Kiwibloke » Kiwi Stuff

Daily English Show #9 – Opunake To Palmerston North (Video)

GregR — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:01:52 +0000

The Daily English Show, an occasional video series, has hit the road traveling through New Zealand in a United Campervan. Today they travel through Opunake Beach Carnival, Patea and the crossroads of Horowhenua, the town of Bulls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSM-9e1iFKE

The Daily English Show website can be found here.

Hayley Westenra – World in Union Te Reo (Video)

GregR — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 11:20:34 +0000

Hayley Westenra sings the Official Rugby World Cup 2011 Theme Song held in New Zealand in Maori. ITV United Kingdom uses it for their introduction to the coverage of the World Cup 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO4-YpEsqnQ

This is the one minute version used by ITV for their coverage. It is in both Maori and English.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpSZ1OLQeKY

This is the ITV Coverage 1 minute intro and graphics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGBYpzwlAo4

English rugby team visits devastated Christchurch (Video)

GregR — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:17:14 +0000

Members of the England World Cup squad meet Mayor Bob Parker and tour earthquake-damaged Christchurch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBq03cKjjt8

Daily English Show #6 – Muriwai To Raglan (Video)

GregR — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 07:44:14 +0000

The Daily English Show, an occasional video series, has hit the road traveling through New Zealand in a United Campervan. Today another in another kiwi tradition, a boat launching ceremony, followed by a wander through Raglan on the west cost of the North Island.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWqGWygQ7NI

The Daily English Show website can be found here.

Daily English Show #4 – Opononi To Muriwai (Video)

GregR — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:37:45 +0000

The Daily English Show, an occasional video series, has hit the road traveling through New Zealand in a United Campervan. Today they tour of a macadamia nut farm, visited a puzzle museum and a kauri tree called Tāne Mahuta – the god of the forest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4XGq7buNYw

The Daily English Show website can be found here.

Kiwi Submarine Breaks Water (Video)

GregR — Fri, 20 May 2011 20:56:26 +0000

NZ’s first yacht-submarine has been unveiled at the Boat Show by inventor Hugh Fulton. The Q Sub costs around US$1 million and takes the title as the fastest small submarine in the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GisGA52QLk8

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Daily English Show #2 – Paihia Bay of Islands (Video)

GregR — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:38:19 +0000

The Daily English Show, an occasional video series, has hit the road traveling through New Zealand in a United Campervan. Today they travel from Pahia up to Cape Reinga and down to Taputaputa Bay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZrylT7LuyY

The Daily English Show website can be found here.

The Hobbit Movie Take One (Video)

GregR — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:59:52 +0000

Sir Peter Jackson has released the first in what is a series of behind the scenes video logs of the making of “The Hobbit” movie, the fourth in the Lord of the Rings series of movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJjyxeOwaY0

The 10-minute piece takes a walk through of Hobbiton otherwise known as the B Stage in Miramar Wellington, as well as the various departments that go into making a huge movie. Included in this is Sir Ian Mckellen and Martin Freeman (The Office). Of interest is the number of people personally invested in the success of the movie.

The Journey is the reward….

Rhys Darby Unplugged Interview (Video)

GregR — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 21:53:15 +0000

Murray Hewitt AKA Rhys Darby is interviewed for the “Shit people want to hear”. Rhys talks about comedy, colour, whales and changing your name among many other things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxw1P5kbaAE

Rhys is one of New Zealand’s most successful comic actor with roles opposite Phillip Seymore Hoffman, Jim Carey and Dave Foley to name a few. His particular style is perhaps personified as an ultimate kiwi bloke, the blokes bloke. For example, his particular brand of humor involves a complete misunderstanding of human nature which of course doesn’t stop him from offering his version of the world.

Perhaps Rhys is an anti Jerry Seinfeld. Whereas Jerry makes observations based elements of truth (such as Rental Car Reservations), Murray makes observations based on pure falsehoods (such as Murray Band Manager).

Nonetheless the comic stylings of Rhys Darby makes him an original. Of course that is what we look for in great humor.

