Gorgeous with Attitude

Wool Carder Bees in the Waikato

2015-04-10T09:29:00.000+12:00

Wool Carder Bees (Anthidium manicatum) are yet another insect accidentally introduced into New Zealand. They were first noticed here around 2006.

Wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) on ice plant flower,
Waikato, New Zealand 2015

We have plenty of them in our rural Waikato garden and frequently see them on or around our flowering rosemary, garlic chives, sunflowers and ice plant.

Wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) on ice plant flower,
Waikato, New Zealand 2015

Initially I thought they were hoverflies because of how they fly and was surprised to find they're a type of solitary bee. Only the females can sting.

I'm not sure if the New Zealand ones carry parasites. Some tiny, grey, round things are visible in my photo on the thorax (where it joins the abdomen). Could they be a little parasitic mite, I wonder?

Male Wool Carder bee spines

Males are larger and have five sharp spines on their abdomen with which they can wound or even kill other insects if required. The yellow stripes are longer on males than females.

Male and female Wool Carder Bees on sunflower,
Waikato, New Zealand 2015

Males patrol flowering plants on which the females come to forage on. Should another insect, such as a honey bee or bumble bee approach the male wool carder aggressively approaches to 'shoo' them off.

Wool Carder Bees with pollen stuck to the hairs on their bodies,
Waikato, New Zealand 2015

They're similar in size to a honey bee, but are wider. The name, wool carder bee, comes from the females habit of scraping the 'fur' off some plants and rolling it into little balls which they make into nests. I have yet to find a nest in my garden but judging from the number of wool carder bees we have (ie lots) it 'll only be a matter of time!

I have referred to an article by Jo-Anne Soper which appeared in the Nelson Mail, January 2010 for information http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/lifestyle-entertainment/primary-focus/3262251/New-male-bee-has-nasty-attitude

Giraffe Weevil, Tuwhaipapa or Pepeke Nguturoa

2015-01-14T18:24:00.000+13:00

Male Giraffe Weevil, Tuwhaipapa or Pepeke nguturoa (Lasiorhynchus barbicornis)

What's there not to love about giraffe weevils! They're interesting to look at , harmless and they're large. They can grow to about 8.5 - 15 cm in length apparently! * The two pictured here were about 4.5cm in length. Juveniles perhaps. They're endemic to New Zealand and eat dead wood. Their Maori names are tuwhaipapa or pepeke nguturoa.

We saw these beetles while walking on the Hakarimata summit track in Ngaruawahia (New Zealand). To get to the fabulous views of the countryside at the top of the track we needed to climb 1349 steps. Quite a climb on a hot summer's day! The giraffe weevil pictured above was motionless on a tree trunk beside the track, about half way up the hill. Stopping to take photos was a welcome break from climbing the stairs!

Male Giraffe Weevil, Tuwhaipapa or Pepeke nguturoa (Lasiorhynchus barbicornis)

Giraffe weevils are sexually dimorphic which means that the males and females look different. This one's a male (above). Both males and females have a long 'snout' or rostrum, but males have the 'feelers' (antennae) at the very end alongside the mandibles. The rostrum is 'used as a weapon during male to male contests.'** If an extra male comes across another who is mating with a female he will try to dislodge the male from the female using his mandibles and rostrum.

His two little eyes can clearly be seen if you follow the line of fine hairs running the length of the rostrum. This line of hairs gives Lasiorhynchus barbicornis its name; barbicornis is Latin for bearded horn.***

Small hind wings are hidden behind hardened forewings (elytra). They must be quite something to behold in flight!

Female Giraffe Weevil, Tuwhaipapa or Pepeke nguturoa (Lasiorhynchus barbicornis)

Another giraffe weevil, a lively female, was on the handrail of the viewing tower at the summit. The 'feelers' (antennae) of females are attached part way up the rostrum which means they can bore into trees to make a hole in which to deposit their eggs. Mating normally takes place while the female is boring the hole. When the hole is finished the female reverses her body and lays the fertilised eggs in the hole.*** * She will only lay her eggs in particular types of trees (there are 17 known host tree species**). When they hatch the larvae feed on the wood. The larval stage lasts for a minimum of two years. *** **

*Department of Conservation info http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/getting-involved/students-and-teachers/field-trips-by-region/kapiti-education-kit/Species%20cards/giraffe-weevil-tuwhaipapa.pdf

** Sex and Conflict in the New Zealand giraffe weevil, (Lasiorhynchus barbicornis), Painting, Christina Joelle https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/handle/2292/21557

*** https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/49022/FNZ45Belidae144.pdf, G. Kuschel, 2003

*** * Some observations on Lasiorhynchus barbicornis by M. J. Meads http://ento.org.nz/nzentomologist/free_issues/NZEnto06_2_1976/Volume%206-2-171-176.pdf

*** ** Observations on the Ecology and Behaviour of the New Zealand Giraffe Weevil (Lasiorhynchus barbicornis), CJ Painting and G I Holwell http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03014223.2013.854816#tabModule

This link has a great picture that shows the giraffe weevil's hardened forewings (elytra) and hind wings. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14354/giraffe-weevil

Ratana Temple Photos

2014-05-25T13:09:00.001+12:00

Raetihi Whare Whakamoemiti, 2012

I've taken these pictures of Ratana temples because I find the architecture interesting. Whare Whakamoemiti (pictured above) sits on a hill in the town of Raetihi.

Raetihi Whare Whakamoemiti, 2012

Here it is from the side .

Raetihi Whare Whakamoemiti detail (the windows on either side of the building) ,2012

Te Temepra Tapu o Ihoa (the holy temple of Jehovah), Ratana temple, Ahipara (Far North)

This Ratana temple is one of several in the Far North. The Ratana Church was founded by T.W. Ratana, a powerful Maori spiritual leader and faith healer.**

Whetu Marama, Ratana Temple, Ahipara (Far North)

The Whetu Marama (shining light) tohu or symbol sits at the top of each of the temple's bell towers.*

Having taken photos of the Ratana temples at Rawene and Ahipara I was interested to see the Temple in Ratana Pa on which they were modelled. When we were coming back from attending a wedding in Wellington recently we had a quick side trip on the return journey to visit Ratana Pa.

Ratana Pa with the Temple

The Temple in Ratana Pa.

Stained glass window above the entrance doors featuring the Whetu Marama (shining light) tohu or symbol.

The use of symbolic iconography is continued in the grounds of the Temple.

*http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/te-haahi-ratana-the-ratana-church/2/1

For those who are interested the links below have additional information on the architecture and the movement itself.

http://www.historic.org.nz/publications/heritagenzmagazine/heritagenz2010/hnz10-ratana.aspx?sc_lang=en (NZ Historic Places Trust Pouhere Taonga, Founding a Faith by Keith Newman)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10570249 (NZ Herald article, Temples of Maori Architecture by Chris Barton [book review/interview with Maori Art and architectural historian Dr Deidre Brown])
http://maorichristianprophets.wordpress.com/2012/04/
http://www.theratanachurch.org.nz/history.html

A Trip on the Kingston Flyer

2013-07-21T16:46:00.000+12:00

The Kingston Flyer (AB778) coming into Kingston Station, Nov 2012

We waited at the empty station listening keenly for the sound and sight of an approaching steam train. There is was; the whistle! We saw a lengthening plume of smoke above the treetops. Gradually the sound of the engine increased in volume. Finally we had our first glimpse of the Kingston Flyer as she rounded the corner on her approach to Kingston Station. Quite a sight!

The Kingston Flyer approaching Kingston Station (Nov 2012)

The ground literally moved as she cruised by! It was exhilarating! Such power!

The Kingston Flyer has been on my 'must see' list for ages. I finally got the opportunity to experience it late last year when we were travelling between Queenstown and Te Anau.

Kingston Station

Kingston is a beautiful little town situated at the Southern end of 'S' shaped Lake Wakatipu. The station is located right beside the lake.

The clear waters of Lake Wakatipu at Kingston (looking along the beach to the Kingston wharf)

The track continues past the station, out onto a jetty or wharf.

The Kingston Flyer at Kingston Station, Nov 2012

After it pulled into Kingston Station and passengers alighted and the engine was disconnected from the carriages the engine moved forward and then backed onto the loop track.

AB778 reversing on the loop track at Kingston (Nov 2012)

AB778 reversing into the yard, Kingston (Nov 2012)

It was reversed into the yard to fill up on water and coal.

Topping up water and lubricating drive gear ,AB778 at Kingston (Nov 2012)

Filling up with coal, Kingston (Nov 2012)

View of AB778 , AB795 (in dis-assembled state, foreground) and a crane in the Kingston yard (Nov 2012)

Shortly afterwards this engine (AB 778) was taken offline due to boiler leaks and it appeared the railway might close. Fortunately this didn't happen and it re-opened the following month using AB795 (presumably the one in the foreground undergoing re-assembly).

AB778 on the turntable at Kingston (Nov 2012)

After filling up on water and coal the engine was gently backed onto the turntable. The driver and fireman took an end each and pushed...

AB778 on the Kingston turntable (Nov 2012)

...until the loco had been turned around.

AB778 at Kingston, Nov 2012

AB778 was backed the short distance to the waiting carriages at Kingston station, ready for the next excursion.

AB778 at Kingston

Along with the other passengers, we hopped on and began to explore the carriages.

Kingston Flyer Carriage

I really enjoyed looking at all the details inside the carriages.

'In case of accident break open. This box contains kerosene and 2 lanterns.' Kingston Flyer, Nov 2012

Carving and window blind, Kingston Flyer, Nov 2012

First Class Carriage AF1172, The Kingston Flyer

Door fitting, Kingston Flyer carriage

Soap dispenser , tap and hand basin, Kingston Flyer carriage lavatory

Kingston Flyer 'Second Class' carriage

Kingston Flyer dining car

Lake Wakatipu Steam Shipping Co. Ltd advertising poster

Heat regulator, Kingston Flyer dining car

Inside a Kingston Flyer carriage

One of the carriages had a series of plush compartments containing a pair of seats facing each other with a fold down table between them. These compartments were accessed by a corridor that was open on the side.

Guard's van, Kingston Flyer, 2012

Outside of the guard's van, Kingston Flyer, 2012

Inside the cab of AB778

When we stopped at Fairlight at the far end of the track we got to have a look inside the cab.

The Kingston Flyer at Fairlight, Nov 2012

We enjoyed viewing the magnificent scenery again on the return journey to Kingston.

View from the back of the Kingston Flyer, Nov 2012

The Kingston Flyer, Kingston, Nov 2012

Back at Kingston station AB778 was disconnected from the carriages and backed onto the loop ready to go to the yard to top up on water and coal again in readyness for the next excursion.

Rolling stock, Kingston Flyer 2012

We wandered down to the wharf to have a look at the view and the rolling stock stored there before resuming our journey to Te Anau.

rolling stock, Kingston

TSS Earnslaw (Nov 2012)

On occasions the Kingston Flyer meets the coal fired TSS Earnslaw and passengers continue their journey with a cruise on Lake Wakatipu. This had recently happened before our trip when the centenary of the TSS Earnslaw was celebrated. 'The Kingston Flyer brought the Earnslaw to Kingston by rail after it had originally been built in Dunedin, disassembled, transported and reassembled in Kingston and launched in' 1912.*

View of Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown looking towards Kingston(with TSS Earnslaw coming into berth).

We couldn't resist stopping and parking the car a few kilometres from Kingston to watch the Kingston Flyer steam past. Such a beautiful sight! The driver and fireman responded with a quick toot on the whistle to our waves.

*http://southernpr.co.nz/press-release-kingston-flyer-2/

The Te Pahu Toothbrush Fence and Other Decorated Fences

2013-03-30T16:06:00.000+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Quirky, arty, playful, humorous and interesting or just plain rubbish? Perhaps decorating fences with everyday items is a New Zealand thing. I'm not sure. We enjoy spotting them when we're out on our travels.

The Toothbrush Fence, 294 Limeworks Look Road, Te Pahu

Possibly my favourite is the Te Pahu Toothbrush Fence 'World Famous in Te Pahu'.

It's the brainchild of Te Pahu local, Laird McGillicuddy,Graeme Cairns.

The Toothbrush Fence, Te Pahu

It's a long fence with an impressive line-up of brushes. More are added all the time. Most are standard models, some are from electric toothbrushes and there's a scattering of other brushes.. I think there's at least one toilet brush!

Toothbrushes (including one named 'Te Radar'),
The Toothbrush Fence, Te Pahu

Some of the toothbrushes are very special types. The double-ended creation pictured above is a quirky little work of art that includes a couple of teacup handles on either side (the toothbrush equivalent of a loving cup?). The adjacent, blue/green basic type is inscribed with NZ comedian, Te Radar's name.

Other toothbrushes with famous connections include one formerly belonging to Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Clement, Laird McGillicuddy and former Prime Minister Helen Clark.*

Betty Visits the Toothbrush Fence, Te Pahu

The mystery of Betty the Morris Minor continues with a painting on the Toothbrush Fence. Other pictures of Betty can be found on the start to one of the walks up Mt Pirongia and inside the Helen Clark Celebrity Bus Shelter in Te Pahu.

The Jandal Fence, Kaeo (2011)

This fence in Kaeo is decorated with discarded jandals.

The Jandal Fence, Kaeo (2011)

Jandal fence, south of Sanson (2012)

About 765 km south of Kaeo, near Sanson I photographed another jandal fence.

You do wonder where all the jandals come from! Are they all from one family of jandal wearers or have other people added theirs to the fence?

Footwear fence, between Matamata and Morrinsville, Waikato,(2013)

The deer fencing on this farm offers a taller 'canvas' than the standard 8 wire farm fence. The discarded footwear theme continues, but this time shoes are featured.

King Wheel Cottage, Kingston (Dec 2012)

Like many people we visited Kingston, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu to see the Kingston Flyer - an NZR Ab class steam locomotive. Seeing King Wheel Cottage was a nice bonus.

