Kia ora Katalina and Paul. My North Island travel story began when I registered for Te Kaituhi Maori writers hui in Gisborne. It’s a beautiful journey of discovery up the east coast of the Nth Island, going down the west.
I left home 9 Sept 2025, aiming for Wellington via Nelson. Had 3 wks flat-sitting in Brisbane and seeing my son every day. Back in NZ collected my car from friends, drove to Gisborne. A week on marae, then up to Coromandel and Ngatea exploring family origins; to Whangarei to my silversmith friend who was my guide to Hunderwasser and iwi art gallery and Dargaville museum; four days in Paihia visiting Te Tiriti o Waitangi grounds (two days needed, superb, unmissable) and Russell’s Pompallier printery and French cafe (both unmissable.) Then to Karikari Lodge via Kerikeri, where George the caravan was a haven and jumping off spot for Cape Reinga, Spirits Bay and the peninsula – steeped in spirituality, culturally, historically and naturally significant. Then turning west,
Next stops Rawene, Tane Mahuta and the kauri forests, Matakohe, Auckland, Waitomo which I know well from my 20+ yrs with Dept of Conservation, Sth Island. Then to Taranaki maunga, Wellington, ferry across Cook Strait and home to Barrytown/Punakaiki, Te Tai o Poutini. I am fortunate in being retired now, able to do this journey. Aotearoa’s landscapes are diverse, it is young in its human history, still settling into its skin. People like you two are taonga. Nga mihi.
Arohanui, Deborah
I left home 9 Sept 2025, aiming for Wellington via Nelson. Had 3 wks flat-sitting in Brisbane and seeing my son every day. Back in NZ collected my car from friends, drove to Gisborne. A week on marae, then up to Coromandel and Ngatea exploring family origins; to Whangarei to my silversmith friend who was my guide to Hunderwasser and iwi art gallery and Dargaville museum; four days in Paihia visiting Te Tiriti o Waitangi grounds (two days needed, superb, unmissable) and Russell’s Pompallier printery and French cafe (both unmissable.) Then to Karikari Lodge via Kerikeri, where George the caravan was a haven and jumping off spot for Cape Reinga, Spirits Bay and the peninsula – steeped in spirituality, culturally, historically and naturally significant. Then turning west,
Next stops Rawene, Tane Mahuta and the kauri forests, Matakohe, Auckland, Waitomo which I know well from my 20+ yrs with Dept of Conservation, Sth Island. Then to Taranaki maunga, Wellington, ferry across Cook Strait and home to Barrytown/Punakaiki, Te Tai o Poutini. I am fortunate in being retired now, able to do this journey. Aotearoa’s landscapes are diverse, it is young in its human history, still settling into its skin. People like you two are taonga. Nga mihi.
Arohanui, Deborah
