft colours, the textures and the lovely embroidered details.

Unfortunately I think the exhibition has just finished but if you're interested, you can see more of Meliors Simms work on her blog :-
http://meliors.blogspot.com/2011/08/bergs-in-foreground-and-blizzard-in.html

My thanks to Meliors for permitting photography in the exhibition.

Wales V Samoa, RWC 2011 at the Hamilton Fanzone

2011-09-20T20:44:00.001+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

Flags decorating shop fronts to celebrate the rugby, Victoria Street, Hamilton,
18 September 2011

Instead of watching Sunday's Wales versus Samoa rugby match at home (or at the nearby Waikato Stadium), we headed for Hamilton's 'fanzone' in Hood Street.

Hamilton's Rugby World Cup 'fanzone', Hood Street

The large outdoor screen was set up at the intersection of Hood and Alexandra Streets.

Alex Steel sculpture 'Form 2' in the foreground with Hamilton's Hood Street RWC 'Fanzone' behind.

Artspost's outdoor sculpture (opposite the 'fanzone' entrance) had an appropriate rugby theme. It's called Form 2 by Alex Steel.

RWC 2011 flag bunting above Hood Street (Hamilton's 'fanzone')

We thought we might get rained on, but the weather held for the duration of the game.

RWC 2011 flag bunting

There was plenty of RWC 2011 flag bunting flapping in the light wind.

We saw someone hastily shoving a length of the bunting into their bulging pocket (as a souvenir I suppose).

Rugby fans supporting Wales and Samoa, Hamilton 'Fanzone',
18 Sept 2011

We joined about 200 people sitting or standing on the road in front of the large screen. Others watched from nearby cafes, restaurants and bars.

Samoan supporter with facepaint

It wasn't the win the Samoan supporters had hoped for (but the Welsh were pretty pleased).

Samoan supporter

As the game ended light rain started.

Mahons' Laughing Clowns

Mahons added to the carnival atmosphere with several amusements on nearby Alexandra Street.

Barriers with their logos covered with Mahons' Scream Machine in the background

As we walked past, someone was busy covering the logo on mobile barriers with black fabric. Under the RWC rules only sponsor's logos are permitted to be seen.

Central Hamilton filled as streams of people who'd watched the match in the Waikato Stadium made their way down Victoria Street.

We headed home.

A Mackerel Sky and a Walk on the Beach at Raglan

2011-09-14T20:33:00.001+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

Altocumulus mackerel sky viewed from the top of 'the Deviation', SH23,
10 Sept 2011

On our way to Raglan last weekend we saw this amazing cloud formation. It's known as a mackerel sky (altocumulus) . Maori interpreted the rows of clouds of a mackerel sky as a sign that the spirits in the sky were planting their kumara.*

New Kopua footbridge (front), construction platform (middle) and old footbridge (back),
10 September 2011

When we arrived in Raglan we headed over the old Kopua footbridge to the beach for a walk. The new bridge looks almost complete.

Digging for cockles, Raglan

From the bridge we could see a few people digging for cockles.

'Shelly and Shelldon' beach art, Raglan

A young girl had used cockle shells to make this charming beach art, 'Shelly and Shelldon'.

Sun on water (looking out to the Raglan harbour entrance)

Low sun and flaring clouds accentuated the harbour entrance.

Sun on water and sand, Raglan

I thought we might be in for a spectacular sunset but low cloud obscured the sun shortly after I took this photo.

Karoro / Black-backed gull with crab

A couple of Karoro (Black-backed gulls) were in the shallows near the shore. We watched as they looked intently down into the water. The one pictured ducked its head under the water and came up with a little crab in its beak.

Apparently in times past Maori released tamed Karoro amongst their kumara crops so the birds might consume the caterpillars on the crops.* * The two we watched were catching and eating a surprising number of crabs in the short time we watched them so I imagine they'd make quick work of caterpillars.

Aircraft taking off from Raglan Airport (RAG)

We heard a plane, then watched this one ascend from the adjacent Raglan Airport.

Raglan Airport windsock (from the beach)

The runway is a grass strip. The moon was visible in the evening sky.

Old wooden gate with Mt Karioi in the background

Diagonal clouds streaked across the sky behind Mt Karioi.

Tree remains on the beach, Raglan (view looking back towards Raglan township)

It was just about sunset, so we headed back the way we'd come.

Seaward beacon (Raglan navigation beacon for vessels entering Raglan [Whaingaroa] harbour)

* The Natural world of the Maori by Margaret Orbell, published by David Bateman Ltd, 1985, p40
**http://www.nzbirds.com/birds/blackbackedgull.html

http://www.fallingrain.com/icao/NZRA.html (Raglan Airport)
http://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/CMSFiles/fe/fe08a6b6-891e-4286-b5b2-1d706b97f440.pdf

Gallagher Great Race, 2011

2011-09-11T21:06:00.002+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

We braved rain today and headed along to the Waikato riverbank to catch a bit of action at the Gallagher Great Race. Unfortunately we were too late to see the women's teams, but did see the men's race. At the start line were the University of Cambridge, the University of Melbourne and the University of Waikato teams. I'm not sure what the order of events was, but shortly after the start of the race, the Waikato and Cambridge teams got into a 'right tangle'. They were right up against the trees at the side of the river and close enough to touch each other with their oars when they came to 'an almighty halt'. Something was said about the Cambridge team having a broken rudder. When the race continued a few minutes later they continued with an improvised rudder (it looked like a small wooden paddle).

The University of Waikato team about to cross the finish line,
The 2011 Gallagher Great Race

First across the line was the University of Waikato.

The University of Waikato at the Gallagher Great Race finish line, 2011

I'm not sure if the splash at the end of the boat was the coxswain having a dip in the river or just getting wet from a splash. The three of us were crouched under one small umbrella and we were getting rather wet too!

The University of Melbourne crew at the finish line

Next in were the University of Melbourne.

The University of Cambridge

Lastly the University of Cambridge approached the finish line. Note the coxswain holding the small paddle (their makeshift rudder).

University of Cambridge coxswain with the makeshift rudder ( resting in front of him)

http://www.thegreatrace.co.nz/the-great-race/