First Week in NZ

                    "It is true, you can't live here by chance.  You have to do and be, not simply watch or even                           

                              describe.  This is the city of action, the world headquarters of the verb"

                                                                                                  anonymous quote from a park

                                                                                                  bench in Wellington

This seems to be the underlying theme of New Zealand.   We can't drive anywhere here without feeling like we have to get out of the car and check something out or climb on something every 15 minutes.  We drove about 200 miles to Wellington, the capital city, so I could finalize my credentials with MCNZ (medical council).  It took us 6 hours on the way down and a day and a half to get back.  Driving here I would imagine would be like driving the old route 66 in the US in the 50s where a trip is more about the voyage than the destination.  We drove through dozens of small quaint towns and being that there are no interstates so you actually have do go through the downtown.  They all had an incredible amount of character as well as a playground that would rival many American theme parks.  

There are ziplines, trampolines, slacklines, incredible climbing and sliding structures and torture devices like these.  It is obvious that they don't seek consult with American risk management.

You are really free to hurt yourself any number of ways over here and you can't blame anyone for it.  Then of course there is the beautiful countryside and coastline.  One minute it is if you are traveling the pacific coast highway in CA, then you are in a tropical rainforest, then you are in a redwood forest, then past an alpine lake, then through the English countryside, then through what could pass for an old west mining town all in the space of half an hour.  Truly stunning scenery and the South Island is considered the more scenic one.   

Wellington is a great city, right on the harbor at the southern tip of the North Island.  It is a vibrant city with so many people out riding bikes or running along the harbor, little coffee shops and cafes everywhere and very clean.  New Zealanders obviously have great respect for their country and each other.  There is literally no litter anywhere here.  You could travel hours on the roads here and not come across a single soda can.  The kids here are outside "The Beehive" or the New Zealand Capital building.  

The government in New Zealand is a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy and like England its head of state is Queen Elizabeth II.  The head of government is the prime minister, currently John Key of the National Party.  Here he is described as politically a centrist but would likely be viewed in the US as a tree hugging liberal

Ouside Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand.  Quite informative and really an excellent place if you are ever in Wellington.  The New Zealand people and government also seem to have great respect for and make an effort to acknowledge the history of the Maori people who likely arrived in New Zealand by wooden canoe from other distant Pacific islands maybe as far as from Hawaii in the 1300s.   In many places the Maori language is written along with English and they teach some Maori to all the school children.   It is really a second national language.

You First!

We stopped at the town of Wanganui on the way back to New Plymouth and spent the night at a Holiday Park, essentially a campground with some motel style accomodations.   Very clean, warm showers,  kitchen in our unit and exceedingly acceptable for us as well as affordable.  We were lucky to be in town for the weekly farmers market which was a lot of fun.  Many delicious little Kiwi treats, and great produce.  We have been very pleased with the food here.  Incredibly fresh everything with little preservatives or additives.  They do not refrigerate eggs in the large grocery stores as they are literally right from the hen.  Jenny with her culinary bravery picked up some meat pies which were very delicious.  

As we drove back from Wellington the magnificent Mt Taranaki arose in the distance.  We will be living at the base of this volcano in a little town of Oakura which happens to be right on the beach about 15 minutes from New Plymouth.  We will be moving there in the next day or two and the kids are heading to school tomorrow.  They seem excited and not concerned though I am sure they are a little nervous.  I start work this week and confess to being a little nervous myself.

The summit of Mt Paritutu, a 700 ft nob of lava right on the coast overlooking New Plymouth

Running down to Back Beach with the Sugar Loaf nature preserve in the background.  All the sand on the west coast of the North Island is black as it originates from volcanic rock.  I am sure it will be a bit hot in the summer months.

Life is great down under.  We are happy and healthy and hope you all are as well.

Love to all