King Wheel Cottage, Kingston 2012

An impressive collection of vintage wheels have been fashioned into an interesting fence and gates. One of the large wheels beside the gate has the words, 'Come bide and rest a wheel' painted onto it.

Bicycle fence, Athol (Southland)
Dec 2012

Other than the toothbrushes, all the examples pictured so far are things we use to transport ourselves around. Bicycle fences also fit with this general theme. Pictured above is one in Athol, Southland. Below is another, located around 2,000 km north of Athol, in Northland, New Zealand.

Bicycle fence (SH10), Northland

Fence decorated with hub caps, near Wenderholm (2011)

Hub caps (yet another transport theme) decorate this fence beside a busy road near Wenderholm.

Crossed saws decorating a fence, near Broadwood (Hokianga)

The decorated fence is a small part of the overall arrangement beside the entrance to this property. In this case a whole variety of objects have been included (as opposed to the collection of large numbers of a specific thing).

Roadside garden installation and decorated fence, near Broadwood (Hokianga)
Dec 2011

Interesting entrance (SH10), Northland

In this example old marine buoys have been tied to a gate. The nautical theme continues with what appears to be part of a vessel's cabin serving as a bus shelter beside the gate. Nice microwave letterbox and note the fake tortoise on top of the pole!

Buoy fence beside the road to Cape Palliser (Wairarapa), 2013

These marine buoys are attached to a wire fence beside the road on the rugged stretch of coast near Cape Palliser. It was blowing a gale on the day we visited.

Detail of buoy fence beside the road to Cape Palliser, 2013

Fishing boats were hauled up on the nearby beach.

The Cardrona Valley's infamous bra fence is one of the best known in NZ. Sadly I don't have any photos. I've also seen a fence decorated with old hats. Less tasteful was a fence in the Hokianga decorated with long-dead possums, but I think this was to deter more possums rather than for a decorative effect. I chose not to photograph it.

A common feature of most of these fences seems to be the use of discarded or found objects. Collections of these items are arranged decoratively on roadside fences possibly as an invitation to the general public to add their own contribution to the collection. The Toothbrush Fence even has a bucket with small pieces of wire thoughtfully provided to encourage the public to hang their toothbrush from the fence with all the others. Nice!

The Te Pahu Toothbrush Fence blog http://thetoothbrushfence.blogspot.co.nz/

*Te Pahu Net http://www.tepahu.co.nz/Info-Centre/Toothbrush-Fence.aspx

Big Muffin Serious Band , Mr T. Pot song (featuring Graeme Cairns of the Toothbrush Fence fame and Jim Fulton...) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50SZGE7MUGA

Here's another painting of Betty from the Te Pahu area.
http://gorgeouswithattitude.blogspot.com/2011/05/bus-shelters-as-installation-street-art.html

The link to Te Radar's website
http://www.radarswebsite.com/

Rhubarb Cream (Custard) Pie

2013-02-04T07:04:00.001+13:00

'Absolutely wonderful !' I wrote that comment fifteen or so years ago after I'd made my first Rhubarb Cream Pie and I still agree. It's a lovely combination of tangy rhubarb, sweet, velvety custard; moist and delicious hot or cold. Quick and easy to make too; bonus!

Rhubarb Cream Pie fresh from the oven

My copy of the recipe is in the form of a newspaper cutting, pasted into my scrap-book-style recipe book. I'll give the recipe how it appears in the newspaper in red text. * Over the years I've changed it a bit to suit my taste and no-fuss (lazy!) approach to baking. Anything I do that's different from the original recipe will be in black text. It's called Rhubarb Cream Pie, but I feel Rhubarb Custard Pie might better describe it.

'Rhubarb Cream Pie

For 6-8 servings:
Pastry
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
60g cold butter
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp wine vinegar or 1 tsp lemon juice'

Mixing the butter into the flour

'To make the pastry, sift or toss together the flour and baking powder. Cut butter into cubes, using either a food processor, or the coarsest blade on the grater. Do not chop finely if using the processor.

Sour the milk with the vinegar or lemon juice, then add most of it to the flour. Mix it in, using enough to make a dough which is a little moister than normal short pastry, but is firm enough to roll out. Roll out thinly, using just enough flour to stop sticking.'

Line a well sprayed 23cm pie plate with the pastry, easing it carefully into the corners and up the sides. Trim the edges 15mm beyond the edge of the pie plate and brush with water. Fold the edge of the pastry inwards, a little more than 1cm, pressing evenly and firmly. Decorate the edge of the pie by pinching firmly at intervals, pushing the pinches section down against the pastry sides'

I do my pastry a little differently (below)
As you'll see in the photo, I didn't have cold butter so had to make do with extremely soft butter (it was a hot day!). It worked out OK.

I'm just as happy using cider vinegar as wine vinegar or lemon juice.

Instead of spraying the pie plate, I give it a generous coating of butter. Instead of rolling out the pastry, I just drop small bits all over the base of the pie plate then gently press them together. I don't even bother taking the pastry up the sides and I like the slightly burnt sugar edging this creates. Place dish with pastry (no filling) into the fridge for at least 20 minutes (I always do this with pastry).

Filling ingredients; sugar, yoghurt and egg mixture (left), prepared rhubarb (right)
The lovely golden yellow of my sugar, yoghurt and egg mixture is thanks to Harriet, our chicken who freely roams our garden and whose eggs I used.

'Filling
2-3 cups sliced rhubarb
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cream or sour cream (I use plain yoghurt instead)

The only change I make here is that I use plain yoghurt instead of cream or sour cream.

Pull the stringy pieces from the rhubarb, cut it into 5mm slices and place these in the uncooked pastry shell.

In a food processor or bowl, combine the eggs, sugar and cream or sour cream (or plain yoghurt) until smooth.'

Rhubarb Cream Pie ready for the oven ( I try to make sure all the pieces of rhubarb have a slight coating of the creamy mixture on them).

' Pour the creamy mixture over the fruit and bake at 220 degrees C for 15-20 minutes until golden brown, then at 180 degrees C until the centre has set and the fruit is tender.'

Rhubarb Cream Pie served chilled the following day

'Cut into wedges and serve warm, sprinkled with icing sugar'. It can also be served with a dollop of whipped cream, ice cream or simply on its own.

We enjoyed sharing this particular one (photographed) with guests served hot from the oven. The leftover slices were delicious eaten cold the following day.

* Unfortunately when I cut this recipe out of the newspaper (probably the Waikato Times), I didn't include the author, so I'm not able to supply it. It could be an Alison Holst recipe, I'm not sure. I'd be grateful if anyone knows so that I can add it.

Banana Cake Recipe, my own version and the Edmonds one

2013-01-25T11:41:00.000+13:00

I like to bake, not just for the enjoyment of it, but also because I have some control over the quality of the ingredients. One of the family this morning mentioned something about wanting something sweet to put in their lunchbox, so I thought I'd quickly whip up a banana cake.

A slice of Miranda's banana cake

Banana cake is a big favourite in our house hold (as in many other New Zealand homes) and a great way to use up over-ripe bananas. I've adapted this recipe from my 1982 copy of the Edmonds Cookery Book. My own version and the Edmonds one are given below.

Miranda's Banana Cake (adapted from the Edmonds one)
105g (4 oz)cooking oil (any mild-tasting oil such as rice bran or grape seed oil is fine)
135g (5 oz) sugar
2 eggs
about 1/4 teaspoon of salt
2 to 3 mashed bananas (or 4 to 5 small ones)
75g (3 oz) sultanas
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of bicarb soda (baking soda)
2 tablespoons boiling milk
225g (8 oz) self raising flour (or standard flour with 1 teaspoon of baking powder mixed in)

a mixture of cinnamon and sugar to sprinkle on the top

Oil , sugar, salt and egg in bowl (for banana cake)

Method

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F)

Beat oil and sugar together then add eggs, one at a time, beating in between.

Mashed banana ready to add to the oil, sugar and egg mixture (banana cake)

Stir in salt and mashed bananas.

Boiling mild to which baking soda has been added

In a separate container (such as a small saucepan) bring the milk to the boil and add the baking soda. Stir to dissolve the baking soda. It will froth up quite a bit as you do this. Stir it into your mixture.

Measure out your flour and sieve it into the mixing bowl with the other ingredients.

Miranda's banana cake mixture in a baking dish lined with baking paper ready to go into the oven

Mix well and pour the mixture into a cake tin lined with baking paper (or similar). I sprinkled the top lightly with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon (recipe below). I like to do this because it's easy and adds a little bit of sweetness and flavour to the top without having to ice the cake and you can eat it without having to wait for it to cool. You, however, may prefer to ice it with a vanilla icing, cream cheese icing (recipe given below) or top with cream...

Bake at 180 degrees C (350 degrees F) for about 20 to 30 minutes. To check if it's cooked before removing it from the oven I poke a metal skewer into the middle. If it comes out gooey, the cake isn't cooked enough and I re-set the timer for a few more minutes. If it comes out clean, the cake is done!

A slice of still-warm banana cake

This recipe makes a lovely, tasty, moist cake that we all enjoy. Before it had cooled and the kitchen was still full of the wonderful freshly baked banana cake smell, the first few pieces had been devoured warm. The rest was eaten cold. If you haven't tried banana cake, it's really easy to make and tasty to eat. The flavour is different from that of fresh bananas, so if you don't like them fresh, you may still like this cake (as is the case with one of my kids who scoffed down about a quarter of the cake within an hour of being baked!). It's also a great way to use up those super-ripe bananas that no-one wants to eat.

Note the following substitutions can be made:

Kelp powder can be used instead of the salt, this is required because I used oil instead of butter (which contains salt)

Some other dried fruit such as cranberries, diced prunes or currants can be used instead of the sultanas,

Ripe bananas are best because they're easier to mash and are sweeter. Even when they've gone completely brown they're still fine for use in a banana cake. They can be used fresh or frozen until required. If you do freeze them, they're easier to peel and mash if you let them thaw first. I used 5 small, previously frozen bananas to make the cake pictured here.

To prevent my cake from sticking to the cake tin I've used baking paper (also known as parchment paper in some countries) to line my tin. Another alternative is to wipe your tin with melted butter or oil, shake a small quantity of flour over it and tip out any excess flour. I don't think either of these things is necessary if your bakeware is made from silicon.

My own preference it to avoid cooking oils packaged in plastic. I only use those sold in glass containers to avoid any (perceived or real) cross contamination of materials.

Here's the Banana Cake recipe as it appears in my old Edmonds Cooker Book:-

Edmonds Cookery Book Banana Cake Recipe (1982 edition, p19)
125g (4 oz) Butter
175g (6 oz) Sugar
2 Eggs
2 Mashed Bananas
1 teaspoon Bicarb Soda
2 tablespoons Boiling Milk
1 teaspoon Edmonds Baking Powder
225g (8 oz) Flour

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, mashed bananas, then Bicarb Soda dissolved in boiling milk. Lastly add flour and baking powder previously mixed. Bake in two greased sandwich tins for 20 minutes at 180 degrees C (350 degrees F). Fill with whipped cream and sliced bananas.

Toppings
Here are some suggestions for toppings, the first two are put on to the raw mixture prior to baking. The cake needs to be cooked and cool before applying the cream cheese and the basic icing sugar ones.

Cinnamon Sugar Sprinkle - apply prior to baking cake
about 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to 1/2 cup of sugar. I use ordinary white sugar, if you want something finer you could use caster sugar instead (or give your ordinary sugar a whizz in a coffee/spice grinder to make it finer). It's also good as a sprinkle on muffins (prior to going into the oven) and on hot buttered toast. I've also made up smaller quantities for cakes using raw or brown sugar.

Crunchy CinnamonTopping (taken from an unknown magazine years ago) - apply prior to baking the cake
60g ( 2 oz) butter, melted
1/2 cup (100g or 3.5oz) filmly packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Sprinkle over the cake mixture prior to putting it into the oven.

Cream Cheese Icing (taken from a Carrot Cake recipe, Diocesan School Cook Book 1978, p93) - for use on a cooked cake that has been allowed to cool from the oven.
75g (3 oz) softened cream cheese, 1 tablespoon butter,1 teaspoon beaten together. Add 2 cups icing sugar.

Easy, Basic Icing Sugar Icing
195g (7 oz or about 1 1/4 cups) icing sugar (sieved to remove any lumps),
1 teaspoon of butter (melted)
Add a very small quantity of boiling water and stir with a fork. Keep adding tiny amounts of the water until a smooth mixture the thickness of thick cream is achieved. If you accidentally add too much water causing the mixture to be too thin, correct it by adding extra icing sugar. I use a non-serrated knife to apply it to the cooled cake and allow the icing to harden. A drop of vanilla essence is also nice in this icing.

The Quirky Display of Old Machinery, Industrial Devices or Vessels

2013-01-14T10:53:00.001+13:00

Finding and photographing old machinery/industrial devices when they're displayed in a way contrary to their original purpose is something I enjoy. There's often an element of humour, surprise, mystery, beauty and drama associated with them.

Here are my photos to date...

Cabin cruiser on the side of Mt Karioi, Raglan
Photo: Miranda Hensleigh 2011

The playful placement of this old wooden cabin cruiser on a steep mountain slope facing the ocean creates drama. The boat seems to defy gravity as it perches on the slope.

Hill-top cabin cruiser on the side of Mt Karioi, Raglan
Photo: Miranda Hensleigh 2011

It gives the impression that the only thing stopping it from plunging into the ocean far below are the wooden posts on either side. In this way an interesting tension is created and a humorous scenario is suggested to the viewer.

Old bus put out to pasture, Ruapuke (2011)
Photo: Miranda Hensleigh

This old bus has been put out to pasture in one of the most scenic spots you could imagine. It's dramatically positioned high up on a hill overlooking remote Ruapuke Beach, surrounded by nothing but grass. In this way the intrinsic beauty of the old bus is enhanced by its location.

Close-up of bus with outdoor seating.