Rugby West Coast Style (Video)

GregR — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:40:12 +0000

After being left out of any Rugby World Cup games West Coasters have organised their own match that will have one thing over the kiwi mainstream this year. The ground can only be reached by helicopter and is knee deep in snow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO-VGlrWK6A

Glacier Country Tourism (AKA West Coast) has started a competition to face off with the reigning Glacier Country Cup champions the, Fox Glacier Cunning Foxes, on their own home turf (snow drift).

All you need to do is upload a video of your rugby team playing and you can win the trip to the West Coast of New Zealand.

You can enter at http://www.facebook.com/glaciercountrynz

Balloons Over Waikato Festival (Video)

GregR — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 13:24:27 +0000

This weekend (April 2 and 3) the annual Balloons over Waikato Festival has been hosted in Hamilton and environs. The festival is one of the largest balloon spectacle in New Zealand with over 30 hot air balloons populating the skies of Hamilton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUCoGruegP4

The Balloons over Waikato Trust is a non-profit organisation and has been successfully running this event for the previous 11 years. The Festival is a major iconic event for the general public on the annual calendar in both Hamilton and the Waikato Region. Three times voted Best Waikato Event by the public of Hamilton and winner of the prestigeous Business Excellence Award for the Not-for-Profit sector, this event is must do in the Waikato events calander. The Event runs for five days in late March, early April at Innes Common, Hamilton Lake and The University of Waikato.

More information here.

Valentine’s Love message to Kim Kardashian from Air New Zealand’s Rico

GregR — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:58:22 +0000

Air New Zealand’s controversial mascot Rico is up to his tricks again. This time he has made this Valentine’s love message for Kim Kardashian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OBkz9MrL1A

Rico, a creation of Jim Henson Company (of muppet fame), has both his fans and his detractors. Of dubious latin origin, Rico mixes up his “kiwi-as-a-second-language” shtick with obvious sexual innuendo. However for all his unfriends, he has thousands of facebook fans who find his style of antics compelling.

World Cup Fan Bus Ready To Go (Video)

GregR — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:00:46 +0000

The Rugby World Cup is going to bring out plenty of fanatics, but four men from Whangarei have got a jump on the competition. With still 233 days until kick off the foursome is ready to go having realised their dream, bringing their dream bus to life. The bus, painted black, of course, took two years to get ready and cost close to $40,000.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1fvU4MjvGQ

Air NZ’s Rico Australia Day message

GregR — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:19:14 +0000

Air New Zealand Mascot Rico, offers Australian’s a happy Australia Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07xTZfPwFM4

Paul Weller Talks About A Mate (Video)

GregR — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 22:20:59 +0000

Starting with the mod/punk-rock band ’The Jam’ (1976–1982), and The Style Council (1983–1989), Paul Weller has made a important and lasting contribution to the contemporary music scene. Paul is in Auckland playing at the Powerhouse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iYL883iWSk

Paul’s latest album is “Wake up the Nation” was released in April 2010. It is the first of Weller’s albums since 1982 to feature contributions from Bruce Foxton, formerly of The Jam, someone he had not spoken to in 20 years. Foxton’s wife Pat died in 2009 from cancer and then on 5 May 2009, Foxton attended the funeral of Paul Weller’s father John, who was also instrumental in The Jam’s success.

Air New Zealand Pushs Video Envelope (Video)

GregR — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:24:15 +0000

Never let it be said that Air New Zealand doesn’t push the envelope when it comes to creatively using You Tube highlight it’s wares. Laced with plenty of sexual innuendo, a latin “english-as-a-second-language” puppet humorously mangles his verbs and nouns……(Warning Adult Content).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZLBY3lYtsQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIUvssYKfzY

Air New Zealand Goes All Blacks (Video)

GregR — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:27:10 +0000

Air New Zealand today revealed the new livery design for the first aircraft in its new domestic jet fleet.

The new all black livery was unveiled in Sydney today by Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe, in recognition of the airline’s long time support of the nation’s favourite game.

“In celebration of Air New Zealand’s long running support of rugby in New Zealand, our first new A320 will arrive in January sporting a sleek black livery complete with silver fern motif and Koru on its tail,” says Rob Fyfe.

Air New Zealand’s sponsorship of the New Zealand Rugby Football union, including the All Blacks, enters its seventeenth year in 2011.

The first aircraft will be the only one in the fleet featuring the new all black livery.

