Rusty's Great Adventures: Road to Auckland

Today we traveled from Rotorua to Auckland. Before we left town we visited the Ohinemutu (O-hi-knee-moo-too) Village of the Maori Te Arawa people. Shiloh served as our guide and shared some history about his people but more importantly told us about the significance of Te Papaiouru Marae (village center). Even though we approached the center from the back, after Shiloh went over some the Maori words/phrases, we were taken around to the front before we could enter. That was so we as manuhiri (guests - visitors) would not disrespect the ancestors by entering with our backs to the Tama Te Kapua (meeting house) where they symbolically reside.

Tama Te Kapua

As a group of visitors, we were received more as a visiting family/tribe and therefore had to have a Chief to accept and participate in the welcoming ceremony. I served as Chief for the group. Shiloh and his cousin performed the mihi whakatau (official welcome speech in their native language complete with a song).

After their welcoming, as Chief I had to give a speech accepting the welcome on behalf of the group and then we sang "God Bless America" as our song.

The next part of the ceremony was doing the official personal greeting known as hongi. The hongi involves placing your left hand on the other person's shoulder, shaking right hands while leaning in to press noses twice and taking a deep breath on the second press to share air with the other person. What an experience!

After this welcome the others were invited up to do the hongi then we were allowed to roam the village center as "family".

The building were ornately decorated with carvings that told about historical moments and ancestors.

Thanks to Patsy for being my photographer (wink wink nod nod) :-)

St. Faith church located in the village center.

After this wonderful adventure we got on the bus and headed for Auckland. Enroute we stopped in the small town of Tirau (Maori for "place of many cabbage trees"). The town is unique in that they use corrugated iron to fashion sculpture style buildings and statues. It gives the town a festive feel.

The visitor center is shaped like a sheep and a dog.

Some of the statues/signs.

The drive through the country side was beautiful with the green pastures and rolling hills. This is mainly dairy territory and we could see some huge dairy herds. NZ's major export is dairy products mainly to China and other Southeast Asia countries.

A horse farm. Would almost think you were in Lexington area.

We arrived in Auckland around 3:30 so I had a little time to roam around before dinner.

It is a very modern city with skyscrapers and of course the tower. One of the local activities is to do a jump off the tower free falling while attached to guide cables and hoping they stop you before you reach bottom. No I am NOT going to do it!