The bus has been positioned at an angle to the beach. The front appears to 'look' out to sea. The window glass all seems to have gone but it still has its large old steering wheel, doors and a ladder at the back.

Some fabric flutters in the breeze around the windows and a couple of old vinyl seats are propped up against the side of the bus for outdoor seating.

Anyone else remember going to school in something like this? Remember how the drivers had to haul the steering wheel around to get the bus around the corner and how they were prone to popping out of gear on steep hills causing the bus to come to a sudden halt...

Lost bus from Ruapuke Beach
Photo: Miranda Hensleigh 2011

The bus can also be seen from Ruapuke Beach. It's pictured above with Mt Karioi (an ancient volcano) behind.

Lost Bus with new paint job, Ruapuke, 2012

Proof that I'm not alone in liking this bus; someone's painted it since I took my original photos!

Arty West Coast Garden with tractor, Ruapuke
Photo: Miranda Hensleigh

Just a bit further down the road from the bus is this lovely old tractor.

Close up of the vintage tractor,
Photo: Miranda Hensleigh 2011

It's been treated as an interesting garden sculpture and is artistically displayed in a seaside garden.

Rusting vintage car in a garden, Ahipara (Far North) 2011

I suspect time has transformed my perception of this old vehicle. Whereas when it was first left on this lawn I might have seen it primarily as from a car wreck (or great children's play thing) : I now see it as an interesting decorative object in the garden!

WWII Harvard (trainer aircraft) *, Pahiatua playground , 2013

There are numerous examples of old machinery in children's playgrounds having been preserved for children to play on. Old tractors, locomotives ...
I find this old WWII trainer aircraft in the Pahiatua children's playground especially appealing and really like how it's been displayed off the ground and at a slight angle (it's a slide). Also the paint job. It probably has a really interesting history.

Relocated lamp post and crossing globe viewed from the road, Cape Palliser Road, Ngawi 2013

I've chosen this photo because of the unexpected placement of the street light and pedestrian-crossing globe. We expect to find them in towns, beside the road, at either end of a pedestrian crossing. Although this one is in a little town/village it's some distance from the road, outside a dwelling beside the beach. I found this unlikely location amusing and enigmatic. How did they get there?, do they still work?, what happened to the other one?...

Wellington letterbox, 2013

Sometimes the beauty of smaller objects is displayed, such as in the rusting pulley thing used as a letterbox stand (pictured above).

Roadside garden installation, near Broadwood (Hokianga), 2011

In this example a whole collection of items have been combined to form an impressive roadside display at the entrance to someone's property. Dominating the display is a large model chainsaw. There's also an old sewing machine, a plough, bicycle, something that looks like an old torpedo.. .

Old WWII (?) naval contact mine at entrance to the Raukaka Beach Holiday Park
2011

Positioned for maximum visual impact at a roadside entrance is another disarmed explosive device. (Tempting to say 'disarmingly charming'). I think it's an old WWII contact mine that was discovered in the area so is of interest not just for its sculptural appeal but as an object of local historical interest. I'm not sure it I can call it an industrial device (machine or vessel), but I've included it anyway.

What I like about each of the objects in my photos is the transformation from something ordinary to something extra-ordinary. I enjoy the ones that challenge my preconceptions and where the intrinsic beauty of the object is enhanced by the way it's been placed and located. Most of all I enjoy the enigmatic, quirky and humorous element of many of them and I'm grateful to all the people who've preserved and displayed them.

Reference
* Description of plane taken from the following website:- http://www.itravelnz.com/listing/pahiatua.html

Lake Ferry Murals by Grace, Himi and Lily

2013-01-06T12:36:00.000+13:00

Painted concrete structure, Lake Ferry (South Wairarapa) with Lake Onoke and the Rimutaka Ranges behind
2013

Art by the people for the people. I think that's one of the things I find so appealing about the murals on this concrete structure. I'm not sure what the original (main) purpose of the structure was/is but I love how it now also functions as a work of art.

You can find it beside Lake Onoke, across the road from the Hotel in the small seaside village of Lake Ferry (South Wairarapa).

Landscape painting designed by Lily, age 10

Each of the three murals has been designed by a child (presumably a local child). Lily (age 10) who designed the one above has included a sea bird flying over the water (the area is known for it's bird life) , the Rimutaka Ranges and the words ' Find 12 endangered whitebait'.

Child with umbrella in rain, design by Grace, age 12
Lake Ferry (South Wairarapa) 2013

By way of contrast Grace (age 12) has depicted a wet, windy scene. Lake Ferry is situated on the southern coast of New Zealand's North Island; an area known for it's wild and windy weather.

Detail of child with umbrella in rain painting showing hidden fish (whitebait)

Grace continues the hidden fish theme. At least two can be seen in the photo above.

Sunset over sea painting designed by Himi, age 13
Lake Ferry (South Wairarapa) 2013

A sunset and seascape designed by Himi (age 13) decorate the third side of the structure. Like the other two paintings, the bright colours give the work a joyful feeling.

Painted concrete structure at Lake Ferry from ocean side, 2013

Kiwi Christmas Cards, Past and Present Designs

2012-12-25T10:01:00.000+13:00

I have a small collection of old New Zealand themed Christmas cards. I'm interested in how the choice of subject matter, presentation and character of the cards has changed over the years.

The TV Kiwi one pictured below is one of my favourites. Perhaps it represents the time when New Zealand cards started to move away from either Northern Hemisphere imitations or tourist brochure-type scenes of New Zealand.

TV Kiwi 1985 BCNZ TVNZ Enterprises (Made in New Zealand by Hallmark)

The words printed inside the card reads; I guess we'll never know, will we! Possibly published in the 1980's ? Not sure.

The older ones are lovely too. Like stepping back into another era.

Best Wishes from New Zealand vintage Christmas Card, (Seven Seas M10 - 18)
1963

This one is the earliest in my collection featuring the pohutukawa blossom (sometimes known as the New Zealand Christmas tree).

Inside there's little room for a personal message as 'Pokarekare' (Pokarekare Ana) is printed over much of the surface area. A vintage version of the musical card?

Inside the above Christmas card, Pokarekare (A Maori Love Song) composed by Paware Tomoana

The publisher didn't want to waste a spare surface when it could be printed on. There's a map of New Zealand on the back (see below).

Back view of Best Wishes from New Zealand Christmas card (left) with another Seven Seas Publishing Co.Pty.Ltd 1963

Napier's Olympic Pool Christmas Card

This one commemorates the new Olympic Swimming Pool in Napier with a black and white photo reproduced on the front. Inside the card it reads 'Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a Bright and Prosperous New Year', 'Napier's Olympic Pool, situated at Onekawa Park, consists of swimming, diving, children's and heated learner/coaching pools in attractive surroundings.' I'm not sure of the date. Harking back to the days when civic pride was more important perhaps?

Vintage pictorial bookmark Christmas Card

This card (and the one below) includes a gift. It has a full colour printed book mark inset into slots cut especially in the card.

The words 'View from Te Mata Peak, Havelock North, New Zealand' are printed on the back of the inset colour picture. The card is blank inside but on the back it reads 'When removed, the illustration makes an excellent book mark.'

Kiwi Greetings, Pictorial Publications

This one is the same size as the previous card suggesting they may both have been published by the same company The back of the book mark reads ; 'It is rarely seen by man in its natural habitat.'

Inside of the Kiwi Greetings card

On the back of the card there's a small map of New Zealand and the words 'New Zealand Scenic Gem of the South Pacific'. The price on the back is given in cents, ' 20c' indicating it was printed sometime from 1967 onwards.

Season's Greetings from Tuatapere (Kingfisher)

Season's Greetings from Tuatapere has a depiction of Kingfisher printed on lightly textured paper. The back has been cut off (probably by my grandmother) so that the card could be recycled as a gift label. Backing the picture (inside the card) is printed:

KINGFISHER
Halcyon sanctus
This brilliantly-plumaged Kingfisher is probably
the finest fisherman of all the land birds and
as clever as many of the sea birds. He builds
his nest in a decayed tree or the clay bank
beside a river, and he burrows same with his
powerful bill. At the end of his burrow four
or five eggs are laid, and woe betide the tres-
passer, for he defends his nest to the death
with his sharp bill.

The publisher's name is missing. 1970's or earlier?

Colombo St., Christchurch, N.Z. Looking south towards Cathedral Square Christmas card
(Rust Craft by Felicity)

This'll bring back memories for many people. The Christchurch Cathedral is still in ruins following the Christchurch earthquakes.

Street decorations for the Christchurch Commonwealth Games suggest it dates from 1974. Inside the card reads 'The Season's Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year'.

Inter Island Ferry Passing Oriental Bay, Wellington Christmas Greetings

I love this card with the Inter Island Ferry on the front and the map on the back... It reminds me of those old calendars given away by grocers years ago. There's a softness to the images suggesting it was gravure printed.

The above card folded flat

Waka Huia Card
(G.B.Scott McLeod Productions)

The message handwritten inside this vintage card reads ' Lots of love to Bruce and Raewyn with best wishes for a very happy Xmas and New Year from Mum and Dad. We hope you enjoy showing this to your friends in U.S.A. and England. Also hope this arrives in time for Xmas - another parcel following xxx'.

Printed inside are the words
'New Zealand'
'NGA WHAKA MIHI'
'Waka Huia This ornately carved box was used by the Maoris for holding valuable greenstone ornaments and highly prized huia feather, used as badges of rank by Rangatiras.* *Chieftains', 'with best wishes'.

Best Wishes from New Zealand (Stamford CR 24-61)

This card has an interesting coat of arms on the front. It's not the New Zealand coat of arms (which require the Ministry of Culture and Heritage's permission to use) but is suggestive of it. Possibly one of the least attractive Christmas cards in my collection, but interesting.

Inside the above Stamford card

Inside the words read ' A wish that means the same the wide world over...A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR', 'Here is a wish that no barrier of time nor distance can change'

Mount Ngauruhoe from an original painted with the mouth by B. Hopkins (No. 7203/69 published by Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Ltd, Auckland)

The inside reads 'kind thoughts and all good wishes for Christmas and the New Year'. I'm not sure, but at a guess this card (and the next) date from about the 1980's or earlier.

The snow-clad New Zealand mountain subject strikes me as a combination of using a scenic New Zealand Scene (suitable to send overseas) whilst continuing the northern hemisphere tradition of winter/snow scenes on Christmas cards.

Serenity on the East Coast from an original painted with the foot by C.Pasche (No. 867/69 published by Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Ltd, Auckland )

The inside reads 'With Every Good Wish for Christmas and the Coming Year'. This one seems to be in the tradition of Northern Hemisphere cards depicting a winter scene (December is Summer in New Zealand).

NZ Honeysuckle Christmas Greetings
(Pictorial Publications, 12c)

The Pohutukawa blossom has become a really popular flower to depict on Christmas cards in recent times. I think this card dates from somewhere between 1967 and 1985 and depicts NZ Honeysuckle (rewarewa).

'Sincere Greetings for Christmas and the New Year' is printed inside.

Christmas Pohutukawa from an Original painted with the mouth by J. F. Driver (No. 4001) 1952?

Doubtless Bay, Northland NZ from an original painted with the mouth by A. Craig

These more recent cards feature the red blossoms of the pohutakawa.

Orokawa Bay, Bay of Plenty by artist Janet Bothner-By of Auckland for www.savethechildren.org.nz (Goodwill Xpress)

Many of us spend Christmas at the beach, so for us a Christmas card with a beach scene is entirely appropriate.

Pohutukawa blossom Christmas Wishes, Manufactured by K Kurtovich Products Ltd (Humdinger Design Ltd, 2007)

A relatively recent card using a pohutukawa image.

The three cards immediately below are also more recent Kiwi versions of Christmas cards.

Buzzy Bee (Kiwiana) themed card by artist Claire Birch of Wanganui (Unicef New Zealand)

A favourite, nostalgic New Zealand toy, the Buzzy Bee is depicted pulling a sleigh through the air. Seashells adorn the border to add to the 'Kiwi' feel.

Pukeko holding a Christmas ornament by Erika Rush for www.canteen.org.nz

At our place we have trouble with Pukekos running off with our apple crop. Erica Rush has depicted one here holding a Christmas ornament.

Te Huia Kai Manawa - The Huia That Consumes My Heart, 2002 by Fiona Pardington (Nadene Milne Gallery, Arrowtown)

Continuing with the native bird theme but with a completely different feel. This haunting image depicting a Huia feather was used by an art and antique auction house for their Christmas cards. The Huia is extinct and so suggests something rare, precious and no longer made (like the art and antiques ...).

Merry Christmas Across the Miles ('sea and air-mail weight' item 009B, Hallmark Cards N.Z. Ltd)

Can you still buy airmail cards and aerogrammes?

Generally they were printed on lightweight paper suitable for sending by air mail (less expensive to send). The front has a window frame impressed into the paper and holes diecut out to give the impression of looking through a window (reminiscent of some New Zealand church windows).

Merry Christmas Across the Miles ('sea and air-mail weight' item 009B, Hallmark Cards N.Z. Ltd)

Inside there's a view suggestive of the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps. It possibly dates from the 1980's.

Christmas Greetings Across the Miles, G.B. Scott Souvenirs Ltd, Auckland

This one is particularly lightweight. It's just one sheet of lightweight paper folded in half.

Christmas themed aerogramme (Pictorial Publications Limited, Hastings)

These aerogrammes also date from the 1980's or 90's. If you're not familiar with aerogrammes they were air mail letter paper and envelope all in one. Some (like those shown here had pictures printed on one side) while the other side was left blank (to write the letter on). When the letter was finished it was folded into thirds along the fold lines. The gummed flaps would then be moistened and folded over to secure the aerogramme and keep the contents of the letter private whilst in the post.

Christmas themed aerogramme (Pictorial Publications Limited, Hastings)

The two aerogrammes (above) appear to have been produced specifically for the Christmas market.