“Air New Zealand is crazy about rugby and from February this distinctive new plane will be operating on our main domestic New Zealand routes, says Mr Fyfe.

The new domestic fleet of A320 aircraft, combined with Air New Zealand’s new long-haul fleet of Boeing 777-300 aircraft, which begin arriving from the end of this year, will ensure the airline continues to have one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1XubCSbP6g

Cycling Project Keeping Rolling Down the Road

GregR — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 03:40:57 +0000

New Zealand’s 18 great cycle trails move to the next phase as the final 5 trails are approved for funding.

The final five trails are Bay of Islands to Hokianga, Hauraki Plains, Te Ara Ahi / Pathway of Fire, Old Ghost Road and Roxburgh Gorge. The New Zealand government has approved a total of $45.6 million for the series of rides.

“All 18 trails on the New Zealand Cycle Trail project have now had their funding confirmed. This means all trails are either under construction or ready to enter the construction phase.” says NZ PM John Keys.

Construction has already begun on five of the trails – the Bay of Islands to Hokianga Cycle Trail, Waikato River Trail, Central North Island Rail Trail, Te Ara Ahi, Ruapehu – Whanganui Nga Ara Tuhono and St James cycle trail.

Two major sections of the Ruapehu – Whanganui Nga Ara Tuhono trail were officially launched by Mr Key in July and are expected to be completed before the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The finished trail will traverse two iconic national parks and will take four to six days to cycle, with varying levels of difficulty.

The St James trail in the South Island, which traverses the St James mountain range and the greater part of the upper Waiau Valley is set to open in November this year. The 50km cycle trail is accessible through Hanmer Springs, near Christchurch.

Sections of the Waikato River Trail are also currently open for public use. All 18 trails will be completed by the summer of 2012/2013 and about 2000km will be ready to ride by the 2011 RWC.

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Air New Zealand – Crazy About Rugby – Safety Video

GregR — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:55:53 +0000

As we gear up for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, trust Air New Zealand to make over the in-flight safety video and here it is. Included are All Black players and coaches, commentators, fans and sundry others. Pay careful attention for the dig(s) at the Aussies……

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f1awn9vBZE

And here is the “making of” video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCTl4JDG-4A

The music is “Why does love do this to me” from The Exponents from April 1985 (Mushroom Records).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9F8nh3MvTc

The Electric Car Song (Video)

GregR — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:28:38 +0000

Most of us at CityTV are greens so we are happy when an anthem comes along that expresses our interest in Electric Vehicles.

They Might Be Giants and the song is “Electric Car. Features vocals by Robin Goldwasser. From TMBGs new DVD/CD set Here Comes Science release by Disney Records (after the jump).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BPU5mKipNo

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The Symphony of Busy Happiness

GregR — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:14:48 +0000

One of the characteristics of summer time in New Zealand is the celebration of food and wine with all things outdoors. The festival is the weapon of choice. This is where hundreds, if not thousands of kiwis are bused, biked or boated in to a wine growing area, such as Waiheke, Blenheim, The Bay of Plenty and Martinborough, and a plied with an over-indulgence of life. Cleo Pascal calls it the symphony of busy happiness.

Food and Wine Festivals in New Zealand have been a staple of the landscape for the last 20 years, the Toast Martinborough is in it’s 21st year and sells over 10,000 tickets for each festival. Although they vary in size and style, they all accommodate the key ingredients of sun, music, food and wine. Each one emphasis one particular ingredient that makes the festival unique and compelling.

Although not unique to New Zealand, it is one of the Kiwi experiences that speaks to travelers:

The atmosphere is what the 1950s pretended to be. Outside, families are picnicking on the grassy slope, watching a cheerful jazz band playing old standards. Older kids are sledding down the grass on sheets of cardboard. Gingerbread cookies and lemonade are for sale. And the teens are flirting in a not-that-I-care-or-anything way.

Uploaded on Flickr by juliatenney

The Waiheke Island Olive Oil festival this year is on November 20th and 21st. The promoters characterize it as a mixture of Olive oils, jazz, food, wine and song. With 13 different Olive growers on the Island, it promises to be a palate watering experience.

Waiheke olive oils are recognised as some of the best in the world. Try the free tastings & buy at festival prices. The island’s olive harvest has high recognition from New Zealand awards to international acclaim.

