Waitangi Weekend in Pohangina Valley

Yesterday (Thursday) was our national day here in New Zealand, Waitangi Day.  While the Prime Minister and other assorted government officials were celebrating at Waitangi, we joined the caravan club for a long weekend at the pretty Pohangina School Reserve.  Sited in the old school grounds, and surrounded by lovely old trees, this is a favourite place of ours to stay.

We had a stop on the drive up at Ashurst – and I just had to walk up to the Viewing Platform, to get a good view of the power generating windmills on the Tararua Ranges.  With an altitude of over 1500 mts above sea level, and lying perpendicular to the prevailing winds, this range of hills has long been known for its wind.  The resulting flow produces some of the biggest wind speeds in the country.

Just a small part of the Tararua Wind Farm

Walking up the track to the viewing platform through the bush  I came across these two kereru sitting on top of the fence.  And managed to snap a photo before they realised I was there and flew away.  The kereru or New Zealand pigeon is the only pigeon endemic to the New Zealand mainland.

From here it wasn’t too far to our destination, Pohangina School Reserve.  We arrived in time for lunch, and during the afternoon the others soon rolled in.

All lined up

The day was hot and sunny so we all gathered under the shady trees for 4zees.  What could be nicer than that?

4zees under the shady trees

Some of us decided to fire up the BBQs for our evening meal, it was pork chops for us, and salad.  Then in the early evening we all gathered outside again.  Owen and Helen are the rally family in charge this weekend, and had the idea that perhaps some of us might like to give a short 5 minute talk about aspects of our lives, which others may not necessarily know.  Geoff talked about how he and his parents happened to make the decision to emigrate to New Zealand, they were advised that New Zealand was a tropical country and they would not need winter clothes of coats – not true, of course, while others talked about their early working lives.  I spoke about my life when I ran a dairy (corner shop) with my former husband and two young children.  Getting up at 5.00am, and closing the shop doors at 9.00pm, it was a very busy and rather stressful time in my life.

Owen and Helen have plenty of plans for us, so we are assured of an interesting weekend away.  Hope the weather stays nice and sunny, but of course, we will just have to take what we get.