I was brought up hearing tales from Maori mythology. Everyone in New Zealand knows of Maui who fished our country from the sea. One particular beast from the legends has always fascinated me, and that’s the taniwha. The taniwha (pronounced tan-e-fa) is a Maori...
Rugby season is in full swing in New Zealand, and I couldn’t be happier. Some call it our national sport. I call it inspiration since big, burly rugby players make great romance heroes. Our All Blacks are the current world champions. Women play rugby these days, and...
Queenstown is a tourist destination in the South Island of New Zealand. It’s the place where adventure awaits, and from here you can go jet boating on the Shotover River, skiing during the winter, fishing, do helicopter rides, go bungy jumping, ride on the Skyline...
Here is a recipe for a very traditional New Zealand dessert. Pavlova is especially popular at Christmas time and our family celebrations always include a pavlova for dessert. Picture a huge meringue that has a soft marshmallow like texture in the center and a crisp...
Titles are hard things to pin down—at least I find them difficult, and I can ponder and panic about finding the perfect title for a book for weeks. Titles also don’t begin with an O, but bear with me. Cinderella is my favorite fairy tale. I guess it’s the romantic in...
Although I enjoy traveling and exploring the world, New Zealand is my home country. Here are some facts about New Zealand: 1. We are an island country – North Island, South Island and Stewart Island – in the south western Pacific Ocean. 2. Our capital is Wellington....
Middlemarch is a small country town in the South Island of New Zealand. A few years ago I happened to catch a special interest story on our local news. The town of Middlemarch had a shortage of women of marriageable age. In order to attract more women, the town...
Any music lover out there has probably heard of Lorde, the young New Zealand singer who is doing phenomenally well on the world stage. Since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are currently visiting New Zealand, my choice of which of Lorde’s songs to feature was easy....
The kiwi is New Zealand’s national bird. In fact, the New Zealand people are also known as kiwis. Here are some facts about the kiwi: 1. The kiwi is a flightless bird. 2. Kiwis live in pairs and mate for life. 3. They are mostly nocturnal and live in burrows. 4. They...