Waiheke Island is in the middle of the Auckland Harbour, a 40 minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. It is the Sausalito of Auckland. An encave of weathly winegrowers, bankers and artists. There are 8000 residents but swell to over 50,000 during the summer.

The festival will be held at Rangihoua Estate Olive Grove - 1 Gordons Rd, Rocky Bay, 20th and 21st November 2010. Toast Martinborough will be held on the 21st 2010 in Martinborough in the Wairarapa Valley, north of Wellington.

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Tana Touts Tourism on Trip (Video)

GregR — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:12:57 +0000

Tana Umaga and Petra Bagust take a quick tour through Christchurch in preparation for the 2011 rugby world cup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEogdmYu2qI

NZ Maori take pride in history (Video)

GregR — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 10:39:24 +0000

New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa. In 1888-89, the ‘New Zealand Natives’ was the first time the team traveled overseas, and the rest is history…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3ZbyqAvlwg

Uploaded on Flickr by Catching Magic

Perky the Pukeko’s Flight of Freedom (Video)

GregR — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:38:30 +0000

Parakao resident Perky the Pukeko won’t stay away. After befriending a local family one day, Perky decided that the home was his for the taking. Perky was then relocated courtesy of Fish and Game but that was not the end of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9zy5adlWu8

Uploaded on Flickr by cheetah100

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Gandhi has Friend on Salt March

GregR — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:03:50 +0000

The bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi was decorated today with a stuffed dog no doubt accompanying the icon on his path to the salt mines.

The statue was a gift from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in 2007, on behalf of the people of India, to the city of Wellington. The statue was the first of Mahatma Gandhi to be erected in New Zealand, it was made by noted Indian sculptor Gautam Pal.

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Hometown Wellington in HDR

Kiwi Bloke — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:04:43 +0000

This is an HDR picture of my hometown Wellington. The building on the left is 1 Willis St o oops Majestic Tower, 1 Boulcott St. It is taken from Frank Kitts Park (see MapI).

Range put me onto the technique of HDR Photography [How to] in his post.

Wellington Cityscape., originally uploaded by Peter Sundstrom.

Kiwi Gets to Remodel Eden (Geotagged)

GregR — Tue, 11 May 2010 13:29:30 +0000

Leading New Zealand sculptor Chris Booth has been invited to create a major UKÂ£12 million underground feature for England’s renowned Eden Project.

The Eden Project has commissioned the Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, artist to craft a 120-metre long, walk-through underground sculpture that is destined to carry a sustainability message from Down Under.

Rainbow Warrior sculpture - Matauri Bay

Still in the design phase, the sculpture will be created in passageways at the popular tourist destination gardens that opened in 2001 in an unused Cornish china-clay pit.

Billed as a “living theatre of plants and people”, Eden Project attracts more than a million visitors each year.

Booth will create what Eden Project directors call a “subterranean living sculpture” consisting of 12 chambers connected by 300m of passageways that will allow people to explore the world of fungi and lower plants, such as ferns, mosses, liverwort and algae.Â Thirty light-shafts beam natural light to the underground chambers 30m below the clay pit floor.

Booth says one of Eden’s goals is to educate visitors about sustainability and how much humans rely on plants for day-to-day necessities.Â However, there was no explanation of the importance of lower plants such as fungi, which recycled dead material and were vital to plant growth, or phytoplankton which produced half the world’s oxygen, he said.

“I wanted to take people back into the earth which is the provider of all these plants we use.”

You can learn more about the Eden Project here.

You can find Chris Booth’s website here.

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Kati Kati Ready for RWC Builds Giant Rugby Ball (Gtagged)

GregR — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:14:47 +0000

Katikati – a small New Zealand coastal town with a proud rugby history – has launched itself as a 2011 Rugby World Cup destination by erecting a bigger-than-life rugby ball as a tourist attraction.

The giant fibreglass ball – which is also designed to be a public noticeboard – appears on the townâ€™s â€˜front lawnâ€™ at Diggelmann Park. It is owned by local rugby enthusiast Rollo Dunlop.

Built for the 1987 Rugby World Cup by a rugby shop in nearby Rotorua, the ball once enjoyed the title of biggest rugby ball in the world, but lost its claim to fame when Tourism New Zealand built a pavilion in the form of a giant inflatable rugby ball for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in Paris.

