New Zealand's South Island, trip #1

***  To celebrate Marlene's February birthday, we went to the north part of the South Island for sailing . . . and more!

The city of Nelson, New Zealand's sunniest, is on the Tasman Bay.  The Dutchman Abel Tasman was the first westerner to "discover" New Zealand, not far from where Nelson is today.

The Cook Straits separate the North Island from the South Island.  The difference in weather is amazing.

Tasman Bay from our B&B

Sailing is a favorite of Marlene.  No better place to celebrate than Tasman Bay!

                              

          

And we do like to visit wineries.  Marlborough, east of Nelson, produces 75% of NZ's wine.  Check the label on a NZ wine in the States and it's most likely from Marlborough.

Well, "wine" not?  :-)

Waitangi Day

. . . is a national holiday celebrating the Maori, the natives of New Zealand.  Many Maori traditions still exist, such as the famous "haka" dance and the "marae," their traditional family clan.  There are nearly 1000 "marae" throughout NZ, but you must be invited to enter their tribal lands.

Entrance to a "maere" in Nelson

Small home in a "maere."

"Hangi," traditional Maori meal cooked on hot rocks in a pit

 

What's for tea?**

and other idiosyncrasies of life in New Zealand

**  (expression used for "what's for supper?"  Couldn't figure that out at all when our neighbor saw me preparing dinner one night, because I was NOT preparing tea and biscuits!)

This blog post is a bit different, noting differences between the Kiwi culture and that of the U.S.   There's even an interactive activity at the end!  Enjoy!

Heated towel racks in home bathrooms are the norm here, from well-to-do homes to modest homes.  Kinda nice!


Also . . . clothes lines to hang out laundry.  Everyone has them, from those well-to-do homes to modest homes and even apartments.  I'd bet they even out number regular clothes dryers.

This one blows me away.  Bare feet are common here in ALL public places - stores, libraries, churches, on the street.  Anywhere.  And it's not illegal.  Knocked the socks off (so to speak) of our kids too when they came to visit.

In driving, the big difference of course is driving on the left - and the steering wheel is on the right.  The "slow lane" is the left lane and the "passing lane" is on the right.  I know I've angered a few kiwis on that one! The police are very strict in enforcing speed limits, especially during holidays.  Go 5 km over the speed limit during holidays and expect a $30NZ ($21US) fine.  That's like getting a ticket going 68 mph in a 65 mph zone in the States!  How do I know this?  I got 3 tickets in the first 3 months here!! If you get a speeding ticket because of a camera - and they're all over here - the ticket comes in the mail but does NOT go against your record.  But being stopped by the police will.

The end of the school year is at Christmas, which is summer here.  Classes resume about 1 week into February.  Kids go to school about 180 days/year, as in the States.

So, it's about a 6 week summer break.  And those %*^#!  back-to-school ads start about 1 week after school is out!!  Poor kids. . .   Poor teachers!!!

Also, Christmas store hours are bizarre.  Many still close at 5 or 6 p.m., even on Saturdays!  That's unheard of in the US!

Prescription drugs are very inexpensive, even cheaper than ours in the States with a standard copay!  But if those drugs are not government subsidized, the prices are astronomical!!

Many times, over-the-counter medicines cost more than prescription medicines.

*Virtually every building uses corrugated metal roofing.  A few use clay tiles.  I have yet to see the traditional shingles as seen in the States.

*Retrieving a voice mail on your cell phone costs 40¢, no matter who your provider is or the plan that you have.


AND MY PET PEEVE . . .  😒

the abbreviation "NZ" for New Zealand is seen all over.  TVNZ (TV station), ANZ (prominent bank), even web sites (www.whatever.co.nz).  But when the kiwis say the letters aloud, they say "N Zid" and not "N Z" as you would expect.  So our bank is pronounced "A N Zid," not "A N Z."

Now, what the heck?  Everyone here knows that "NZ" refers to New Zealand.  That abbreviation shouldn't confuse anyone.  This would be like saying "U S Am" instead of "USA."  There's even a gas ("petrol") station here called "Z."  And yep, they call it "Zid."