A small piece of paper loose within the plastic wrapper that they were packaged in reads;
'This pack contains four Pictorial Aerogrammes, as follows.
(1) Christmas bell and candle
(2) Christmas Snowman
(3) Kaka Beak
(4) Fox Glacier

Produced by
Pictorial Publications
Hastings. N.Z.'

Front of Arnold and Olive Holst Christmas card

Hand painted landscape by Arnold Holst (initialled A. H.),
Inside hand made Christmas card

Not all cards are mass produced. These two examples feature hand painted landscapes by Arnold Holst inside a simple folded card. The first one (above) has a hand written message on the front of the card. The second one (presumably done later) has a simple printed message (below).

Christmas and New Year Greetings card front
Olive and Arnie Holst

Hand painted landscape by Arnold Holst from inside a hand made card by Olive and Arnie Holst

Below are some examples of other Christmas items with a Kiwi Christmas character.

Kiwi Christmas Card and Gift List spiral bound book by Stanford (45c)

Kiwi themed wrapping paper

2012 Christmas Advent Calendar (imported into NZ by TC Marketing, made in Poland)

Paua, Toheroa,Mussels, Koura, Karengo & Puha;Recipes from a Vintage NZ Cook Book

2012-11-25T13:45:00.001+13:00

...Continuing from my previous blog post Pipi Pie to Pipi Sandwiches, Recipes from a Vintage NZ Cook Book (Native Delicacies section)....

Please note, all text quoted directly from the old cookery book (of unknown name) is in italics.

The shells of two New Zealand Paua

THE PAUA

This shell-fish, which is plentiful off portions of the New Zealand coast, can only be secured at low tide in outlying pools. When prised loose from the rock to which it clings - an old table knife with fairly stiff blade is recommended - it is not exactly an appetising sight, but to those who have acquired the taste., it has claims over all other shellfish. By running the knife around inside the shell the fish is easily brought away. The whole of the black covering should then be removed with a sharp knife until only the white flesh shows. The portion thus left should be thoroughly rinsed in running water.

Mock Kidney
Pound the prepared pauas with a hammer ( the natural toughness of the larger ones necessitates this somewhat drastic course), or beat with a rolling pin, until tender. Fry in butter, seasoning well with pepper and salt. When thoroughly cooked, the pauas have the shape and consistency of kidneys and are actually not unlike the latter in taste. Fry slices of bacon and serve on squares of toast, with the pauas neatly arranged on top.

Paua Rissoles
Finely mince the prepared fish together with one large onion. Add 2 tablespoons bread crumbs to every cupful of the meat. Mould into shape. Prepare a batter from one well-beaten egg, 1/2 cup milk, and enough flour to bring the consistency of thick cream. Dip the rissoles into the batter and fry in boiling fat over a quick flame for about 10 minutes, turning them as each side browns. These are also delicious eaten cold, with either Worcester of Tomato Sauce.

THE TOHEROA
People having conveninent access to beaches where this much-flavoured shellfish is plentiful are fortunate indeed. In most cases, the Toheroa comes to us in tin, accompanied by all manner of directions for its use. Unquestionably, the tinned variery cannot compare with the freshly-taken fish, which lends itself to many appetising dishes. When collected, the sand should be removed by thorough washing in salt water, and the toheroas steamed in a saucepan in an inch or two of water until the shells open. The fish are then easy to remove, and , when the white thread is taken out, are ready to prepare in any way desired.

Toheroa Soup
1 doz. Toheroas, 1 large onion, 1 1/2 pints water (or stock), 1/2 pint mink (should read 'milk'), 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 tablespoons flour, a little chopped parsley, salt to taste. Mince the Toheroas, or cut finely, and put in saucepan with the water. Add onion, chopped small, and simmer gently for 1 hour. Strain through a coarse sieve: make a thickening with the flour and cinnamon by adding a little of the milk. Mix remainder of milk with Toheroa stock, and bring gently almost to the boil. Add thickening, stirring constantly until the soup has a creamy consistency. Just before serving add chopped parsley and salt to taste.

Toheroa Chowder
2 large onions, 1 doz. minced Toheroas, 2 ripe tomatoes, 1/4 teaspoon ground mace, 1 tablespoon butter or dripping, pepper and salt to taste. Chop onion finely. Skin tomatoes and cut into rounds. Fry onions a golden brown in a small portion of butter. Fry tomatoes 10 minutes, mix with onions, and then add minced Toheroas, pepper and salt, and mace. Now fry for further 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with mashed potatoes, and garnish with chopped parsley.

MUSSELS
Treated in the same manner as pipis, mussels can be used for a similar variety of delectable dishes. After steaming the "whiskers" should be immediately removed from the open shells. A simple and tasty method of treating the fish is to them fry them in butter, serving very hot on small squares of toast. As in the case of pipis, do not allow water to cover them during the steaming process. This makes the flesh tough and indigestible.

Mussels growing on rocks at a West Coast beach

For use along the lines of the pipi recipes given above, (previous blog post), young mussels not more than four inches in length are generally preferred.

THE KOURA
The Koura, or freshwater crayfish, is common in most of our lakes and smaller streams. It attains a length of nine or ten inches, but the average specimen is half that size. In the Rotorua district the Koura is prized by the Maoris above all other native delicacies. The flavour is somewhat sweeter than that of the salt water variety.
Utilizing the tail portion only after the fish has been boiled in the usual way, it becomes the basis of a delicious curry, or appetising salad...

EDIBLE SEAWEED
LAMINARIA: Maori name, KARENGO. - In many countries a great deal of attention is paid to certain forms of edible seaweed. In the Karengo, New Zealand possesses a variety which is well known to the Maoris for its nutritive qualities, and which has been highly recommended by noted authorities for its peculiar richness in iodine. Distinguished by a likeness to flowing human hair, this seaweed, which is dark brown or purple in colour, is common on our coasts. When removed from the rock it should be washed in the salt water and laid out to dry. With the moisture gone it can be kept indefinitely in a dry, cool place. To prepare, take a handful of the dried weed, break into small pieces, and place in an enamel basin. Pour in sufficient hot water to cover and stir thoroughly for three or four minutes. Pour off water and serve as a salad, with bread and butter. This makes a very palatable dish.

A type of sow thistle (an introduced one) growing amongst weeds in our garden

MOCK SPINACH
In the absence of cauliflower, cabbage or other greens, there are attractive possibilities in the puha, or common sow thistle. Young thistles only should be selected and treated in the same way as spinach ... By many, this dish is much preferred to spinach, and can be readily disguised to closely resemble the latter both in appearance and taste.

Pipi Pie to Pipi Sandwiches, Recipes from a Vintage NZ Cook Book

2012-11-10T15:39:00.003+13:00

Vintage New Zealand Cookery Book

Just look at this wreck of a book! It's so old and well-used it's falling apart. The cover is long gone (as are some of the pages), the remaining ones are frail and brown with age and covered with blotches from past use. Despite its dilapidated state the previous owner still couldn't throw it out. Surely it contains some 'treasures'! Quite when it was used I'm not sure, but at a guess (judging by the adverts) I'd say it was published between about 1915 and 1920 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Native Delicacies, Novel and Tasty Dishes with scalloped pipi recipe (vintage New Zealand cookery book)

Native Delicacies, Novel and Tasty Dishes was the first chapter to catch my eye. Included are recipes using pipi, toheroa, mussels, koura (small, native freshwater crayfish), edible seaweed and puha (sow thistle). In this blog post I'll list those for pipis and follow with the rest in my next blog post.

A collection of pipi shells and one cockle shell (top left)

In case you're not sure what a pipi is, it's a shellfish (a bivalve, paphies australis) found on sandy New Zealand beaches, buried in the sand usually around the low tide mark. They grow to about 75mm long and have an elongated shape with a hinge near the centre of the shell.

Collecting pipis at low tide, Raglan (Whaingaroa harbour)

It's not uncommon to see people doubled over a pipi bed at low tide, digging into the wet sand to collect pipis for a 'feed'. Under New Zealand law there's a limit to the number that can be collected per person per day. This is probably why I've never seen them for sale.

First the preamble (given in the book on page 43), note all text directly quoted from the book is italicized...

Native Delicacies

Novel and Tasty Dishes

The big deposits of pipi and cockle (Tuangi) shells almost invariably associated with any ancient camping grounds, clearly show to what extent the nutritive value of these shellfish was appreciated by the old-time Maori.

A well-known American traveller who recently visited New Zealand expressed himself as surprised that such little advantage was taken of the high food values of many of our native shell-fish. In the States, he said, the pipi and cockle - the more common pakeha name is used - would be much prized delicacies. He believed that both were actually richer in certain material content than the American clam, not unlike the pipi in shape, which was almost a national dish.

Pipis (and cockles).

In gathering these shellfish, it is advisable to choose a stretch of beach that is quite free from any suggestion of sewerage discharge. Be careful also not to take any pipis which show above the surface of the sand and have thus been exposed to the sun. After collecting, the fish should be allowed to soak in fresh water for at least twenty minutes, when any sand which they may have absorbed will be discharged. They should then be washed thoroughly in running water. Place pipis in large saucepan with the bottom (only) covered with water, and steam, leaving the lid of the saucepan on, until the shellfish open. Remove the fish from the shells.
Eaten with vinegar, pepper and salt to taste, and bread and butter, freshly steamed pipis make an excellent supper dish.

The book then lists the recipes (pages 43 to 45)...

Scalloped Pipis

Place a layer of toasted bread crumbs on the bottom of a large pie-dish. Sprinkle with pepper, salt and cayenne. Now arrange a thick layer of pipis then another layer of crumbs, alternately until the dish is full. Place pieces of butter on top, and sprinkle with the juice of one lemon. Add sufficient of the water in which the pipis were cooked to barely cover the mixture. Cook in a slow oven until nicely browned, and serve very hot.

Pipi pie, pipi fritter, creamed pipis and pipi omelette (vintage New Zealand cook book)

Pipi Pie

Prepare a batter with 1 cup flour, a little salt, 1 egg placed in a hole in the flour and mixed, adding a little milk till the batter is the consistency of very thick cream. Cover with a plate and allow to stand at least 2 hours. Have pie-dish greased and very hot in oven. Put as many pipis as required in the bottom of dish and cover with the batter. Bake in fairly hot oven until brown on top. No rising is required, but the dish must be eaten at once. Time to cook, about 15 minutes.

Pipi Fritters

Beat 2 eggs thoroughly. Add 1/2 cup milk, a little salt and pepper (cayenne) and enough flour to make a nice creamy batter. Have hot pan ready, add pipis to mixture and fry in small spoonsful until brown. Drain thoroughly on paper and serve very hot.

Creamed Pipis

Make a thick white sauce from 1 pint milk, 3 tablespoons flour, small piece butter, and salt to taste. When cooked add pipis just giving them long enough to warm through, but on on account allowing the mixture to boil once the pipis are added. Serve on squares of buttered toast and garnish with a little parsley.

Pipi Omelette

Beat the yolks of 2 eggs until thick. Add 2 tablespoons milk, pepper and salt to season. Beat the whites stiff and dry and fold lightly into the yolks. Grease an omelet pan well and heat until sizzling hot. Pour the mixture in. Cook carefully over a gentle heat, slipping a knife blade under to keep the omelet from burning. Put into the oven or under the griller a moment to dry the top. Cover one half with 4 tablespoons chopped pipis sprinkled with lemon juice, fold the other half over, and serve very hot.

Pipis in envelopes, pipi chowder, curried pipis with rice, pipi soup and pipi sandwiches (vintage New Zealand cook book)

Pipis in Envelopes

Remove the rind from as many rashers of bacon as you require. On each rasher put one or two pipis according to size. Roll up and secure with string or a toothpick. Fry, grill, or bake in hot oven for 8 minutes. Serve with fried tomatoes. An appetising breakfast dish.

Pipi Chowder

Save the water in which the pipis have been boiled, and add sufficient water to make 1 cupful. To this add 2 small onions and 3 slices diced fat bacon, previously fried. Put into a saucepan, add 4 sliced raw potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, and a little pepper. Cook until the potatoes are tender, add 2 cups of hot milk, thicken with 2 tablespoons flour and 1 tablespoon butter. Finally add 2 dozen pipis finely minced, and allow to heat through.

Curried Pipis with Rice

This makes an excellent luncheon or supper dish, and is quite a meal by itself. Prepare a rich white sauce well flavoured with curry and a few minutes before serving add the pipis, giving them time to warm thoroughly, but not allowing mixture to boil. Well wash 1 breakfast cup rice, boil quickly in plenty of salted water for 20 minutes, stain through a sieve and allow cold water to run through, shaking the sieve meanwhile so as to separate the grains of rice; place in a steamer to re-heat. Serve the curried pipis with little moulds of rice, sprinkled with paprika pepper and a little parsley. An ordinary egg cup, dipped first in cold water and then in the rice, makes a good mould.

Pipi Soup

After cooking pipis, save the water in which they were boiled. Thicken 1 pint fresh milk with 2 tablespoons flour, add the pipi water, salt, pepper, and 1 oz. butter. At the last add three or four well-chopped pipis and 1 teaspoon finely-chopped parsley.

Pipi Sandwiches

Freshly-steamed pipis, minced, sprinkled with lemon juice and well seasoned with pepper and salt make an ideal sandwich filling.

Unfortunately my husband and kids aren't great lovers of shellfish so I haven't made any of these dishes, but I hope that somewhere out there someone's going to enjoy these old recipes! I'm kind of fascinated by the image of a child sitting down to eat pipi sandwiches for their school lunch.

See the Ministry of Fisheries website for 'daily limits' (ie the number of pipis that can legally be collected per person, per day). At the time of writing this was 50 for the Auckland Coromandel area and 150 for the rest of the country.
http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Recreational/Most+Popular+Species/Fish+Identification/L+-+R/Pipi.htm
For information on pipis; http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/environmentwaste/researchmonitoring/coastal_marine/Documents/shellfishidentificationguide.pdf
or
http://www.mollusca.co.nz/speciesdetail.php?speciesid=2453&species=Paphies%20australis

Nine Year Old Duck Discovers she's not a Chicken

2012-10-15T20:37:00.000+13:00

Our pet duck has always been a bit unusual. She spent the first 8 or 9 years of her life thinking she was some kind of chicken. It wasn't until she was about 9 that she seemed to realize she's a duck.

