Day 58 - Waitangi

Saturday, November 30th, 2013

Here is the view of Matauwhi Bay from Hiwi's deck this morning.

We spent most of the morning chatting, drinking coffee and discussing our options of how and where to spend our last 6 days in New Zealand. We're reluctant to think about leaving!

Just before noon we headed down to the Russell wharf to catch the passenger ferry across the bay to Pahia. Pahia is the tourist centre of the Bay of Islands, mainly due to its location adjacent to the historic Waitangi site.  In 1840, the Maori chiefs and representatives of the British crown first signed a treaty basically making New Zealand a British colony. The treaty was translated into Maori and copies were sent around the country for chiefs of all tribes, who were not present, to sign. Unfortunately, more than half of those copies disappeared and it was discovered that the Maori version was significantly different from the English version. Maori chiefs, who were originally supportive and signed the document, later spoke out against, and fought the British. 

The Waitangi historic site is about 164 hectares located on a point in the Bay of Islands. The house where the British representative lived has been refurbished and still stands facing a mast flying 3 flags - British, New Zealand and the First Nations of New Zealand flag created in 1835 which the Maoris used on their trading  ships.

Tina and I walked the 2 km from the wharf in Pahia to Waitangi where we spent a very pleasant afternoon wandering the paths on the property on our own, and then with a guide, as well as attending a Maori cultural show in the marae (meeting house) below.

We thoroughly enjoyed the performance of waiata (singing), poi, stick games, Maori weaponry and, of course, the Haka.

   

Pictured here is a 135 meter long waka (war canoe) used annually on Waitagi Day. It requires 150 paddlers, can sail exceptionally fast and is entered in the Guinness Book of World Records.

                        

We shut down the place at 5 pm and, after taking a photo of the view of the Bay of Islands from Waitangi, walked back to Pahia before catching the ferry back to Russell. How nice it was to arrive back at Hiwi's to the aroma of a wonderful dinner prepared and awaiting our attention following a late happy hour!