We’re still enjoying the upsurge in use and acknowledgement of Te Reo Maori. And we urge you all to read the excellent article on page 112 of the September-October issue of New Zealand Geographic. Kennedy Warne’s essay, A Flash of Fire: what a difference a name makes , explores the differences between Maori and English government […]
Close to Home…
November 18, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Puha and Pakeha We have a new cafe almost next door… And one which definitely celebrates a harmonious diversity of culinary delights! Just the other side of St Columba Church from us (on Surrey Crescent, opposite the end of Richmond Road) is Puha and Pakeha, which offers tapas-style dishes blending ingredients and cooking styles from […]
Founding Day at AGGS
September 19, 2018 by Leave a Comment
On Friday 7 September Charmaine was acknowledged at the annual Founding Day ceremony at Auckland Girls’ Grammar School. She has gifted her two medals (for the Suffrage Centennial commemoration in 1993, and for the CNZM awarded in 2002) to the school because, as she told the assembled gathering, it was working with staff and […]
Whakaalofa lahi atu…on The Rock…
August 19, 2018 by 3 Comments
Niue is a tiny emerald island set in the deep blue and grey of the vast Pacific Ocean. “The Rock”, as it’s called by Niueans in Aotearoa, is a coral atoll twice raised by underwater volcanic action, and now encircled by a 64km coastal road. The coast is indented with coves and chasms, and just […]
A local journey..
August 19, 2018 by 3 Comments
For Tanya’s birthday on 16 August, we went on a voyage of discovery to Onekiritea/Hobsonville . We caught an early morning Richmond Road bus to the city, walked to Pier 4 near the downtown Ferry Buildings and caught the 9.00am commuter launch on its return to Hobsonville in the upper Waitemata Harbour (plenty of […]
Delighting in Diversity
July 18, 2018 by Leave a Comment
We really appreciate the wealth of cultural activities available in Auckland. The Auckland Writers’ Festival and Film Festivals , and the Auckland Photography Festival, have provided an extraordinary range of events in May, June and July. And then there are live theatre shows, art galleries and community activities as well. Of course our choices from […]
Ngā Maunga o Tāmaki Mākaurau
May 18, 2018 by 2 Comments
After two months in our apartment we feel settled, and are increasingly appreciating the environment around us. Tāmaki Mākaurau is a city of fifty volcanoes, nestled between two harbours. The rooftop deck of our apartment building offers amazing 36o degree views of volcanoes, harbours and islands. Tanya has captured views of some of the […]
Closer to home…
May 18, 2018 by 2 Comments
Closer to home… The rooftop provides other interesting views… …and then there are the birds, of course, announcing themselves from steeples and other high perches To our surprise, the most obtrusive birds on our rooftop are not the expected urban pigeons and mynahs, but our loud friends from the paddocks at Awhitu- the gurgling magpies and screeching spur-winged […]
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