Kia Ora! Hello from Aotearoa (New Zealand!)

This blog is a long one, primarily because the questions you ask are so mature and require such detailed answers! We love them so keep it up! We will update you on our travels with photographs and videos in the upcoming week. Keep a look out for the postman too! There should be another postcard headed your way soon! :)


1. Foods: For the most part, food here is similar to home (chicken, steaks, broccoli, fish & chips (French fries), and potatoes.  Something unique in New Zealand is a mince pie, which is like a chicken pot pie, but with meat and cheese. Desserts have been the best part: Pavlova, steamed pudding, and Hokey Pokey Ice cream, which has bits of honeycomb in it!

We did try possum  pie the other day....neither of us enjoyed it very much!


 

2. Animals: So far we have seen cats, cows, deer, llamas, goats, sheep (lots of sheep!), dogs, possums (only dead ones), the Kiwi bird, a colourful rainbow lorikeet, chickens, emus, fur seals, and thars (similar to goats).


 

3. Mountains: There are approximately 88 mountains over 1000 feet in New Zealand. The highest mountain is Mount Cook at 12,316 ft, which is locally known as Aoraki. Because of New Zealand’s position on the earth, there are six volcanic zones that formed many of the mountains on the islands. Mount Ngauruhoe, for example, is a second volcanic cone/mountain of the Tongariro Mountain Zone. Lord of the Rings fans know Mount Ngauruhoe as Mt. Doom.

On the southern island, there is a mountain chain called the Southern Alps. Maoris believe that the Southern Alps (Te Tiritiri o Te Moana) were formed by Aoraki (Mt Cook) and his three brothers: Rakiora, Rakirua, and Rarakiroa. These brothers were the sons of the sky father (Rakanui) and Earth Mother (Papatuanuku). The four brothers decided to come down from the sky to visit their mother on a magical Waka (Canoe). After their visit, they tried to return home, but their Waka tipped over on its side. When the Waka hit the water, the brothers turned to stone! The Maoris believe that the south island is the tipped Waka and the Southern Alps are the brothers trapped in stone forever.  

 

4. Age: People in New Zealand can live a pretty long time. Some grandparents here have lived to be over 100 years old! When they reach their 100th birthday, the Queen of England writes a personal letter to them and gives them a congratulations certificate! Otherwise, most people are expected to live to about 80 years old.

 

5. Clothes: People in New Zealand dress very similar to us in the USA. Girls wear blue jeans, skirts, and dresses. Boys mostly wear blue jeans or shorts. When in Auckland, where 1/3 of the population lives, we saw lots of men/women in business suits. They do use rubber boots (called Gum Boots) and rain slickers for the wet weather and the water. We’re not entirely sure yet, but it seems that all school children wear uniforms here.

 

6. Recent Active Volcano: The most recent volcanic eruption was in 2007. Mt. Ruapehu is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It has a major eruption about every 50 years with several minor ones in between. Scientists believe this volcano has been active for about 250,000 years!

Aside from Ruapehu, the world’s most dangerous volcano is located in New Zealand and is called Lake Taupo! According to weather records kept by the ancient Chinese and the Romans, Lake Taupo erupts about every 2000 years, with its last eruption in 186 AD. Scientists believe that the Lake Taupo eruption in 186 AD was 50 times greater than the Mt. St. Helen’s eruption!

We’ve also learned that the capital city of New Zealand (Wellington) will eventually sink to the bottom of the sea since the land it sits on is remnants from volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago.

 

7. When can we Skype: Andrew and I will speak with Ms. Beth this weekend and try to arrange a date and time sometime very soon. Have your questions ready!