Katikati Low Down

KatikatiÂ claims to be the first small New Zealand town to promote itself for the upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup and expects the giant rugby ball will put the town on the map for rugby visitors.

“Paeroa has its L&P bottle, Taupo has its trout and now we have one of the worldâ€™s largest rugby balls,” says local Rugby & Sports Club president Lester Gray.

The ball is mounted with a map on the rear, and a community notice board at ground level.

Gray said the idea came about when the Katikati Rugby Club was looking at ways of advertising its upcoming 130th celebration reunion in July 2010.

Katikati is best known for the many murals that adorn the townâ€™s main buildings.

The 44 murals, all created since 1991, depict Katikatiâ€™s history, people and events. Other examples of open air art including sculptures are on display in the small town.

Katikati is in the western Bay of Plenty, a region renowned for its warm climate and outdoor activities. The town is just 20 minutes north of Tauranga, about an hour from Rotorua and Hamilton, and two hours south of Auckland.

You can find more information on Kati Kati from Bay of Plenty Tourism.

Driving from Christchurch to Queenstown – Heart of NZ South Island

GregR — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:13:54 +0000

The most British of all New Zealand cities, the heart of Christchurch is Cathedral Square, the center of tourist activity and a must see for all visitors.

Hagley Park is an enormous open space just off the center of the city. It provides a central repository for joggers, picnickers, walkers and those looking for some solitude. The Avon River meanders through the park offering punters the ability to act out scenes from a Jane Austen novel.

We arrived late the previous evening, so we settled into the Quality Hotel on the aforementioned park across the road from the renowned Botanic Gardens. As the morning broke, we set out to look for coffee and to visit the city center before the crowds arrive. Christchurch is a major destination for the Japanese tourist buses and they disembark like Narita Airport at noon. When you arrive at Cathedral Square you get the idea that it caters for foreigners by the swath of Duty Free stores selling everything from stuffed Kiwi toys to Burberry, Chanel and Louis Vuitton.

We arrived New Years eve to the sounds and sights of council workers busy setting up for the evenings festivities. To the southern end of the square rose a concert stage circled by a wagon trail of mobile food trailers: fish and chips, hot dogs, popcorn you name it.

A permanent fixture in the square is Escarto Espresso Coffee. We quickly ordered soy latte and a flat white (For those who donâ€™t know a flat white refers to a drink drawn over a single shot. The milk is taken from the bottom of the jug which has a smaller denser bubble designed to draw out the flavor of the coffee. It is unique to down under) and settled into people watching under an old pohutakawa tree.

Still early in the morning, we had a mix of locals taking in their regular as well as a mix of tourists, mostly Western European.

Across from Escarto was the information center, which oddly enough housed a local Starbucks (which I call coffee you have when you are not having a coffee). New Zealand has a tourist information network called iSites and this one is called the Christchurch Isite. These information centers provide detailed information and concierge services for anyone who asks. They should be your first port of call in any town or city in New Zealand.

After an enjoyable sojourn in Christchurch, we made our way out through Riccarton, Sockburn and Hornsby to the main highway south and on to Geraldine on our way to Queenstown. The spectacular drive took us through Farlie and onto the twin lakes, Tekapo and Pukaki. New Zealand gets about 70% of itâ€™s power from Hydro Electricity, these two lakes are part of what is know as the Upper Waitaki project.

Lake Tekapo
photo credit: Neerav Bhatt

We stopped at Lake Pukaki (at picnic grounds of course) to make lunch and promptly ran into a Dutch Anthropologist making a documentary about New Zealand and itâ€™s people. An hour later the conversation had run its course and we exchanged details and headed on our way.

Queenstown is known as the outdoor experience capital of the world, and nothing exemplifies that experience more than AJ Hackett Bungy, the father of bungy jumping. Inspired by the Vanuatu ritual, Hackett developed a super-stretchy elastic bungee cord in the mid 1980s and demonstrated its use by throwing himself off the Eiffel Tower in Paris in 1987. So a trip to Queenstown usually starts with visiting the Kawarau Bridge approximately 10km to the east of the city near Arrowtown.

