Kingfisher Retreat Kerikeri

... sogar (seit 1985) ein eigenes "Waitangi Tribunal", das bis 1840 zurueck alle Laend**schieb**ein pruefen muss und entscheiden soll, wie viel Land od** Geld den Maori als Entschuldigung zurueckgegeben w**den muss. Die sind imm**noch beschaeftigt...

Anzugucken auf dem Traety-Gelaende war das Haus, in dem James Busby lebte und die Wiese, auf dem d** V**trage unt**zeichnet wurde. Auss**dem bauten die Maori hi** eines ihr** V**sammlungshaeus** (= Marae), genannt "Te ...

... we detoured along the Karikari Peninsula, which we could see across Doubtless Bay from our accommodation. We drove to the very end of the peninsula to Maitai Bay, where you have to walk from the car park across the sand dunes to a long white silica sand beach. We stopped for a while and swam in the sea. In the evening, we collected a takeaway from the Thai restaurant in Mangonui and took it back to the cottage to eat with a bottle of wine.

... more on them later) to the giant Moa, twice as large as an ostrich (now extinct). Right away when we arrived at our first Auckland hostel I could hear different bird calls than I was used to, like some crazy trumpeting calls that sounded at least three syllables. And we've been noticing alot of birds around us everywhere we go. Some we've never seen before, with really long orange beaks or crested heads. others are probably imports from Europe ...

... the beach and we were told that we could go out to the rocks and collect 50 green lipped mussels per person, if the Maori allowed it - not sure where there wer to ask so we just walked along the beach. Goat Island is the first marine park in NZ and you can see fish swimming from the rocks - we saw blue moamoa and snapper - great place to go snorkelling. There was meant to be a glass bottomed boat, unfortunately this wasn't running. Next stop the surfing beaches...... xxx

... are true, and which ones are boring. I was rather confused, on account of the car hitting my body. Now, everything is a bit fuzzy, but here is where The Coward Kingseley Thompson and his Man***** Cam come in. I called my boss and said I was just hit by a car. He said ok and that he would come get me. 1 Hour later he made the 10 min drive to pick me up, then he took me back to the shop (not once this entire time asking if I was ok). I stumbled over to my truck and drove ...

... nice and sunny though we could do without the wind. It does rain ocationaly but not that often and not for that long. After we ate lunch along the warf we paid a visit to the information centers. We can go see the Bay of Islands, take a boat out to see the dolfins, go up into the mountains for a nice hike, visit the mawii treaty house which may or maynot include viewing mawii dancing, browse the small town for good ...

... hostel, with all the German boys. There's Niko, Kai, Stephan, Hinah, and a few others. We all usually sit in the living room and talk. They are quite grateful that De and I are there so they can practice English, and we're grateful because they're all good for a laugh and interesting stories. Well that's basically been my life. Work in Hell's kitchen, talking to German folk, and sleeping with earplugs (De is a very heavy sleeper:P) PEACE

... a big shark you were swimming with Silvan." I said casually. "Oh, ****, yeah there is a shark...oh man." He said trying to be casual. The shark was cruising around on the surface apparently interested in what we were doing. We decided that the first dive of the day probably shouldn't be with a 7 foot shark. Off to another GPS point! Our second location was terribly murky. Spooky murky. Like, can't see the end of my speargun 35 feet under the water murky. We cruised ...

... it is also of enormous historical significance. As the site of the first permanent English settlement, it is the birthplace of European colonisation. It was here that the treaty of Waitangi was drawn up in 1840 where 46 Maori chiefs signed up but even now days this can cause tension between the Maoris and the descendants of the early European settlers. This treaty may have initially appealed to the Maoris as they valued the profit and prestige the local Europeans brought especially the ...

... fed with this boil up and bread smothered two inches thick in butter, I hate butter!! The boil up was interesting to say the least, very VERY oily and strong lamb flavour! No anybody who knows me will know that I cant hide my face or feelings very well when I am eating something that I dont like! I was really struggling to put this food down and to hold it down! Brian said my face was a picture! So after dinner I made our excuses and left in a ...