Spotneck the mother hen with one of her surrogate ducklings 2003

We got her as a fertile egg, one of four which we placed under a 'clucky' (ie broody) chicken. Her 'mum' then was a chicken, which is where the whole identity crisis began.... Anyway, 'mum' was a beautiful big black hen with white flecks around her neck who we called Spotneck.

Spotneck scratching the earth for grubs for her ducklings, 2003

Spotneck was a very much the mother hen type, rather bossy but a great mother who raised her little ducklings with great care; fussing over them, showing them food (accompanied by little clucking noises), protecting them under her wings, warming them with her body and warning them of dangers like a harrier overhead.

The ducklings first swim, 2003

She understood the dangers of water to little chicks, so you can understand her alarm one day when her babies in most un-chickenlike fashion 'jumped' into a shallow dish of water.

The ducklings enjoying their first swim while Spotneck is kept busy eating (RHS), 2003

Spotneck probably expected them to drown! Instead they were four very happy, fluffy little ducklings enjoying their first swim. They looked so cute! We had some of Spotneck's favourite food next to the dish to keep her busy while they had fun.

The ducklings enjoying their bath and preening their feathers, 2003

It's worth noting here that apparently when ducklings are raised by chickens they take longer for their feathers to have the necessary oils on them for the birds to be buoyant, hence we were very cautious with the depth of water we let them near.

Sadly, despite Spotneck's great care one little duckling mysteriously disappeared overnight (a cat's meal perhaps?). A few weeks later a second died, and then a third. We don't know why. Just one remained. We buried her two siblings in the garden and this became one of her favourite spots to sit in the sun.

Left to right, Spotneck , Cheepy, Ducky and Beauty , 2005

We'd named the little duckling Pearl because of a white band around her neck , but over the years Ducky became our preferred name for her.

'I'm pretty sure the food comes from in there somewhere!' (left to right Cheepy, Ducky,Red and Spotneck )

She lived happily with our flock of 5 chickens for about 8 years, sharing their food, lounging in the sun or shade with them, looking for bugs in the garden or digging through the compost, rampaging through the vegetable garden, secreting eggs in remote parts of the garden where we couldn't find them, watching us through the window and tapping on it when she wanted food...

Ducky fossicking amongst the plants (mostly weeds!) in the garden, her beak still covered in compost from a recent digging expedition.

Like Spotneck she could be rather bossy and motherly to the hens. She liked to let them know that food was about by quacking loudly then bobbing her head whilst making quieter noises and in the evening tended to herd them into the henhouse for the night.

We have a large pond on our property. It's down a hill about 60 metres away from the house and garden. Wild ducks come and go on the pond and there's a resident population of pukeko (swamp hens) who nest in the bulrushes.

Ducky in her old plastic baby bath, 2011

Despite the closeness of the pond and her obvious need for and enjoyment of water to bathe in, Ducky preferred to stay in close proximity to the chickens and make do with an old plastic baby bath next to the house for bathing. She could easily hear the wild ducks on the pond from the garden, but we think she may only have ventured the 60 metres or so across a paddock to the edge of the pond once or twice during those years before returning to the chickens.

In case you're wondering, no, she never partook of a dust bath, she preferred water.

It seems that ducks can live longer than chickens and one by one the chickens died of old age. Fortunately she was never without feathered company. Just before the last of the old chickens died a stray (chicken) arrived from somewhere in the neighbourhood. Another turned up shortly afterwards.

Ducky and stray chicken (Pepe) in the potato patch, 2011

The two run-aways weren't used to ducks and despite Ducky's friendly overtures (which they found rather alarming at first) they preferred their own company. Being a bit wild in their ways, the 'new' chickens chose to roost each night in trees and Ducky found herself sleeping alone in the chook (hen) house. She seemed a lonely and I think she was being bothered by cats in the night.

If a duck could smile, then she was smiling (Ducky's first swim on the pond)

One morning she wasn't in the garden. A bird looking a lot like her was on our pond. Surely it wasn't...we had to have a closer look to make sure and yes, it really was her! She looked so pleased with herself! So happy! If a duck could smile, then she was smiling! We expected her to come back to the garden but she stayed on the pond each day and slept somewhere nearby (in the reeds?).

Initially her swimming was slow and cumbersome and she wasn't able to keep up with the wild ducks she met, but she quickly leaned to swim as well as them.

She remained on, or around the pond interacting with the wild ducks for several days before returning to the garden and chickens with a ravenous appetite!

A semi-wild duck being fed (front) while Ducky (RHS) lingers cautiously some distance away, 2012

The really odd thing about Ducky spending time on the pond is that while she's there she hides from us (with all the wild ducks), even when we call her and put food out for her. This from a pet duck who loves her food and taps on the window to let us know she's hungry! At one stage another light-coloured duck like her flew in. It was very tame and would come right up to us while our duck either hid or watched from a 'safe' distance!

Ducky relaxing amongst the carrots in the middle of the vegetable garden, 2012

The pattern of staying down at the pond for a few days, then returning to the garden, eating ravenously etc has continued. Mostly when she's back in the garden, she sleeps or rests (when she's not asking for food). I expect all the goings on at the pond tire her out!

About a month ago she got a boyfriend. He's a wild mallard who we call Fella. They seem quite devoted to each other despite her leaving him on his own half the time while she's in the garden. We see them walk up the hill together. He usually stops near the house, waits for a while then flies back to the pond but this morning he was sitting on the lawn with the other birds.

Ducky and Fella with heads down feeding in the pond, 2012

When they're together they spend a good deal of time heads down, tails up in the pond (probably eating pond plants or macrophytes). Ducky learnt to do this relatively recently by watching the wild ducks on the pond. It must involve quite a bit of balancing because it took her a while to get the hang of it. Initially her head kept popping up when she wanted it to stay under the water. Sometimes she had to kick furiously to stay in position. She's quite proficient at it now and hardly ever kicks enough to splash!

Ducky and Fella swimming off to hide from me

Unlike the wild ducks who frequent the pond, Ducky can't fly. Her breed don't fly. Initially when other ducks gave them a hard time Fella would fly off. He must have wondered why she didn't follow. Now when they have disputes with other ducks, he seems to stay and chase the vanquished ducks away, flying after them a way. Once or twice the melee has gone on for too long and one of us has felt a need to run down the hill and frighten the aggressors away. Fortunately our girl has a very loud voice, so we generally hear when something's going on.
I'm sure they'd like to raise their own ducklings but unfortunately Ducky's eggs have very little shell on them these days, so I think it's very unlikely. Despite his other female friends they seem very loyal to each other and to genuinely enjoy being together. Lovely to see her enjoying her new life.

Beach Walks, Birds and Winter Sunshine, Omokoroa

2012-09-18T07:50:00.001+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

Hot pools immediately spring to mind when I think of Omokoroa. Hot pools, roadside orchard stalls with freshly picked avocados (yum!) and the sparkling waters of the Tauranga Harbour.

Shag and White Faced Herons (one partially hidden behind the tree trunk), Mangawhai Bay, Omokoroa

My most vivid memories of our most recent trip, however, are of the wonderful birdlife and glorious sunsets.

Mangawhai Bay side of Omokoroa

By chance we timed a walk by the shore when the tide was in. Many birds were making the most of the shallow waters at high tide. There were more kingfishers than I'd ever seen before in one place, perched in a couple of leafless fruit trees (pic above).

Kingfishers perched in a tree beside the water, Omokoroa

They must have been able to see the fish from the trees. We watched bird after bird fly from the trees in an arc across the water . They didn't seem to have to go far to get a fish.

Observing a little shag perched on a post, Omokoroa

Surprisingly the day had started with a light frost (I thought Omokoroa would be frost free), but it quickly morphed into a warm, blue sky day with only the lightest breath of a wind. The air was clear and fresh and the colours vivid in the winter sunshine.

Further along the beach we paused to look at a shag perched on a post in the shallows.

Shag perched on a post (little shag?), Omokoroa

I think it was a little shag.

Oystercatchers in flight, Omokoroa

A flock of oystercatchers flew ahead of us...

Oystercatchers (and possibly a caspian tern), Omokoroa

...and landed a short distance from the walkway.

View from the Omokoroa Beach Domain, Omokoroa towards Mount Maunganui (with Motuhoa, Rangiwaea and Matakana Islands in between)

When we reached the Omokoroa Beach Domain, we bought ice blocks (popsicles/ ice lollies) at the store and sat on the warm sand to eat them, relaxing in the sun and taking in the view.

Red Billed Gull (Tarapunga) stamping in the shallows, Omokoroa Beach Domain

A red billed gull energetically stamped it's feet in the shallow water nearby. It looked quite comical and took us a moment to realize that it was disturbing the sand in order to dislodge food.

Shag surfacing whilst fishing and black backed gull resting on a buoy, Omokoroa

Every so often a little fish jumped out of the shallow water in front of us, it's silver body glinting briefly in the sunshine. A couple of shags were busy under the water, fishing. Perhaps they were the cause of the jumping fish?

The Matakana Ferry (MSA 100357) at Omokoroa

Some pied shags were perched on a wooden dinghy near the Matakana ferry, drying their wings (RHS photo above).

The Matakana Ferry (MSA 100357) at Omokoroa

A few people were trying their luck with fishing rods too (but I was more interested in the ferry!).

Shags swimming at Omokoroa (with the reflection of a red and yellow catamaran)

A whole flock of black birds swam by. Little black shags, I think.

Tauranga Harbourmaster's sign (due to the wreck of the Rena), Omokoroa Beach Domain

The waters looked invitingly clear and clean. The only evidence we could see of the Rena having been wrecked near the Tauranga harbour was a notice from the Harbourmaster showing the boating exclusion zone around the wreck and advising 'boaties' to exercise caution near the three container corralling sites.

Old tractor (minus the engine) in the children's playground, Omokoroa Beach Domain

Neat to see the old tractor is still in the playground for kids to play on. There used to be one at the Motor Camp, but I think that's gone now.

Nearby is the Gerald Crapp Historic Reserve, which apparently is very popular walk. We'd had enough, however, so headed back to our accommodation. The Crapps were early European settlers. A lady I met whilst enjoying a soak in the Omokoroa hot pools told me 'there are still a few people with that surname in Omokoroa'.

Birds at sunset, Omokoroa

We were ready for another walk later in the day, so around sun set, we walked down to the beach on the other side of Omokoroa (the golf course side) to see what was there. The tide was well out and the wading birds were busy feeding.

Areas of sea lettuce looked like vast golden carpets in the distance as the golden rays from the setting sun backlit them.

Omokoroa cliffs at sunset (with sea lettuce, driftwood with shags in foreground and Matakana Island in the background)

Closer up we could see the sea lettuce was a semi transparent bright green and there was lots of it. Apparently an abundance of it is indicative of El Nino weather conditions. Persistent westerly winds push the harbour water out to sea allowing nutrient rich water from deeper oceanic up-wells to replace it . It's the increase in the nutrient level that's thought to be the main cause of the sea lettuce blooms.* Sea lettuce or Ulva is edible and apparently rich in vitamins A and B. I cautiously tried a bit, but found it a bit salty and chewy. Perhaps if it was prepared attractively.....

We'd only been on the beach a minute or two before the sun went down and we weren't sure how long we'd have before all sunlight was gone.

Tauranga harbour from Omokoroa at sunset

It was so beautiful and peaceful however, that we walked a little way along the beach below the cliff enjoying the changing light and the birds.

Heron wading at sunset, Omokoroa

Close by a heron waded through the shallows looking for a meal of fish.

Winter sunset from Omokoroa, looking across the Tauranga Harbour in the direction of Bowentown

There was hardly a sound other than the calls of the birds in the still evening air.

I left the others on the narrow ribbon of dry sand and tip toed over wet sand and sea lettuce (trying unsuccessfully to keep my shoes dry) to take the photo above at the waters edge.

Biplane, Omokoroa

The quiet was broken briefly by approaching engine noise. We were surprised (and delighted) to see an old biplane fly over us.

Dead pohutakawa tree, Omokoroa

Very little light was left by the time I stopped to photograph the remains of an old pohutakawa tree. It must have fallen from the cliffs above us some time ago.

Wading bird at sunset, Omokoroa

It seemed like the birds were making use of every last bit of light too! We headed back while we could still make out where to put our feet.

Tauranga harbour estuary, Omokoroa

We'd enjoyed our evening walk so much, the following day we thought we'd go back but this time explore the other direction (along the foreshaw past the golf course).

A friend had said to look out for flakes of obsidian on the beach and before long we saw a small, black, glassy surface reflecting the sun. Obsidian. Apparently it doesn't come from rock that naturally occurs at Omokoroa but was brought here and traded by Maori in the past. I wondered how it ended up on the beach. Perhaps it was washed down a stream from an old village or pa site...?

Busy birdlife, Omokoroa

The variety of birds was greater than we'd realized in the fading light the previous night. I'm no ornithologist but as far as I can tell, the birds in this photo include a white-faced heron, a pied stilt, a couple of oystercatchers and some gulls (southern black backed?).

Wading birds, Omokoroa

Some of the birds that visit (such as the godwit) come from as far away as the Alaskan tundra.

Several tui flitted about in trees at the edge of the golf course, feeding on the nectar in the flowers. One of them amused us with a song that seemed to incorporate the sound of a golf club hitting a ball. We tried to record it because we thought it would make a great ring tone!

Mangrove pneumatophores (breathing roots) draped with sea lettuce

When we reached a stand of mangroves jutting out into the estuary we decided to return the way we'd come. Many of the mangrove's pneumatophores (breathing roots) were draped in sea lettuce. Nature's version of the artist Christo's work perhaps?