The first time I had bungy jumped was right here in 1996. Back then the operation was a simple building and a small viewing platform. Not so today, AJ Hackett Bungy is a huge tourist operation with a bar and cafe, gift shop, a movie theatre and tiered viewing facilities. Itâ€™s car park is full of campervans, tour buses and sundry who come to watch as the young and not so young throw themselves off the historical bridge.

Queenstownâ€™s attraction is that it is a year round destination. In the winter time it is close to three commercial ski fields, Coronet Peak, the Remarkables and Cardrona. In the summer time, it hosts numerous outdoor activities including my favorite hiking (known as tramping here).

We arrived in Queenstown in the midst of an international cricket match, India was playing New Zealand. This of course made for chaos with the traffic and Queenstownâ€™s narrow streets are crowded at the best of times. We ended up have to back track around to the north side of Queenstown through Speargrass Flats to Arthurs Point where we were staying. Arthurs Point sits as the bottom of the Coronet Peak Ski Resort.

Downtown has no shortage of restaurants and cafes soafter shedding our luggage, we headed there to check out the lake front. It was overcast and the wind came directly off the Lake Wakatipu cooling down the visitors. The town however did not disappoint. Playing on a stage in a local park was the legendary New Zealand rock/roots reggae band dDub. After enjoying the music for a while we headed over to the Bombay Palace feast on some reasonably priced Indian food.

In the city center you need to start at the local information center on the corner of Camp and Shotover Sts right in the heart of the city. If you are going hiking you need to check into the Department of Conservation (DOC) center which is located on Shotover St above the Outside Sports.

The more advanced walks require permits and require that you log your trip with them. The Queenstown region has many levels of track from easy day walks to the advanced 3 day Motatapu Track made famous because it crosses over Shania Twainâ€™s Queenstown retreat. We chose a track north of Arrowtown called the Big Hill Trail. A medium-high level track that climbs steeply into the back country over into Macetown.

Arrowtown, a former gold rush town, retains all the charm of a bygone era. The original town center has been maintained in its (largely) original feel (you wonâ€™t find MacDonalds here). We spend the day here wandering around the beautiful streets, the river and numerous parks then settled down to have lunch in the main town park with numerous families sitting in the mid afternoon sun.

In Queenstown it is difficult to even scratch the surface of what is possible in the middle of Middle Earth. We wandered up to the Coronet Ski field for the view of the Shotover Valley and drove down to watch the jet boat tours. But we are here to see the country, so taking the scenic route, we drove through the Cardrona Valley into Wanaka, another beautiful lake side town, then on into Haast Pass, the gateway to the West Coast, and where true to legend, the weather made a dramatic change for the worst.

Haast is a small settlement on the bottom of the West Coast of the South Island. This place is definitely not Kaikoura. It is named for Julius von Haast, a 19th century explorer who was also geologist for local government. It consists of a general store, a petrol station and the home of Otoko Mobile Espresso Trailer. Being hauled by a Series One Landrover, they have cornered the market for Whitebait and Coffee in the lower West Coast.

The West Coast of New Zealandâ€™s South Island and Nelson are a whole other story. The West Coast is perhaps the most raw New Zealand experience, being geologically separate from the rest of New Zealand, and the fabled Nelson Region, the area with the largest number of sunshine hours in Kiwiland. But that is another story.

Folden – 1/2 Ford 1/2 Holden

GregR — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:56:06 +0000

The Rock’s Drive show announcers, Robert Taylor and Jono Pryor were fed up with the ongoing battle between their listeners over who is mightier – Ford or Holden. Their solution? Create a car from scratch, taking the best bits from both camps. The Rock introduces, The Folden.

After 3 months, totalling over 800 man hours, involving 2 dozen or so businesses and upwards of 70 tradespeople, resulting in more than a handful of strained relationships, and an approximate spend of between $85,000-$95,000, it’s finally completed and available for you to bid on. The Folden is front half 1969 Ford Mustang, back half HQ Holden, the paint job is gun metal grey with orange racing stripes, Foose Coronet mag wheels and powered by a 302ci Ford engine.

Proceeds from the auction of The Folden will go to the NZ Mental Health Foundation for Out Of The Blue, an organisation set up to help combat depression in men.

You can find the trademe auction (while it exists) here.

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