new zeland locations

Trevor Anderson

Motuti Marae:
The Motuti Marae is located off the Hokianga Harbour in North Land, New Zealand. A marae is a sacred place that serves both religious and social purposes. The Catholic faith is still a large part of the culture and traditions of Maori in Hokianga, and the Motuti Marae experience is based on the "whanu" or family, which is the heart of Mouti and New Zealand Maori culture. Visitors are welcomed to become part of the whanu and learn traditional weaving, poi-making, "waiata" (songs), "haka" (traditional dance), "kemu" (stick games) and bone and wood carving. Carving is an important cultural tradition for Maori, as the carvings represent different ancestors and relate the history and stories of the Hokianga Harbour.
Known to by the Maori as Te Kohanga, the Hokianga Harbour is a long estuarine drowned valley located on the west coast in the northwest of the North Land. It extends 70 kilometers inland from the Tasman Sea, and has a low population, meaning there are plenty of open beaches. The climate is generally mild throughout the entire year, allowing gardens to grow well in this area, and the estuary consists of a tidal river system lined with mangroves, small harbourside towns and family farms.

Whakatane:
In the Eastern Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand, right next to the Pacific Ocean, sits the town of Whakatane. Its warm waters are world-famous for deep sea fishing and marine sports. Here, one can relax on the sands of Ohope Beach, take a White Island live volcano tour, go whale watching and dolphin swimming, walk or run the Nga Tapuwae O Toi bush track, and watch rare sea birds at Ohiwa Harbour. There is plenty to do at Whakatane.
Whakatane is the gateway to White Island, which is one of the world's few accessible live volcanoes. Located 48 kilometers off the coast of Whakatane makes White Island easily accessible by boat or helicopter, and one could even take a scenic flight around the island. The acid lake in the island's depths offers an unforgettable insight into nature's primal creativity. White Island is also a great scuba diving destination as it provides a unique dive experience where one can explore the underwater steam vents or commune with large schools of fish.

http://www.motuti.co.nz/

new zealand

Bobby Winters

 

One of New Zealand’s famous landmarks is Cape Reinga.  Cape Reinga is found on the northwestern most tip of the Aupouri Peninsula, which is located on North Island.  The nearest town is Kaitaia, about 100 km away.  Vehicles can reach Cape Reinga via the 90 Mile Beach or by a gravel road that runs to a nearby parking lot.  This New Zealand landmark is a popular tourist attraction, with 120,000 visitors each year, a number that continues to grow.  At the top of the cape is a lighthouse which was built in 1941.  The lighthouse uses a 50 watt flashing beacon which signals to ships every 12 seconds. 

Reinga is a Maori word, meaning “underworld.”  Cape Reinga is an important place in Maori culture.  This is the place where the spirits of the dead Maori people pass through on their journey to the underworld.  At the top of the cape there is a Pohutukawa tree which is believed to be 800 years old.  The Maori spirits jump off this tree as they go to the underworld, also known as Hawaiiki, their homeland.

One of the interesting aspects of Cape Reinga is its relationship to the sea.  The cape marks the separation between the Pacific ocean to the east and the Tasman Sea to the west.  Here, the two seas collide, creating very rough conditions visible from Cape Reinga.  The meeting of the seas is called a tidal race, and it can be viewed from the top of the cape, 945 feet above the sea. 

Cape Reinga is home to some very rare plants, as well as some unique animals.  One such animal is the pupuharakeke, or the flax snail.  This snail lives in flax clumps on the cape.  However, snails are endangered by predation from rats and pigs.  Local authorities are trying to protect the snails through planting more flax  as well as poisoning the rats.  Cape Reinga is also the starting point for a journey that godwits, a coastal bird, make to their breeding grounds in the Arctic Circle to the north.  Every March, the godwits gather at the cape before they make the 12,000 km trip.

Located 48 km west of Hamilton and 2 hours south of Auckland is Raglan, a small beachside town known for its amazing surf.  Raglan is found on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand, with a population of about 3,500 people.  The Maori call the town Whaingaroa which means “the long pursuit,” although today the town is named after Fitzroy Somerset, the 1^st Lord Raglan.  The economy of Raglan was based on flax and timber exports.  Flax is a perennial plant which is made useful by its long leaf fibers.  Today the economy relies on farming, dairy, tourism, and arts.  Arts and music are both very important to Raglan.  Raglan holds the annual Raglan Festival of Arts as well as the International Soundsplash Eco Reggae Festival to celebrate its interest in arts and music.

To the southwest is Mt. Karioi.  Mt. Karioi is an ancient volcano which now lies extinct.  It offers spectacular views from the top that many people share as they hike to the top.  Mt. Karioi is 2,372 feet tall, featuring plant life from the base to the summit as well as a broad, serrated peak.  Mt. Karioi affects the weather of Raglan, as it shelters the town from the prevailing winds.  Raglan is also noted for its black sand beaches.

Here are links:

            www.ecotours.co.nz/wildlife/northland/reinga.htm 

            www.raglan.net.nz/

These are some pictures:

            http://www.transit.govt.nz/projects/capereinga/gallery/photos/full/20070709-CapeReinga-March2007-566.jpg

            http://www.nzinfo.com/activities/fullers_boi/photos/cape_reinga.jpg

            http://www.cloudsofheaven.org/images/CapeReingaMedium.jpg

            http://www.newzealandtouristguides.com/NZ%20Images/Cape%20Reinga.jpg

            http://www.totaltravel.co.nz/guide/photos/waikato/raglan-beach.jpg

            http://www.hiddenvalleyraglan.com/img/gallery/raglan_township.JPG

            hhttp://www.arocha.org/nz-en/3709-DSY/version/default/part/ImageData/data/Mt%20Karioi.JPG?language=default

           

 

 

Danger signs go up after dog dies

nzherald.co.nz - Environment
October 8, 2009 12:00 PM
by newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz

Danger signs go up after dog dies

A formal health warning has been issued at Thames and Coromandel beaches after a dog poisoning confirmed that sea slug toxins had spread further than Auckland's coastline.The Thames Coromandel District Council placed warning signs...

Art Trembanis

CSHEL

Univ of Delaware

Dr. Trembanis,

I have attached my blog as a word document since my pictures would not show up in an e-mail. If you would like me to put the blog just in an e-mail please let me know and I can do that and resend it.

Thanks so much,

Rachel Schnaitman

Rachel Schnaitman
University of Delaware
Wildlife Conservation
Ag Ambassador
Wildlife Society Vice-President
Sigma Alpha Sorority Secretary
res@udel.edu

New Zealand Blog

Dr. Trembanis,
I have attached the blog in a word document because the pictures will not copy to a email. If you want it as an email I will be happy to send it that way! Thank you!

Addison Reid

BBC - Last Chance to See Blog: The fattest and largest parrot

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/lastchancetosee/2009/01/the-fattest-and-largest-parrot.html

Art Trembanis
CSHEL
Univ of Delaware

Taupo council calls on Govt to stop 1080

nzherald.co.nz - Environment
October 1, 2009 4:43 PM
by newsfeeds@nzherald.co.nz

Taupo council calls on Govt to stop 1080

Taupo District Council has called on the Government to stop aerial drops of 1080 poison used to kill possums, and to find a sustainable alternative."We need to stop the aerial bombardment by helicopters dumping 1080 indiscriminately...

Art Trembanis

CSHEL

Univ of Delaware