Sunday 3rd March children’s day in NZ.

We went along the coast exploring today.

The first bay we came to was called Opotike. The beach here is so long it goes on for ever. White sand and surf waves and islands out to sea. Elephant Island and the active volcano White Island are the largest.

I seemed to be hooked on seeing views of the White Island. As we went along you could see the white steam rising from it. I took my long lens and got the best view I could of the volcano. As we travelled further east it appeared to be more visible.

 

The road follows the coast closely but the cliffs get steeper and the road winds higher up the cliff sides with steep drops to the sea. In one part the road had fallen into the sea and only one lane was left. It had traffic lights there for taking turns to go along. That finished me off we decided to turn back and retrace our steps. No point in being frightened was there!

The beaches along this coast are totally untouched some with gravel and rocks, and always loads of driftwood. There are a few Maori carvings and portals looking out to the sea. It is Maori owned land mostly.

In Whakatane we walked along the sea front. We met a couple from Shetlands and spoke to them for ages. They have been here about the same time as us and mostly travelled the same route. It a wonder we haven’t met them before.

I took loads of photos of the statue of the girl in the bay on the rocks. She was the daughter of a 12century Maori chief. They landed here for the first time in their canoe and the men went ashore leaving the women in the canoe. It started to drift out to sea so the girl grabbed an oar and paddled the boat to shore saving the women’s lives. This plaque is to celebrate her bravery.

Unveiled at the Whakatāne Heads in 1965 as a memorial to the wife of Sir William Sullivan. This bronze statue atop Turuturu Rock lies at the mouth of the Whakatāne River and commemorates the bravery of Wairaka and the daughter of Toroa, captain-navigator of the Mataatua waka.

When the Mataatua waka first arrived at Whakatāne after making a perilous voyage from Ngāti Awa’s ancestral homeland of Hawaiki 600 years ago, the men left the women alone in the canoe while they went ashore. When the canoe started to drift back to sea, Wairaka (defying the tapu that forbade women to handle a canoe) seized the paddle and brought the waka back to shore crying, ‘Kia Whakatane au i ahau’ – I will act the part of a man.’  This cry is the origin of the town’s name.

Again I seemed mesmerised by her and took many different views of her from different angles, until a seagull sat on her head 😂😂

So my camera work today was of White Island and the Maori girls statue

I am missing you all very much. We have now booked all motels up until we leave Auckland. So that’s done now.

Take care everyone, my family and friends xxxx