A news item caught my attention last night. On 31 July 2006 the Reserve Bank of New Zealand introduced some new coins. The 5c coin was made obselete, and they resized the 10, 20 and 50 cent pieces. I forget how many million coins they put into circulation at this...
Volcanoes have always fascinated me, mainly because Auckland, the part of New Zealand where I’ve lived for most of my life, is built on and around a field of volcanoes. The volcanoes in Auckland are dormant rather than extinct but scientists say it is more likely...
Barbie turns fifty this year, and New Zealand fashion designer, Karen Walker was asked to design some outfits for Barbie's special celebration. To date around seventy designers have designed special outfits for Barbie's exotic shape. Karen Walker downsized some of her...
The Bluff oyster season has recently opened in New Zealand, and oyster fans are clamoring for a taste of the new season's oysters. Bluff is a small coastal town at the bottom of the South Island. It is this town that the oysters take their name from, but they are also...
I've mentioned the cabbage tree in several of my books. It's a native New Zealand tree and part of the lily family, the largest one in fact. The official scientific name is Cordyline australis and the Maori name is Tî râkau or Tî kôuka. It has a single trunk and the...
Growing up in the New Zealand countryside you wouldn’t think we’d socialize much, but as a child I remember going to fetes, socials and parties on a regular basis. The invitations always came along with the instructions for the ladies to bring a plate. I remember...
I thought I'd post a few photos of my recent trip to Tongariro National Park. It's a beautiful spot in both summer and winter. This is a shot of me and the Overlander trainer at National Park township. It's a very small place! Formed in 1887, Tongariro National Park...
I saw this ad on TV the other day. It's from my favorite New Zealand store, Whitcoulls, and it made me laugh because this name problem has been me for the last three weeks. Today, I sat down and toughed it out, choosing names in much the way this couple did. In fact,...
Last month, a record number of New Zealanders left the country to move to Australia in the hope of finding a new and better life. On average around 700 people leave New Zealand each week. We had elections this month. My husband and I haven't been happy with the way...
