Sheep in NZ Sheep in NZ

New Zealand




Aotearoa (Land of the long white cloud) as it is called by the indiginous people, the maori, is at the other side of the world. For me it is the most beautiful end of the world. I discovered this country many years ago and when I got more and more information about it I was sure I would visit this country one day. I made this dream come true in November 2002 and I really loved it.


Landscape


Cape Maria van Diemen


There is no country in the world for me which combines more different landscapes than New Zealand does. You can find everything there except desert: light green hills, tilled land, white and black beaches, lonesome islands, picturesque bays, bush, lakes, volcanos, geysirs, mountains, plateaus, glaciers, sounds….. Of course you can see all this in Europe as well but you won't find all this in one single country!





People


View from Mount Eden

The visitors will not only be amazed by the landscape but also by the inhabitants. They are very open minded, friendly, helpful and totally crazy for any kind of sports. People who go jogging on a small volcano in the midst of Auckland must be quiet crazy! Don't you think? In New Zealand the national sport is Rugby. The national team the "All blacks" are said to be the best rugby players of the world. They are famous for their war dance, the Haka, which they show at the very beginning of the game. Their love for this game is quiet reasonable. New Zealand has been a British colony from 1856 to 1907 and became a member of the British Commonwealth. In the year of 1947 New Zealand became independent and a sovereign country of the commonwealth. But the sovereign of NZ is still Queen Elisabeth. Their British past not only shows in rugby but in the whole way of life. They have left-hand traffic and you can find very tasty Fish & ships-shops. In some places (e.g. Dunedin) you might think you are in Scotland when you hear pipe tunes. And also single women do not have to be frightened to travel this wonderful country all on their own. I came back healthy as well! *grins*


Arrival

You should be aware of the distance from Europe if you are planning to go there. The flight takes nearly 27 hours one way (non-stop-flight with a short stop for filling up fuel). But this country is worth every minute of it. The seasons are vice versa to Europe because it's on the southern hemisphere. If it's summer in Europe you will have winter in NZ.


Outdoor


Delphine

Even if you are not a person who loves going on tracks you should enjoy the beauty of the amazing nature in NZ. I really regret now that I did not go on short tracks more often. In the Bay of islands in the north of the north island you should go on a trip by boat cruising through all the small lonesome islands. There are trips that combine this beautiful trip with swimming with dolphins. That is one of the most fascinating outdoor activities you can go on!




Treaty of Waitangi

The history of the "modern" New Zealand started in the bay of islands where James Cook landed and claimed the land for the British crown. In Waitangi the maori people and the British crown signed the "Treaty of Waitangi". This treaty was intended to guarantee all rights of British citizens and protection in exchange for the rights of their land. But you can guess what happened. The British Empire was far away and the maori people lost their land and nobody cared. In the meanwhile the maori people fight for their rights and have little success. It is difficult but from time to time they get back parts of their land or get indemnities for the land they lost.


Maori

A lot of people start to remember their maori culture within the last years. There are schools where the children are taught only in maori.


Marae at Waitangi

The Polynesian culture the tourist discover when they visit NZ mostly contains the maraes (meeting houses), the greenstone (New Zealand jade) or the bonecarvings. There is another page concerning bonecarvings on my page as well. Have a look if you like!

For those who are interested in an insight in maori culture, should join a "Hangi & concert" in Rotorua. The evening starts with a traditional welcome a concert with dance and songs (haka inclusive) and a traditional cooked meal (Hangi). All this takes place in a village (Pa) like it had been before the Europeans arrived in NZ. Rotorua has more to show to the tourist than the smell of sulphur that results from the geothermal activities. *grins* In Rotorua you can go on wonderful tracks through this thermal territory.


Maori language

Maori is a Polynesian language so that it similar to the languages on Tonga, Haiti and the Cook-islands. For Germans the pronunciation is quiet easy. You have to speak it like we would read it. The vowels are pronounced separately except for the combination of "wh" which if pronounced like an "f".

Here are some expressions a tourist might hear sometimes:
Haere mai = Welcome
Haere ra = Good bye
Kia ora = Hello, thanks
Ka kite = See you, bye


Bungy & Co


Bungy from Kawarau Bridge

If you are bored if you think of tracks, boat trips or swimming with dolphins you will like New Zealand. Like I already said the kiwis are totally crazy! 1988 A.J. Hackett invented commercial "Bungy jumping". Who wants to do the original jump has to go to Queenstown in the south of the South island. There you jump from the "Kawaraubridge" 43m towards the river in this gorgeous glen. The kick of adrenalin you get while you do this is too difficult to explain. I shrieked all the way down but it was…..! There are no words for it. But this one is only the "baby jump". If you want to be "tough" you can try the "high wire" with 134m.

Or you go on parachuting which is no problem to book in Queenstown, the adventure playground of the world. Other activities are Jetboating or White Water Rafting, which I liked as well. But you should have some dollars left in you purse because these hobbies are quiet expensive. But when are you going to have this chance again???

Caution: Do not think: "That can't happen to me!" That's what I thought. And after 4 weeks in NZ these activities seem to be completely normal and you loose every fear for it. The madness or the kiwis is infectious!!!


If you still do not want to go there I can't help you! Maybe we will meet one day at the most beautiful end of the world???



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