As of yet, no one has given me an explanation as to why this is.  It just is. 😒

*** Now for some fun.  Match the kiwi expression on the left with the common term we use in the States on the right.  Answers, with some explanations, follow.  NO CHEATING :-)  And thanks for reading!!!

A.  sweet as                                            1. ___ sweet potato

B.  wheelie bin                                       2.___ bandaid

C.  kumara                                             3.___ big thank you

D.  jandals                                              4.___ garbage can

E.  plaster                                               5.___ green pepper 

F.  good on ya                                         6.___ holiday home

G. bach                                                    7.___ cooler

H. capsicum                                            8.___ awesome

I.  chilly bin                                             9.___ flip flops

1.  C  (Maori word)

2.  E

3.  F

4.  B (big cans with wheels to take to curb)

5. H  (biological term, from Latin)

6. G  (Welsh for "little", also possibly from"batchelor pad")

7. I

8. A

9. D  ("Japanese sandals")

Feeling a bit blue after the kids returned to the US from their Christmas visit here, we had to do something to make New Year's memorable.  So how about a . . .

ROAD TRIP!!!

To "The City of Sails" - Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city where 1.5 million live - virtually 33% of all of New Zealand!  It's very vibrant, chic and modern.  Much more cosmopolitan than its friendly rival city, the more "refined" Wellington.

A New Year's Eve cruise on the Auckland Harbor helped shake those blues.  Auckland is the first big city in the world to greet the day, so we were among the first to welcome 2017 - 18 hours ahead of Times Square in New York!  The famous Sky Tower, on the right, brought it in right.

OK, it's not Rozzi's from Cincinnati (boy, are we spoiled with those!!) but they were pretty and a very unique way to welcome 2017.


By the way, January 1 & 2 are official holidays in New Zealand so the normal workday won't start until the 3rd.  Should the 1st and/or 2nd fall on a weekend, those 2 days will be "made up" the following Monday and Tuesday, if needed.

Also, many restaurants levy a 15% surcharge for being open on holidays.

Breathtaking

Side Trip, part 2

A beautiful weekend to enjoy a one-hour side trip to Cape Palliser, New Zealand's southern-most point on the North Island.  Driving through the fabulous countryside, stopping at the Lake Ferry Hotel for New Zealand's best fish & chips and of course, checking out a few wineries!

Stunning wildflowers along the Cape Palliser coast . . .

. . . too gorgeous for words!

Over 250 steps to reach the lighthouse!

Cape Palliser lighthouse, still in use via computer in Wellington.  It's light can be seen 30 miles away.

Marlene at the southern-most point of New Zealand's North Island.  Love this pic!!

Side Trips, part 1

Weekends give us a chance to take side trips                          

around New Zealand.  On Labour Day Weekend
 in mid-October, which kicks off their summer here,
we headed to Napier and Hawke's Bay on the east    

Vineyard in Hawke's Bay

 coast of the North Island.
 For you wine enthusiasts,
you know that many New Zealand
wines we have in the States come
 from this area.

Hawke's Bay and the city of Napier were also struck by a  devastating earthquake in 1931, killing hundreds.   The city decided to rebuild itself in the Art Deco style which was so popular at the time.

To this day, downtown Napier has a 1930s-40s art deco feel about it, stores are crammed with vintage clothing, and the city celebrates every February with a huge Art Deco Festival, attended by thousands from around the world.

Art deco buildings in Napier today

30's fashions for the ladies . . .

 . . . and for the men!

Shaking Things Up a Bit:

61 Molesworth St.

The Nov. 14 New Zealand earthquakes

Everyone knows now about the big earthquakes here 1 1/2 weeks ago (there were actually 2), and we have been in contact with many.  Thanks for your concern and prayers.  We are fine and so is the home we live in.  It was a roller coaster ride, for sure!  We still feel aftershocks. And the epicenters were in the South Island, where the quakes were much more severe.

So, a few lessons learned about the New Zealand version of rock n' roll . . .

1)  know what to do.  We Midwesterners are well-trained for tornadoes but not earthquakes.  We know now! (get in doorways and if really bad and no buildings are around, run outside)

2)  damage isn't always obvious.  To the naked eye, buildings may look fine but structural damage and interior destruction can be there and therefore unsafe to occupy.

