Outdoors in Otaki

Thursday morning 12th found us driving on SH1 with neighbour Wendy to Otaki, which is a small town in the farming region about 15 minutes north of Waikanae.

The main aim of the expedition (for the girls) was to collect driftwood for the Poo Corner Garden, as Otaki Beach is rich in such treasures owing to the mouth of the nearby Otaki River, which we’d previous;y visited early in January (See my earlier blogs ‘Otaki Forks’ and ‘Back to Otaki Town’). I went along to visit the Farmlands Co-op, in search of availability and pricing options for bulk dog food, chicken feed, and possible materials for the proposed construction of a proper veggie garden and plant nursery. 

I drew a blank as far as the construction materials were concerned, and then returned to the deserted beach where I’d left the treasure hunters. As luck usually has it, the girls found more driftwood than the wagon could carry, even with the loading seats all in the ‘down’ position.

A fairly large proportion of the Otaki population is of Maori culture, and the town is a centre for Maori learning with a large educational college, and street benches, shops and beach decor all reflect the Maori culture.

(Above): Large driftwood tree trunks which have been carved in much detail, much as the plentiful tattoos stand (informally) along the vegetated part of the coastline at Otaki Beach.  

 

(Above): Wendy and Jeanette rest up a bit for some water after their scavenging expedition. In the background are typical little homes, which, as building structures are probably not worth that much, whilst the ground on which they are located are each worth a king’s ransom. The blue one on the right displays a large “Everton” sign in the front window. No guessing as to their favourite sport!

As Wendy was previously a resident in this town, she served as a guide for a tour around the residential and commercial areas of Otaki. We visited a large nursery (‘Strik’) owned by a Dutch family, supplying supermarkets and other seedling, flower and plant retailers.

I was surprised (and pleased) to discover a paint factory in River Road, Enviro Paints, who manufacture and distribute a comprehensive range of paints throughout New Zealand. Their website is professionally balanced and is very informative. Well done, guys.

As one enters the town from the south on SH1, one of the very first places you encounter is a quaint old restaurant/cafe. River Cottage Cafe (which was formerly known as ‘Brown Sugar’) is now run by Rebecca and Taaki Te Momo. Fully licensed, this café  offers evening meals as well as daytime. There is a great outdoor garden in which to relax when the weather is fine. We stopped of for a coffee around their cosy fireplace, and then strolled around their outdoor section afterwards.

(Above): Part of the outdoor dining area in the River Cottage Cafe grounds. Being a Thursday morning, with cold-ish weather which was rather ‘iffy’, there were no takers to sit outside, most preferring the comfort from the log fire indoors.

(Above): The interior of a garage/shed which has been converted into an informal coffee ‘lounge’, with a play area for the kiddies.

(Above): Jeanette and Wendy discuss the effectively of a mirror window in the coffee lounge.

Ex-Weta

Brynn stepped out of the dining-room onto the outside paving, and immediately let out a shrill shriek:

“Weta!”

The dogs, who were in close pursuit, immediately investigated the source of her concern, gave the ground a quick sniff, and then proceeded with their doggy business. The creature was quite evidently slightly squished, and quite evidently deceased. An ex-weta, if you will.

Brynn’s Ex-Weta: A Wellington Tree Weta.

Weta are from the families Anostostomatidae and Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. The English word is borrowed from the Maori language, where singular and plural have the same form. Weta are nocturnal and live in a variety of habitats including: pasture, shrub, forests, and caves. Weta excavate holes under stones, rotting logs, or in trees. They sometimes occupy pre-formed burrows. Many of the giant species now only survive on protected land, and many are endangered. The Giant Weta is the heaviest insect on earth.

Weta can bite with powerful mandibles. Tree weta bites are painful but not particularly common. Weta can inflict painful scratches, with the potential of infection, but their defence displays consist of looking large and spiky, and they will retreat if given a chance. Tree Weta arc their hind legs into the air in warning to foes, and then strike downwards, so the spines could scratch the eyes of a predator. Pegs or ridges at the base of the abdomen are struck by a patch of fine pegs at the base (inner surface) of the legs and this action makes a distinctive sound. These actions are also used in defence of a gallery by competing males.

Above: © Dr Paddy Ryan – Mahoenui Giant Weta

The Mahoenui Giant Weta, long considered extinct on the mainland, was rediscovered in a patch of King Country gorse in 1962. The Department of Conservation staff have established a new population of these on Mahurangi Island, off the Coromandel coast. Two hundred have been transferred there, and after four years they are showing signs of breeding.

Weta are mainly herbivorous in the wild, but are also known to eat insects. There are more than 70 species of Weta in New Zealand, 16 of which are at risk. They are one of the oldest species with fossils dating back to the Triassic period.

© Steve Reekie.

Waitangi Day : 6 February

“If you and your family are going away on a short little holiday, then you need not go to school on Friday. But if you are not going away, then it is school as usual.”

This is the way that Brynn explained her educational commitments for Friday 7th.

Waitangi is 230km North of the City of Auckland, just under 3 hours by road, according to Google Earth.

Why? Because tomorrow Thursday 6 February is Waitangi Day, an official public holiday, leaving a long weekend for those wanting to take Friday off. It commemorates the first signing of New Zealand’s founding document – the Treaty at Waitangi in 1840. It is a public holiday in New Zealand on February 6 each year.

Māori cultural performances, speeches from Māori and Pakeha (European) dignitaries, and a naval salute are all part of the official Waitangi Day celebrations at Waitangi, New Zealand. Waitangi Day is also a time when people publicly debate on issues such as national identity and multiculturalism.

Various activities and events are held at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. It’s a day that bubbles with ceremonies, music, sports and fun. Waitangi Day itself has always involved performances and parades from the Royal New Zealand Navy and local cultural groups.

The Waitangi Treaty Grounds are home to 2 national icons:

• 'Te Whare Runanga', a carved Māori meeting house that commemorates the first signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Carvings in the house were produced by the local Ngapuhi tribe, but the building is represents all Māori tribes.
• Ngatokimatawhaorua, one of the largest Māori waka (war canoe). It can seat a crew of up to 80 paddlers and 55 passengers

Ngatokimatawhaorua at the Treaty Grounds. (Photo: © Jock Phillips)

Ngātokimatawhaorua is housed at the Treaty Grounds, Waitangi. It is named after the original Ngātokimatawhaorua, which was re-adzed from Kupe’s canoe, the Matawhaorua.