Birds including two black swans, Omokoroa

Amongst all the birds we spotted a couple of black swans way off in the distance.

I could have sat down and watched the birds for ages but we were all feeling hungry. Fortunately we stopped in at a/the local cafe, La Petite Cafe. I use the word 'fortunately' because I had one of the best pies I've ever eaten there. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Another lovely winter break at Omokoroa!

*Sea lettuce fact sheet http://econtent.tauranga.govt.nz/data/water/files/pollution_brochures/sea_lettuce.pdf

Red Billed Gull information http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/gulls-terns-and-skuas/2/2

http://www.westernbay.govt.nz/Parks/Walks/Gerald-Crapp-Historic-Reserve--Omokoroa-Peninsula/

I used Discover the Birds of Ohiwa Harbour by Meg Collins and Jim Robinson to help identify the birds

The Significance of the Madonna Falls near Te Kuiti

2012-08-26T12:40:00.000+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

Madonna Falls, near Te Kuiti (viewed from the roadside)

Until recently the significance of this waterfall was a mystery to me.

Bunches of artificial flowers surround a brightly painted concrete plinth (beside the track) with an inscription in Maori. I wondered what the inscription said and what it all meant. I have a vague memory of my grandfather telling me something about this place when I was a child.

Inscription and flowers beside the Madonna Falls, near Te Kuiti

So when I got home I did a bit of research and this is what I've managed to work out.

The inscription reads :-

Whaea ote Rere
Matua Whaea Tama
Wairua Tapu Amene
KBS INC 1975

It translates to something like this :-

Mother of the waterfall
Father Mother Son
Holy Spirit Amen
KBS INC 1975

I had no idea who KBS INC referred to , but after a short search on my PC, I found that KBS INC is the abbreviation for the Kotahitanga Building Society Incorporated which is Maori prophetic movement . It was established in 1961 by Alexander Phillips, the 'last Maori prophet'.* He died in 2008.

Madonna Falls, near Te Kuiti

An old newspaper from the early 1980's features an article about the falls with the eye-catching title 'Hundreds are cured at a sacred waterfall where boy saw Madonna' . It describes how a young boy, 'paralyzed since birth' saw 'the Holy Mother' whilst being bathed in the water and 'needed no help when he left the pool'. 'The Virgin appears to be dressed in a flowing robe and has her hands joined in prayer.' 'The site has been sacred to the Maori people for centuries.'**

Madonna Falls, near Te Kuiti

It's clear from the flowers that the significance of the Madonna Falls continues for some/many people.

I'm not sure what the metal contraption is for. Some of the water is funnelled sideways into a pipe. Perhaps it enables people to drink the water (from the pipe) without betting too wet?

The 'Madonna Falls' are located about 15 miles south of Te Kuiti, right beside the road on SH4 (State Highway 4).

I'm pleased I've learned more about the Madonna Falls. Next time we stop there I hope to better appreciate their significance.

* http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/nga-poropiti-maori-prophetic-movements/7 (The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand)

** Weekly World News, Feb 24, 1981, Vol 2 Issue 20 page 19 http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=fu8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19&lpg=PA19&dq=Alexander+phillips+waterfall&source=bl&ots=KE_SlRVIsS&sig=2pwEcEiwh_NmeO-jqi9qgoK-pNI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4AYsUMrxGYvBiQf8mYGgBg&ved=0CEgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Alexander%20phillips%20waterfall&f=false

Starfish to Shipwreck, Very Low Tide at Raglan's Ngarunui Beach

2012-05-20T11:35:00.000+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

Remember the 'super moon'(perigee full moon) earlier in the month? There was talk at the time of extra-high and extra-low tides caused by the closeness of the moon to the earth.

Closed out plunging breaker (?) with surfer on the ocean side, Ngarunui (Ocean) Beach, Raglan

A friend mentioned how interesting he'd found Raglan's Ngarunui or Ocean Beach with the extra-low tide. I'm always ready for a walk on the beach, so it seemed like a jolly good excuse to head out to Raglan for a walk. With that little bit of extra beach exposed, you just never know what you might find! We didn't realize at the time, but I think we saw a shipwreck peeping above the waves!

It was a beautiful, sunny, winter's afternoon. Perfect for a visit to the beach. As usual a few people were surfing.

Looking towards the rocks at the Bryant Reserve end of the Ngarunui (Ocean) beach, Raglan

I was keen to check out the rocks at the Manu bay end of the beach, so we headed that way. It looked like you could walk all the way to Manu bay (famous amongst surfers for its left hand break). Unfortunately we didn't have time for that so I made do with a brief clamber over the rocky outcrop adjacent to Ngarunui beach instead.

Green Gut Weed'seaweed near the cliffs, Ngarunui Beach, Raglan

Apparently there's a rip current right beside the rocks, so I wondered what could live in these tough conditions.

I saw a hermit crab and caught brief snatches of scuttling rock crabs.

Orange Sea sponge? with Pink Paint below (found on rocks exposed at low tide, Bryant Reserve end of Ngarunui Beach, Raglan)

I liked this bright orange stuff. I think it might be a sea sponge of some type.

Spiny stars clinging to rocks exposed at the extra low tide, Bryant Reserve end of Ngarunui Beach

There were several areas where Spiny stars had clumped together in crevices between rocks and plenty of mussels.

Seaweed on the rocks, Ngarunui (Ocean) beach, Raglan

Some of the seaweed on the rocks looked bright red as the low sun shone through it.

Looking towards the harbour entrance, Ngarunui (Ocean) beach at low tide

Unfortunately we didn't have time to walk to the other end of the beach (the harbour entrance end) .

On our walk back along the beach to the carpark path we were puzzled by what appeared to be people standing still on the water , some way from the beach beside the harbour entrance. Had they walked along the sand bar and been caught as the tide turned or were they on some kind of boat? They were too far away to really see, so when we were part way up the hill, I zoomed my camera in on them and took the photo below. We quickly looked at the photo and determined the people were on standup paddleboards. No need to raise the alarm.

Stand Up Paddleboarders with Shipwreck (?), Raglan Harbour Mouth, May 2012

When I looked at the photo properly yesterday, I could see three figures on stand-up paddleboards (two standing, one sitting or kneeling). But what were the things between them? At first I was alarmed at the thought they might be hands raised out of the water (ie swimmers in distress), but why weren't the people on the paddleboards helping them? Confusing!

Shipwreck at Raglan Harbour Mouth ?
(May 2012)

I moved onto my next photo, then a thought struck me. Was it a shipwreck? I don't know the answer, but certainly a number of ships have been wrecked over the years on the sand bar at the entrance to Raglan harbour, so it's possible. It's times like this that I wish my camera was a little better! Hopefully the people whose boat was wrecked survived.

If you want to check it out for yourself, you'll probably need to wait until the next extra-low tide. Follow the line of the sand spit that extends out from Ngarunui Beach (beside the harbour mouth) and continue that line out into the ocean. From where we were standing on the beach it looked like the people were about 200m further out from the end of the sand bank.

Kiwi Fruit Loading at the Port of Tauranga, Mauao Walk and Rena Oil Spill Signs

2012-05-14T09:58:00.000+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

Port of Tauranga viewed from Pilot Bay

I thought I'd share these photos I took last month when we were at Mount Maunganui. It's a beautiful and interesting area and with the Port of Tauranga right next door, there's plenty going on.

We started off at Waikorire / Pilot Bay where we enjoyed the feel of the warm sand beneath us as sat on the beach eating the lunch we'd bought down the road.

Orion Reefer and pilot launch Arataki, Port of Tauranga

We'd intended walking around Mauao (The Mount), but the other end of the beach looked interesting too, so we went there first.

There were a few people on a jetty (Salisbury Wharf?) at the end of the beach. Some were fishing, others just enjoying the view. A few kids were running about with ice creams. The yellow Port of Tauranga pilot launch, Arataki was moored on the far side. Maybe that explains the 'Pilot Bay' name.

Kiwi fruit loaded onto the Orion Reefer

The surrounding area is good kiwi fruit growing country, so it was appropriate that pallets loaded with green and gold kiwi fruit were being loaded onto the Orion Reefer.

Kiwi fruit loaded onto the Orion Reefer

We watched as truck after truck pulled up onto the wharf. Their cargo was quickly unloaded by the busy hydraulic Linde forklifts and placed onto cage-like frames suspended from the Orion Reefer's cranes. From there it was lifted up and then would disappear from sight as it was placed inside the ship's refrigerated hold.

Port of Tauranga tugs, Kaimai (front), Te Matua (back) and Sir Robert (partially concealed behind wharf, LHS of picture)

The Port of Tauranga's three tugs, Kaimai, Te Matua and Sir Robert, were also moored close by.

Mauao ('The Mount') viewed from the wharf at Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui

A few people were pottering around on stand up paddleboards ( it looked like you could hire them from the beach) and one or two were swimming.

shag, Pilot Bay, Mt Maunganui

A shag or cormorant sitting on a big post beside the wharf also appeared to be enjoying the winter sun.

Port of Tauranga pilot launch, Arataki

The Arataki departed in the direction of the harbour entrance (presumably to transfer the pilot onto an incoming ship), then returned.

Seatrade Royal Klipper (Scheveninger, Netherlands IMO 9172959) passing Tangaroa sculpture as the vessel enters Tauranga harbour (April 2012)

We headed off up the beach and were part way into our walk around Mt Maunganui (Mauao) when the Royal Klipper passed close by on her way into port. Perhaps the pilot (from the Arataki) was guiding her in.

Rena oil spill signs, Mauao (Mount Maunganui) , April 2012

Thankfully the only sign we saw of the recent oil spills from the wrecked ship offshore, the Rena,were signs warning of oil on the beach/rocks and who to contact should we see oiled wildlife. Later that day we climbed a huge hill further down the coast at Papamoa and could just make out the remains of the Rena on the horizon.

Mauao (Mount Maunganui) walkway with pohutakawa trees

* http://www.port-tauranga.co.nz/About-Us/Pilot-and-Towage/
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/kiwifruit/5/2 (For a picture of kiwi fruit being loaded into the refrigerated hold of a vessel at the Port of Tauranga)

Tangaroa Sculpture by Frank Szirmay Welcomes Royal Klipper

2012-05-09T11:37:00.000+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

Tangaroa by Frank Szirmay (entrance to Tauranga harbour)

This bronze sculpture by Frank Szirmay represents Tangaroa, Maori god of the sea whose role it is, or was, to protect the sea.** Frank Szirmay has portrayed him as a toned warrior in crouched position and grasping a taiaha (a long club fighting staff) as if performing the wero. The wero is the traditional Maori challenge given during the Powhiri (formal welcoming ceremony) to determine if visitors intentions are friendly.

In the other hand he holds a mere (a club used by Maori warriors for close-quarter fighting).

Mauao ('The Mount') viewed from Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui

The sculpture is located just off Mauao/The Mount (pictured above) on Stoney Point adjacent to the shipping channel and facing outwards from the harbour. It just looks like a dot in the photo above but is located slightly to the left of the top of the left hand pole.

Tangaroa by Frank Szirmay (entrance to Tauranga harbour)

The tide out when we visited, so we were able to wade through the shallow water and reach the small spit of sand/shells adjacent to Tangaroa.

I've included the picture above because it gives an idea of scale and you can see some of the Port of Tauranga in the distance.

Tangaroa by Frank Szirmay (entrance to Tauranga harbour)

Tangaroa is modestly larger than life-sized at three metres tall.

The sculptor has given the figure some muscle definition and a dynamic pose. One foot is placed in front of the other as if ready to spring at a moments notice. One arm is bent, the other almost straight. Both hold weapons and are positioned as if to defend the body. Great strength would be required to hold a heavy mere across the body and maintain a crouching position for any length of time, so these features suggest power, like a coiled spring. The face is held forward as if to convey concentration.

Seatrade Royal Klipper (Scheveninger, Netherlands IMO 9172959) passing Tangaroa as the vessel enters Tauranga harbour (April 2012)

Tangaroa symbolically challenged the Seatrade vessel Royal Klipper as she entered the harbour.

Since the pose of Tangaroa signifies a challenge/welcome to vessels, it seems strange that the statue was originally placed on the stone-clad plinth facing towards the harbour ( ie with the back side facing incoming shipping). Fortunately this was put to rights in 2007 when Tangaroa was repositioned on the plinth and subsequently blessed by kaumatua (elders) Morehu Ngatoko and Kihi Ngatai .**

Seatrade Royal Klipper (Scheveninger, Netherlands IMO 9172959) passing Tangaroa by Frank Szirmay as she approaches the Port of Tauranga (New Zealand)

'Tangaroa was comissioned from sculptor Frank Szirmay in 1973 by Bob (later Sir Robert) Owens to commemorate Tauranga being gazetted as a port of entry a century earlier.'* The statue was' unveiled by Govenor General Sir Denis Blundell in 1976.'*

'It is traditional to give the statue an offering at the start of your journey to ensure safe travels.'***

*http://econtent.tauranga.govt.nz/data/libraries/files/local_hist/tga_harbour_trip.pdf content by Jinty Rorke ,New Zealand Librarian (great aerial and historic photos and information about the area)

**http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/news/new-view-for-tangaroa-after-30-years-of-city-outlo/975785/

*** http://www.newzealand.com/int/article/fun-facts-about-the-bay-of-plenty/ (Tourism Bay of Plenty article by Catherine Connell).

For more information on taiaha visit The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa http://coltest.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=685027, and for information on mere http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/pounamu-jade-or-greenstone/5/2 and http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/greenstone-patu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiaha (Wikipedia on Taiaha)

Driftwood Shelters, Sculptures and Sand Castles

2012-04-30T11:47:00.001+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

'In my book' it's hard to beat a walk on a beautiful beach, particularly at sunrise. There's always something different to see and the wild beauty is like food for the soul.

The first few of these photos was taken on just such a walk while we were holidaying a Ohiwa Beach in the Bay of Plenty (New Zealand).

