Summer

Beautiful Lyall Bay on a perfect summer's day...

...and in the grip of a southerly.

If it's any comfort to those of you who have just suffered through a cold and miserable Northern winter, I can tell you that New Zealand had a pretty terrible summer. We had some of the worst storms for decades, terrible flooding causing millions of dollars of damage (and a 400% rise in the price of cauliflower) and comparatively little sunshine.

Still, there were some lovely times, for example Christmas Day, which I spent on my own, recuperating from a holiday runup in the retail sector. I went for a long bike ride, over to the marina at Evans Bay, and out past Moa Point to Breaker Bay, where I picked some seashells and a bunch of wild flowers. There were hardly any cars out, and I didn't speak to a person, and when I came back home, I went for a swim on the beach opposite my house. I spent the rest of the evening watching DVDs, and Christmas dinner was a frozen pizza. It was a truly memorable holiday, and a wonderful introduction to the concept of Christmas in the sun.

The Oscars

Last time I posted, RoTK had just opened, so let's follow that up first of all. The 2003 Oscars were obviously of huge concern to Kiwis, not just because of Rings but also because of Keisha Castle-Hughes, the 13-year old star of Whale Rider who was nominated for Best Actress. (It is a wonderful movie, see it if you come across it). My friend Kosal and I jumped at the opportunity to get our finery on and see the Oscars gala live at the Embassy Theatre. Because of the time difference, it started at 11 am, so we spent the day drinking champagne and cheering for the winners - most of which were, of course, Kiwis, since RoTK (as everyone knows by now) scooped 11 Oscars - every category it was nominated for. Keisha, unfortunately, did not win. Of course it was also my birthday, and I cannot imagine a better way of spending it. They had ad break entertainment on, and I won a bottle of bubbly for Best Slagging of Russell Crowe! Unfortunately it was later taken off me by a doorman. Hmpf.

Hiking in the Kaitoke Regional Park

A few weeks ago I went to stay the night with my friend Delia (who used to put up with me in Queenstown, but who has now moved to Upper Hutt). On the Sunday, the sun was shining and we decided to take her puppy, Oy, for a walk in Kaitoke Regional Park not far from Upper Hutt. Upper Hutt is an unexciting dormitory town north of Wellington, but since it is an unexciting New Zealand dormitory town, it has some stunning scenery, as you can see above.

Some four hours later, we found ourselves clean on the other side of the park, with the choice between hiking back four hours or finding the main road back to the park gate. Luckily, we hitched a ride back, dog and all, with some nice people who happened back, and got back to the car sunburnt and thirsty but happy. After taking Oy for a swim in the river, we headed back to town and raided Pizza Hut. A day well spent.

Hanging out with cats

This is me and Eartha, a kitten that has shacked up with my friend Simie. The occasion was a meeting of Cakeoholics Anonymous at Simie's house - she made a chocolate orange cake the size of a tractor tyre that kept all addicts silent for, oh, several minutes.

A man blowing a conch shell, producing a beautiful and haunting sound.	Politics The issue of the ownership of the beaches of New Zealand has dominated politics for several months. Basically, the Maori population are claiming rights to the ownership of all beaches, foreshore, and the seabed surrounding all of New Zealand, since they have a long tradition of making use off the resources that these areas offer, such as fishing and collecting seafood. It's a complicated issue. The Labour government wants to give ownership to the Crown, ostensibly to ascertain access for all New Zealanders, but the this is controversial. In New Zealand, relations between the original settlers (Maori) and descendants of colonists (Pakeha - "white settlers") are governed by the Treaty of Waitangi, an agreement made between Maori chiefs and British representatives in the mid 1900s. This states that Maori are entitled to keep title to all land that they have customarily used, and Maori feel that the government's stance on the seabed and foreshore is in direct contradiction of the Treaty. In recent weeks, a hikoi (the word means "walk", but it's really a protest march) has made its way through New Zealand town by town, and last week it arrived in Wellington. The protesters - some 15 000 - passed right outside the shop where I worked, and it was a truly impressive sight.
These warriors, with their clubs and fierce expressions, are truly impressive.
Some ordinary Maori guys, a far cry from the tattooed warriors. In the background is the Maori flag.
The hikoi presented a rare opportunity to see traditional Maori ceremonial garments, such as this cloak, in use. I saw several made from kiwi and tui feathers, which you ordnarily would have to go to a museum to see. This woman also has a moko a traditional women's tattoo, on her chin. Moko is rare these days, but it is very prestigious, both the women's chin versions and the men's full-face ones, and getting one is a serious undertaking. A person's iwi (tribe) has to be consulted, and their whakapapa (line of descent and heritage) studied to determine the right pattern, before the tattoo can be made. In the old days, the ink was tapped into the skin with a small wooden hammer with sharpened teeth, but today it's usually done with an ordinary tattoo needle.

Summer is over now, and it's getting cold, but Lyall Bay is still a lovely place to live. I'm pretty sick of working in retail, and I'm busy working on a portfolio of work, sculptures and drawings, which I hope will get me a job at Weta Workshop - I'll put up some pictures of these pieces when they're ready. I also bind quite a few books, as Unity Books have agreed to stock them, and I've started working as a life model in my spare time, which is fun, and brings in money. I have my work permit, and I'm looking into applying for residency.

Summer

The Oscars

Hiking in the Kaitoke Regional Park

Hanging out with cats

Politics