3)  change of topography.  We're used to seeing fissures, landslides, collapsed buildings and crushed cars.  But seabeds lift, lakes form, terraces form, bays dry up, waterfalls are cut off - immediately!

           . . . after the earthquake, there was a call for volunteers to help return thousands of endangered abolone (shellfish) to the sea that had been left high and dry by lifting seabeds.  Concerns for seals as well.

As for Wellington

- it took 3 to 4 days for the city to be back to "normal."  Marlene had an "earthquake day" and didn't work on the 14th.

- 15 buildings or so are still cordoned off, some completely and others partially.  The ferries still aren't sailing.

- 61 Molesworth St., near Parliament (above) must be razed.  Others in that block near the harbor may be razed as well.

Organ pipes toppled at the Wellington Cathedral

Interior of the NZ Statistics Building collapsed

Quite the experience, to be sure!  Even the Kiwis are alarmed.  This was NOT a normal tremor or quaking that they're used to around here.

But on a lighter note . . .

***  Did you guess the extra point bonus question, translating NZ English to American English?  The sentence was "After tramping, I'll get a thin flat white."  In American English, it means "After hiking, I'll get a cup of coffee with low-fat foam on top."  My sister Emily came pretty close to guessing it completely!  She gets 5 extra points and can stay at our NZ home FOR FREE!!  :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

But it does not exist here.  It's a true American holiday that we'll miss dearly.  Kiwis know we have it, but that's it.  They don't understand the turkey & stuffing tradition, football, family and Black Friday.

Just as well.  I priced a 15 lb. turkey here at about $65 US!  No canned pumpkin either, but Marlene found one online for about $5 US.  Ouch!!

 Kiwis Reaction to the U.S. Presidential Election

Pictures are from the headlines and the World section of the Nov. 10, 2016 edition of the Dominion Post, New Zealand's leading national newspaper.

Fascinating to talk with the Kiwis about our recent presidential election.  The reaction I've observed from them so far includes 1)  a more than passing interest and surprise at Trump's win, 2)  a concern how this will affect them in New Zealand and 3)  actual sympathy for Clinton supporters.  There were a few that liked Trump's nomination, simply because it breaks up the norm.

An overall sentiment I'm seeing is that this will be a real test of the U.S. democracy, but the expectation is that the U.S. will eventually be OK.

Below are reactions in today's newspaper from various New Zealand officials. (there are 2 major political parties here, the Labour and National.  Others include the Green, Maori and ACT parties)

"The American people have spoken and I congratulate Mr. Trump on his victory after a long campaign."  NZ Prime Minister John Key

"The relationship with USA goes beyond any individual in the office. . . It's too early to tell what impact this will mean for NZ. . . it's important we understand what it means in terms of the sense of disenfranchisement and dissatisfaction there is in the American electorate."  Labour Party leader Andrew Little 

"I couldn't think of a worse president.  Trump has demonstrated he's a pathological liar so regardless of what he said during the election campaign we don't know what he'll do."  Green Party co-leader James Shaw

"Kiwis would have to expect a different world economy under a Trump presidency.  New Zealand is so dependent on international trade that anything a Trump presidency did to slow world trade would have an impact on New Zealand."  Former Prime Minister and former NZ ambassador to the US Jim Bolger

"It's very worrying when we're a small, open trading nation and the American people have effectively voted against free trade - that's hugely concerning."  ACT Party leader David Seymour

"The lack of policy discussion probably was a little disappointing."  US Ambassador to NZ Mark Gilbert

"I don't think it will have much bearing on the situation in New Zealand because we're a very small democracy where there's still a high degree of participation."  Green Party official Julie Anne Genter

"We have in New Zealand pockets of society that do not see Maori (the largest minority in NZ) as deserving of equal rights, who have certain views that are akin to those of the Trump supporters, and this will embolden them and embolden politicians who want to tap into that sentiment.  We don't need that here."  Former US intelligence adviser Paul Buchanan

"We may not approve of it, but it may actually restore a bit of faith in America that things aren't all predetermined."  National Party pollster David Farrar