Driftwood sculpture, Ohiwa Beach, Bay of Plenty (2012)

I get quite a kick out of finding anonymous art in public places , so was delighted to come across this collection of sculptures on the beach. This form of this magnificent driftwood sculpture particularly intrigued me. Surprisingly few pieces of driftwood make up the base and these support a lot of wood high in the air, giving it a gravity-defying appearance. It'd been built just above the high tide mark so it wouldn't be washed away too quickly. I'd love to know if one person built it, or several and if it was built all at once, or over time by subsequent people adding to it.

Conical sandcastle decorated with shells, driftwood and seabird feathers, Ohiwa Beach with Whale Island in the background (Bay of Plenty, NZ)

A couple of sandcastles decorated with found objects from the beach were nearby . The one pictured above it topped by a turret shell. I liked the way the conical shape reflected that of Whale Island.

I like the ephemeral nature of many sandcastles. The following high tide probably swept it away.

Dug-out structure (hut) in the sand, Ohiwa Beach (Bay of Plenty, NZ)

A huge hole had been dug in the sand , walls mounded up and topped by a roof made from driftwood. Fun to make and fun to play in!

Beach art, looking back towards Ohiwa Beach Road, Bay of Plenty (2012)

Looking up by the sand dunes in the direction of the small group of houses/baches was another decorated mound of sand. The rectangular shape of this one reminded me of a grave. I wondered if a dead penguin or some other creature that had washed up on the beach was beneath it or perhaps the maker just liked the shape.

Sandcastles, beach hut, and driftwood sculpture, Ohiwa Beach (Bay of Plenty, NZ)

There'd certainly been lots of activity on this section of the beach.

Sunrise at Ohiwa Beach , Bay of Plenty NZ (2012)

The very next morning I was back at the beach enjoying another sunrise!

Included in the photo are a group of driftwood sticks/poles that someone had arranged in sculptural fashion on the beach.

Later in the day we drove up the coast as far as Te Kaha. We stopped at Torere Bay for a walk on the beach as described in our 'Pacific Coast Highway Guide'.

Driftwood shelter, Torere, Bay of Plenty (2012)

On our walk we passed several large shelters constructed from driftwood. This one's been built around a large log that would make a convenient seat. It's quite a large structure. Tall enough to stand in at the highest point and large enough several people to sit in at once. I imagine it would be quite difficult to build on your own so speculate that it was a co-operative venture.

I'd seem my first one of these at Whakatane a couple of days previously. People fishing from the rocks had draped large beach towels over a small version of the above to provide shade and shelter from the wind.

Driftwood shelter (viewed from back corner of structure), Torere (Bay of Plenty)

As you can see, it's a stunningly beautiful spot; a steeply shelving pebble beach dotted with the occasional shells of paua and karaka/ngaruru (Cook's turban) and strew with driftwood at the high tide mark.

Although Ohiwa Beach and Torere Bay are geographically less than 50km (30miles) apart, culturally they're quite different. Both areas are steeped in Maori history. Ohiwa is a popular holiday destination with accommodation options including a large holiday park. Torere is the ancestral home of the Ngaitai iwi *and has the feeling of a close- knit coastal, predominantly (exclusively?) Maori community.

Driftwood structure viewed from one of the back corners, Torere, Bay of Plenty (2012)

This is a closer view of the same structure pictured in the photo above to give an idea how it was constructed. This one had no roof. Perhaps it's showing signs of recent storm damage?

Driftwood structure, Torere, Bay of Plenty (2012)

This one had constructed sides and a large log forming the back of the structure (or was it a seat; perhaps both).

Driftwood sculpture, Torere Bay, Bay of Plenty

Also on the beach at Torere was this smaller, structure. Built as a shelter, a sculpture or just for the pleasure of making something?

As we left the beach we could see someone collecting driftwood beside a partly-built structure.

Driftwood structure incorporating a signpost, Maraetai Bay ?(School House Bay?), Te Kaha area (Bay of Plenty)

Another 36 Km up the coast in the Te Kaha area we saw the structure pictured above. A small signpost has been incorporated into the structure. Did someone want to hide it or was it a convenient support? From Te Kaha we headed back to Ohiwa.

I enjoyed looking out for, and photographing these beach structures. I'd love to know their stories. I like the resourcefulness they show, their unpretentious ephemeral (yet timeless) nature, the statements they make and the fact that they may have been made by people who possibly don't consider themselves artists.

Below are pictures I've taken of ephemeral beach art in other parts of the country:-

Driftwood shelter beside the road to Cape Palliser, 2013

It's impressive that this one was still standing; not sure I've felt stronger winds.

*Another (different) driftwood beach structure can be seen on the Ngaitai Iwi Authority website http://www.ngaitai.co.nz/rangatahi.html (it's right at the end of the Coast 2 Coast video). The website also has pictures of the Torere Marae which is across the road from the beach, beautiful singing, history of the area.... It's well worth a look.

O.W. Smith Rail Tractor at Mamaku

2012-04-26T19:16:00.000+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

O.W. Smith Rail Tractor on display at Mamaku

This interesting and unusual vehicle (that looks like a logging truck but runs on rails) is a rail tractor. They were used on small tramways around New Zealand, possibly because they were a more cost effective option than running a shunting locomotive. This one was based near Rotorua at Mamaku.

The first rail tractors appeared around 1924 (replacing horse teams); the last one was built in 1956. * This particular one was 'built in 1954' by local engineer, Oliver Wallace Smith (who built a number of one-off rail tractors that were used in the logging industry, particularly around the Mamaku area.)**

O.W. Smith Rail Tractor on display at Mamaku

The designs for rail tractors were adapted from farm tractors, bulldozers and trucks. * O.W. Smith appears to have used a truck for this one.

'It had 12 driving wheels for maximum traction, and was powered by a 6-cylinder Bedford diesel engine and differential, and fitted with a Bedford Truck Cab. The tractor was designed to pull loads up to a 1 in 10 gradient. It managed a test load of 140 tonnes with the working loads being set at half that. A maximum production six tractors were required for the daily operation of five Mamaku Sawmills.'**

Map of Mamaku Sawmills and Tramways, Mamaku

'At maximum production six tractors were required for the daily operation of five Mamaku Sawmills.'** Formerly fourteen sawmills operated in the Mamaku area (I'm not sure if they ran concurrently). Apparently the industry peaked around the 1940's.

The on-site sign above shows the network of tramways (indicated by the orange lines). The railway line is indicated by the dotted orange line that runs from top to bottom on the sign. I'm not sure if any of the tramway lines survive today, but backbreaking work by the new Railcruising enterprise has restored the railway line so that it can be used by the railcruisers (automated, petrol-electric, 4-seater rail vehicle).

O.W. Smith Rail Tractor on display at Mamaku

I've included this photo because it shows the horn atop the cab. The twin 'boxes' sitting on the front bumper are sand boxes. They drop sand onto the track via the pipes visible below them. The sand provides traction on slippery rails. You'll notice the absence of a glass windscreen and side windows. An old photo on another website shows the rail tractor with these still in tact*** Perhaps they were removed when it was put on public display (it sits beside a children's playground in Mamaku).

During its 20 year service it had three owners;
1954-1958 Pine Milling Co., Mamaku
1958-1964 G.A. Gamman, Mamaku
1964-1974 New Zealand Railways, Mamaku***

Great to see it preserved.

* http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/bush-trams-and-other-log-transport/4
** On-site signage
***http://www.trainweb.org/loggingz/smith.html (website has a lovely old photo [from the Putararu Timber Museum?] of this rail tractor in use).

To see a restored Mamaku tramway jigger (a truck possibly converted to rail by O.W. Smith) , go to another of my blog posts with the title White Jigger (rail car), Pukemiro Bush Tramway

http://gorgeouswithattitude.blogspot.co.nz/2010/04/bush-railcar-pukemiro-bush-tramway.html

1920's Double Decker Road and Rail Bridge

2012-04-19T07:51:00.001+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

I don't know a lot about bridges; I just like them.

Bridge 95 Stratford-Okahukura Line over the Ongarue River (1920's road and rail bridge)

I've admired this lovely double decker road and rail bridge before. This time, instead of speeding straight past along SH4 towards Taumaranui we took the time to have a closer look.

Double decker road and rail bridge over Ongarue River at Okahukura. Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949 :Collection of albums, prints and negatives. Ref: APG-2084-1/2-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/22900779

I think this old photograph shows the same bridge. The photograph is from the Alexander Turnbull Library collection. It's thought to have been taken between the 1920s and 30s when the bridge was quite new ( the opening date for the Stratford-Okahukura Line as 23 May 1922).* The photo shows a well defined track down to the river. I'm speculating here, but perhaps the bridge components were transported to the site via the river? The Ongarue River is a major tributary of the Whanganui River which flows to the sea.

Concrete bridge support, Ongarue side

We drove over the bridge, parked the car and walked back over it. I can only imagine how exciting it must have been on the bridge when a locomotive thundered along the rails above!

Bridge 95 Stratford - Okahukura Line, Ongarue River (Ongarue side)

Bridge 95 looking from the Ongarue side towards the SH side

I'm not sure if the railway line is used much any more.

Bridge 95 looking from the Ongarue side towards the SH side

The single lane road deck is still in use.

The old photograph (above) appears to show a hand rail at the sides of the road bridge. This appears to have been replaces with a vehicle barrier.

Dorman Long and Co Ltd, Middlesbrough

At least one of the steel 'I' beams had the name Dorman Long and Co Ltd Middlesbrough on it (a British engineering firm).

Bridge 95 looking towards the SH side

We had places to go and people to see...so continued on our way having enjoyed the brief break from our journey.

* http://beta.natlib.govt.nz/records/22900779

Kamiro Park

2012-04-12T08:21:00.002+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

Kamiro Park with dark skinned statue (possibly the Madonna?)

I love it when, every now and then, I chance upon a really unusual garden. We came upon this charming garden having taken a detour off the main road to Taumaranui to have a look at an old rail/road bridge.

It's just a small garden, but I found the choice of statues or sculptural items within it intriguing. Probably the most eyecatching is a saintly statue (the Madonna?) painted with pale blue robes and dark brown skin. A Maori Madonna perhaps? Elevated on poles behind her is a streamlined sculpture, painted with multicoloured streaks (representing a comet perhaps?).

Kamiro Park sign, Ongarue Back Road, north of Taumaranui

A sign by the gate gave the name; Kamiro Park. It didn't appear to be open to the public and is on private property. We enjoyed our view of Kamiro Park from the road.

Kamiro Park

The saintly figure was flanked by two curved forms (symbolizing light?). One completely white, the other a colourful rainbow. The latter had fallen over at the time of our visit.

Kamiro Park (garden gnome LHS, rainbow RHS)

A garden gnome reclined on a nearby table.

Kauri trees dotted the lawn.

Kamiro Park

Behind a seven wire farm fence decorated with tyres was an elegant arching footbridge over a pond with flowering water lilies. Just behind the garden is the railway line.
The garden is quite near Mana Ariki marae. Perhaps there's a connection? As a tourist I can only hazard a guess at the meaning behind the choice and arrangement of the objects in the garden, but even just from a visual point of view, I thoroughly enjoyed the individuality of Kamiro Park.

A Pumpkin Good Time!

2012-04-06T15:31:00.002+12:00

Miranda (NZ)

We arrived at The Great Pumpkin Carnival at the Hamilton Gardens as the kid's tug of war was in progress. It would have been fun to watch, but our immediate attention was taken by the enormous variety of pumpkins on display; from enormous to tiny in size and in all sorts of colours and shapes.

Best Carved Pumpkin, 1st place open class, The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens, 2012

Lots of people were looking at the artistic pumpkin creations on show. Some were beautifully carved.

Matariki

This one was carved with koru-type spirals and was called Matariki (a group of stars associated with the Maori New Year). A woven flax decoration added interest.

Best Pumpkin Creation , 8 - 12 year old category

Others were made by putting different shaped pumpkins (other vegetable matter and some props) together. From memory the large figure with the 'grass' skirt had a pacifica name, the little dog (far right) with the chilli tongue was called Hot dog and the dog on the left, Little puppy.

Nik-P-Mup dragon at the back, Pumpkinella in the middle, muppet-type with hat in foreground.

Some people had clearly had heaps of fun not only making their creations but naming them too. The magnificent dragon (pictured above) was called Nik-P-Mup (the word 'pumpkin', re-arranged), while the fabulous pumpkin damsel in her pumpkin animal-drawn coach was called Pumpkinella. Both creations had beautiful attention to detail. I particularly liked the pumpkin stem, complete with tendrils decorating Pumpkinella's coach.

Pumpkinella, The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens, 2012

The dried flowers used to create Pumpkinella's eyes give her a wide-eyed, pretty eyelash look. A single hibiscus flower adorns her fibre hair, pacifica-style. The garland around her neck is made from fresh figs, fuchsia and daisy flowers.

Kaimanawa Horses and The Threatened Rose Garden entries by 'recycled teenagers' (ie retirement village category)

In a couple of cases the pumpkins had inspired the use of their surfaces as a canvas for painting.

The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens, 2012 with sign made by Alyssa (age 11).

Possibly the most photographed pumpkins were two woppers on a tandem trailer; one a spectacular rich and glossy, bright orange. Children climbed on them, adults reached out and touched them, some sat on them.

By way of contrast, there were also some exquisitely tiny pumpkins on display.

I loved all the pumpkin signs, made by children. The atmosphere reminded me of a country school agricultural day.

Pumpkin poster by Cameron (age 7), The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens 2012

We headed over to the pumpkin related baking section hoping to buy something tasty, but although the food looked delicious, none of it was for sale. Free apples were, however, on offer.

The pumpkin theme even extended to a pumpkin-shaped 'bouncy castle' for the kids to play on.

Pumpkin downhill roll track, Hamilton City Gardens

After all the judging and prize giving some of the pumpkins were going to be rolled down this course (pictured above). The picture above was taken near the bottom of the course, just up from board leaning against a tree which served as a target.

