Waitangi Day to Tiritiri Matangi

Waitangi Day signalled the beginning of this week. I have previously written about Waitangi Day and do not intend to add more at this time. Today it was also the beginning of the Chinese New Year which is the year of the monkey. Coincidentally it is also the 75^th anniversary of the inception of the Royal New Zealand Navy. To top it off it is also 30 years since women were admitted into the RNZN.

This is the second Monday in a row when the people of Auckland had a public holiday, this time it was shared with the whole nation. The family decided to make a visit to Sky Tower the first activity of the day. Two cars set off and we easily parked in the multi-storey which had access to Sky Tower. The accent up the tower is very quick but quite gentle. Irene and I slowly circled the first observation deck while the family were quickly up a deck. In the distance we saw ships approaching the harbour. Eventually the large one turned out to be the HMNZS Canterbury and we watched as it fired off a 17 gun salute. Across at Devonport  the frigate HMNZS Te Mana birthed at the base reciprocated with an 11-gun salute. 

 We also watched people having an outdoor walk around the tower and inevitably there were the jumpers. I did not have the same success as in previous year.

Another feature we spotted was a pink cycle path which turned out to be the Auckland Pink Cycleway. It was opened on the 3^rd December last year. (The day we arrived.)

By the time we got to the café Ian and the girls had gone off to ‘Jump’. Sally decided to take us to Federal Delicatessen. It is a restaurant that I am told was established by a New Zealand Master Chef. It is very hard to describe but there is a long counter and you can see the food being cooked. There is no limit to the amount of coffee that they pour and pie is part of the deal. We were asked which pie we did not want and we turned down the pumpkin pie (my digestion does not accept it). A wooden platter is bought up. On it were good portions of cheese cake, banoffee and meringue.

The other thing about the restaurant is that it is not possible to book. I am told that ‘One Direction’ failed to get a meal there.

As we sat I was aware of a booming sound. Sally said that there was music playing in the restaurant. The booming got louder and it was apparent that something was happening outside. I dashed out to find that a Chinese New Year parade had just gone passed. They stopped just along from the restaurant and did a dragon dance.

On the way home we stopped at Spotlight. I enjoy looking at the art materials. The shop is something like our Hobby Craft.

I did a chair repair the next day. I had accidently bought some very strong wood glue and I hope that the repair will be permanent.

However the significance of the day was that it was Shrove Tuesday. This is the day when Irene and I celebrate or engagement. After pancake dinner we went down to St Heliers and sat on a bench in the cooler air by the sea. We did shopping on the way home.

Today was the day when Sally chose to celebrate her child-minders birthday. It was well planned. Sally came home early and hid her car on a nearby street. Then it was time to spring the surprise. There was chocolate cake.

Later still Sally broke out the bubbly and more pancakes added to our anniversary celebration.

The Tiritiri Matangi Adventure

Thursday was a significant day. Thank you Joni and Fiona for your Christmas present contribution. Early in the morning we set off for the Island of Tiritiri Matangi. This is one of the island from which pests, generally introduced by European settlers, have been removed. Biosecurity is tight and all bags must be closed and confirmed to be free of rats, mice, possums and other rodents. There must be no ants. Many of New Zealand’s birds are either flightless or live on the ground. Until the Europeans arrived they had no predators. Many have now been wiped out and many are endangered species. Earlier there was a theory that if a species was endangered then the process of making the extinct should be accelerated. The kiwi has been protected by moving them to such conservation islands.

The journey to the island is by ferry from Auckland. It also picked up a group at Gulf Harbour. After one and a quarter hours the ferry docks on the island, discharges its passengers and then leaves after the crew has given a strict warning that it will return and depart at 3.30 pm and that getting off the island would then be very expensive.

Ferry Building 'Early' in the morning

A ferry alongside a liner

Leaving the ferry at Tiritiri Matangi

Before leaving the wharf a volunteer repeats the bio-security warning and explains about the facilities on the island. Then we set off. Irene and I led the pack to the nearest toilet, which was basically a hole in the ground with a seat. Having been told there was blue penguin a few steps on we moved forward in time to see and photograph one. Then the pack arrived less stealthily and the penguin headed for the water, never to be seen again that day.

Blue Penguin

We went back to the wharf and headed up Wattle Track. This started as a wide, concrete roadway which became a dirt road. The track was off this, though bush. Photography of birds is difficult at best and here they mostly in the dark bush with light shining into the camera. However, my first shot was of a morepork. It looks like an owl. After that I was able to take a photograph of a saddle back. Then we came to the stitchbird, closely followed by a large, colourful pigeon. Next I was pleased to get a photograph of tui which had just taken off.

Morepork

Saddleback

Stitchbird

Pigeon

We plodded on to the visitors' centre which was near to the light house. I was surprised to see so many building. For a charge and with permission it is possible to stay overnight.

Tui taking off

I was very pleased with my shot of a tui taking off. The bird man did not appreciate the photographic merit.

Lighthouse near the visitor centre

At the visitors' centre there were tables for picnicking. Then we went into the centre and were given our complimentary tea and coffee before looking in the gift shop.

Next we made our way out of the back of the centre to find the takahē family. These are endangered and even more so since a family of four, on another island, were accidentally shot in a cull of pukekos.

Being aware of the time we made our way back down wharf road, but getting back early we made our way passed, the now empty penguin roost, down Hobbs Beach Track. Many of the visitors had made their way to the beach and one or two were enjoying a swim. Irene enjoyed a paddle and then it was a matter of going back to wait for the ferry.

We sat with the ‘Blue Top Walkers’. They were having their monthly walk. In the UK we would call them ramblers.

Back in Auckland we passed the time finding and eating food while we waited for rush hour to end before catching the bus to St Heliers where Sally met us to save us the haul up the hill to home.