Pumpkin downhill roll

The little ones started.

Rogue pumpkins, The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens 2012

The lie of the land meant that any pumpkins that made it any distance were more than likely to head off-course (to the amusement of spectators). Any that made it past the target came to a sudden holt as they crashed into the pretty gardens beyond.

Getting ready to roll, The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens 2012

There was 'a bit of an art' to getting the larger ones ready for rolling at the top of the hill. Some got away on their people and took off prematurely.

Smashing pumpkins, The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens 2012

Few of the really large ones got beyond the base of steeper part of the hill before breaking, some didn't even make it that far.

Smashed pumpkins and a large one on the move (LHS),The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens 2012

Strategies to get the pumpkins to roll further and stay on-track included rolling them down the side of the track (as above).

Gathering all the pumpkin pieces, The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens 2012

At the finish heaps of people got stuck in when the organizers called out 'who can make the biggest pile of pumpkin pieces?' Some (like the boys pictured above) obviously relished the chance to dig their hands into the pumpkin pulp.

Gathering all the pumpkin pieces, The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens 2012

Teamwork was required to bring the pieces together.

Gathering all the pumpkin pieces, The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens 2012

Pumpkin piles, The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens 2012

In no time at all there were great piles of pumpkin. I wonder what they did with it all?

Homeward bound, The Great Pumpkin Carnival, Hamilton Gardens 2012

Some headed home, still perfect, to be enjoyed for a bit longer (and no doubt bring a smile to motorists travelling directly behind them en route!).

Hundertwasser Public Toilets and Boat, Kawakawa

2012-03-23T11:24:00.000+13:00

Miranda (NZ)

Entrance to the Hundertwasser Public Toilets, Kawakawa

When Frederick Hundertwasser offered to design the upgrade of the old public toilets in Kawakawa's central township in 1998, I wonder if he knew the impact it would have on the community? Perhaps he did...and what an immensely fruitful gesture it's turned out to be.

You might wonder what the internationally renowned Austrian artist and architect's connection was with this little town in the north of New Zealand. Apparently he was so enchanted with New Zealand when he visited to mount an exhibition in the 1970's that he decided to make Aoteoroa (ie NZ) his second home. He purchased an 'isolated rural property on the Waikino peninsula on the Waikare Inlet east of Kawakawa.'*

The Hundertwasser Community Toilets, main street, Kawakawa viewed from Bay of Islands Vintage Railway carriage

Hundertwasser ' loved the informality of the area and the freedom to walk the streets of the Kawakawa township anonymously.'*

This sentence is taken from the Far North District Council web page; 'He felt for the town and its entrapment in the rural decline which so much of New Zealand had suffered' . It suggests the artist may have been motivated to improve the area's economic prospects. I'm sure he would have been delighted to know what a positive impact the lavatories have had on the economics of the town (and possibly the spirit of the community) as a direct result of his creative input.

The Hundertwasser Community Toilets, main street, Kawakawa viewed from the opposite side of the street

The famous toilet block is situated right in the middle of the short ribbon of shops and other buildings that line the road of Kawakawa's central township.

The design has a very organic feel to it. This is enhanced by the incorporation of a living tree and vegetation-insulated rooftop. The tree is deciduous. I imagine this was a deliberate choice so that it would provide cooling shade for the building during the hot summer months yet allow the sun through the branches in the winter.

Note how the two gleaming, gold balls at either side of the building's roof echo the orange pedestrian-crossing globe-lights; a playful touch on Hundertwasser's part, I suspect.

The sod roof and Hundertwasser's koru flag viewed from street level, Kawakawa Public Lavatories

Appropriately the koru flag Hundertwasser designed as a secondary New Zealand flag flies from the roof. ** He gifted the flag design to NZ in 1983 in appreciation of becoming a New Zealand citizen.**

Detail of columns and roof, Hundertwasser Community Toilets, main street, Kawakawa

Each supporting column is decorated differently. Materials used include brightly glazed pots, terracotta and salt-glazed pipes, bottles, tiles and bricks.

Entrance to the Hundertwasser Public Toilets, Kawakawa

The bricks chosen for use in the construction come from the former Bank of New Zealand building*. It's a nice touch that's not only environmentally friendly but adds to the building's character and identity.

'Ladies' signage, entrance to the Hundertwasser Public Toilets, Kawakawa

A stylized line drawing of a female glazed onto tiles indicates the side to enter for the women's lavatories. Terracotta art tiles (many/most of which were made by the students of the local Bay of Islands College*) are incorporated into the brick and tile coving in the adjacent corner and are sprinkled throughout the building.

Metal door at entrance to the women's toilets, Hundertwasser Public Toilets, Kawakawa

Both women's and men's toilet blocks have a metal door that can be locked when the toilets are closed; each one an interesting work of art in their own right!

Detail of metal door at entrance to the women's toilets, Hundertwasser Public Toilets, Kawakawa

Wonderful recycling (Hundertwasser was a passionate environmentalist) !

Looking from the front to the back of the women's toilets, Hundertwasser Public loos, Kawakawa

It's quite an experience when you walk in. It feels delightfully quirky. It also looks charmingly practical; easy to clean and robust.

Koru on side of women's handbasin stand, Hundertwasser Public Lavatories , Kawakawa

A stunning ceramic mosaic version of Hundertwasser's koru flag appears inside the building. I think there's also one on the men's side. The koru is widely used in Maori art and represents a young fern frond.

Women's handbasin and bottle window, Hundertwasser Public Lavatories , Kawakawa

The colourful bottle windows at the front and back of the toilets are not only decorative, they allow sunlight to enter the building in a manner that provides privacy. Note the little rectangular grille beneath the window to provide floor level ventilation.

Window, Hundertwasser Public Lavatories , Kawakawa

I really like the way the radiating design reflects a spider's web. I wonder if he was thinking along those lines when he designed it? I'm struggling to remember if it had glass or not; the latter I think (ie to provide ventilation as well as light).

View from women's handbasin towards entrance, Kawakawa Community Public Toilets by Hundertwasser

There are two individual cubicles in the women's toilets, each one quite different (even the toilets are different; one ceramic, the other stainless steel).

A window between beams on the vaulted ceiling provides another source of sunlight.

Whale relief and colourful tiles, women's cubicle, Hundertwasser Public Lavatories, Kawakawa

Points of interest on the walls include colourful ceramic tiles arranged in patterns , sculpted concrete (such as the whale [a reference to his 'Save the Whales' picture?]) ...

Detail from inside one of the two women's cubicles, Hundertwasser Public Toilets, Kawakawa

...bottles, bricks, blocks, decorated and plain glass blocks...

Detail of ceramic tile and pottery mosaic, women's cubicle, Hundertwasser Public Toilets, Kawakawa

...ceramic tile and pottery mosaics, terracotta art tiles...

Detail of metal plaque adjacent to door handle, women's cubicle, Kawakawa Public Toilets by Hundertwasser

...metal plaques and interesting fittings made from recycled materials. I love the big, chunky bolts (pictured above). Decorative as well as functional perhaps?

Detail of door bolt, women's cubicle, Kawakawa Public Toilets by Hundertwasser

There's very much a fun, light-hearted feel to the place.

Tiles indicating the entrance to the men's lavatories, Kawakawa Public Toilets by Hundertwasser

In contrast to many of the other decorated tiles, those indicating the men's and women's sides of the toilet block look very much in the style of Hundertwasser (rather than the school students). I love the way the pattern on the man's trousers reflects the extensive use of mosaic design throughout the building.

Metal door at entrance to the men's toilets, Kawakawa Public Toilets by Hundertwasser

The building was opened in late 1999, just a few weeks before Hundertwasser's death. It's the 'only Hundertwasser building in the Southern hemisphere and the only one he supervised and worked on himself until completion.'****As such it attracts visitors (and tourist dollars) from far and wide to the town.

The project is described on the on-site plaque as 'a community project' and the contributions of Mike Brouwers, Richard Smart, Doug Shepherd, Peter Yeates, Mike Woodman and students of the Bay of Islands , the Kawakawa Business and Development Association and Kawakawa Community Board are acknowledged. It must have been a huge undertaking for this small community and as such ,to some degree, it reflects the spirit of this community.

Hundertwasser-designed shop front, Kawakawa

Glancing up and down the street, you can see other works of art radiating out from the public conveniences. At least a couple of shopfronts are adorned with similar columns, the colourful Karetu School mural beautifies the side of one building (pictured above), distinctive bronze bollards and a streetlight (sculptures in their own right) decorate a street corner and there's an interesting 'sculpture garden' with mosaics between a couple of shops as well as some tile mural work on the pavement. Further down the street a wooden seat is decorated with a painted design along the backrest, another has a distinctly organic style and on the edge of the town an arch (capped with succulent plants) and colourful columns greets visitors. You could see it as the community embracing the theme and trying to amplify the economic effect by making their town distinctive. You could also see it as the joy (for want of a better word) radiating out from the building. Perhaps Hundertwasser's influence here is so vibrant that the very identity of Kawakawa is now inseparable from the artist. He's become part of Kawakawa's history.

Framed picture of Frederick Hundertwasser inside a Bay of Islands Vintage Railway carriage

Hundertwasser was also a patron of the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway which is based in Kawakawa, a hundred metres or so up the road. While travelling on the railway we saw this framed picture of him in one of the carriages. You can see his boat, La Giudecca behind him, in the background. The plaque below reads ; 'Bay of Islands Vintage Railway gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Frederick Hundertwasser in the purchase and renovation of this carriage.'

Hundertwasser's boat, La Giudecca at the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, Kawakawa

La Giudecca 'herself' can be seen high and dry and awaiting restoration at the end of the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway platform.

La Giudecca viewed from the stern, Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, Kawakawa

A wooden staircase allows visitors to board her. Hundertwasser used La Giudecca as a floating studio at his home at Kaurinui, for trips through the mangroves and on voyages in the Bay of Islands.***

La Giudecca, looking towards the bow from outside the cabin, Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, Kawakawa

La Giudecca, looking from the bow back towards the cabin, Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, Kawakawa

The squares of non-slip paint (pictured above) might suggest this area of the boat was favoured by the artist to work on. Someone 'whispered' something about sunbathing, so perhaps this was his spot for that.

Hundertwasser chose to live in New Zealand on his land near Kawakawa for part of each year initially, but in later years he remained there year-round. His association with the area spanned about 25 years; long enough to be considered a 'local' and have a profound effect on the area. He left a beautiful and bountiful legacy to the Kawakawa community (and those who visit).

As a youngster in 1973 I was taken to the Hundertwasser: Paintings and Graphics exhibition at the Auckland City Art Gallery. ***** Perhaps this was the exhibition that first brought the artist to New Zealand. His work made a profound impression on me and I have a vivid memory of standing in front of one large picture in particular, relishing the the vibrant colours, the sumptuous details and the fantastic, imaginative shapes. Just thinking about it, along with my recent memories from Kawakawa brings a smile to my face.

* http://www.fndc.govt.nz/services/community-facilities/toilets/hundertwasser-toilets
** http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/hundertwasser-koru-flag
*** http://www.hundertwasser.com/arch/view-12slash1
**** http://hundertwasserpark.com/index.html (it's worth having a look at the photos at this website)
***** http://www.aucklandartgallery.com/media/1514410/aag_exhibitions_history.pdf

Misty Morning Paihia and Russell Ramble

2012-03-14T09:02:00.000+13:00

Misty Paihia morning (view from the Beachside Holiday Park)

Quietly sitting on the beach sipping my morning cup of coffee and watching the morning sun burn off the mist across the harbour at Paihia. Such a gentle, beautiful way to start a day. Bliss!

Kingfisher (Kotare) on a Pohutakawa bough (Beachside Holiday Park, Paihia)

I wasn't alone. Perched on a Pohutakawa bough, a little kingfisher (kotare in Maori) also watched the silvery water.

Pohutakawa blossoms, Paihia

One of the few sounds was the buzzing of bees, busy collecting pohutakawa nectar (great honey in the making!).

Boats enshrouded in morning sea mist, Opua (viewed from Beachside Holiday Park, Paihia)

The mist lifted to reveal distant hills and boats moored in the distance (Opua, I suppose). Every now and then a vessel motored past in the distance. Fishing boats or ferries bound for Paihia perhaps. Despite the distance, the sea was so still that the ripples they created reached my feet.

Dinghy sprinkled with pohutakawa stamens, Russell (Kororareka)

Later in the day we strolled along the waterfront in the town of Russell (Kororareka), just across the harbour from Paihia. The pohutakawa planted all along the foreshore were in blossom. A generous sprinkling of their brilliant red stamens lay decoratively beneath them like confetti. Much of the road adjacent to the beach was covered with them, the tarseal visible in two parallel lines where vehicles had driven. Black and red, good New Zealand colours!

Pou (Maori carved posts ) Russell Museum, Kororareka

I enjoyed seeing some colourful, painted Pou beside the beach in the Russell Museum grounds. Their style is quite different from what I'm used to seeing at home, further south in the Waikato.

Old wooden house, Russell (Kororareka)

This old timber house (probably kauri) is just across from Christ Church. I love the really tall 'skirt'(baseboards), the verandah and the rusty corrugated iron roof.

'New Zealand's oldest operating petrol station', Russell

Nearby (just down from the wharf) is a lovely old petrol (gas) station. Below the eaves it reads 'New Zealand's oldest operation petrol station, Built 1930'. Just up the road you can see one of two Four Square general store shops beside the Russell wharf.

Russell Four Square (in a squall of rain!)

The corrugated iron-clad building has such character, it really appealed to me. It must be one of the more interesting Four Square general store buildings in the country. It's position right beside the wharf suggests that it has been there from the days when supplies were shipped in (rather than trucked in).

Weka beside the road at Russell (Kororareka)

As we walked up the road to Flagstaff Hill, we were totally amazed when a native weka (going in the opposite direction) passed within a few feet of us. A first for me! Brilliant!