Bits and Bobs of NZ

McDonald's here carries the iconic NZ meat pies

Maori Television

Labour MP Trevor Mallard wants to see the extinct Moa wondering the hills of Wainuiomata

July 2, 2014 - It was a cold and windy day...

Looking out over Lyttelton Harbor from Sugarloaf Reserve , Port Hills

Brrrrr - BUT we made it to the top of the hill over looking Christchurch and the Pacific Ocean

After getting a break to get settled into our digs and grab some lunch at the uni, we headed out to the Port Hills for a short hike and an overview of our surroundings.  It was sunny (which in itself is always a gift in NZ winter), but a COLD Southerly was blowing STRONG gusts off of Antarctica and as we got further up our hike on the hill, it was hard to stand up straight.  The view of Christchurch, Lyttelton Harbor, and the Canterbury Plains with the Southern Alps in the distance were all beautiful despite the cold and wind.

TIP TOP!

Connor's first flat white.

Next we headed to the small town of Tai Tapu (along the way we could see the black snow clouds moving up the east coast) for the warmth of The Store and to get Tip Top ice cream (mmmmmmm Hokey Pokey!).

Snow clouds

Finally, we did a little shopping for odds and ends that we needed in Rollerston before heading back to the uni for dinner.  Not bad for a first day in the land of the long white (or dark grey) cloud.

July 2nd, 2014 - They're Here!

Cold weather is moving in, but all arrived safely!  Off for adventures to keep everyone awake until dinner time. - Meryl

Translate This!

Kia Ora.  You might consider us like oldies, but we are going to kick off our jandals, throw on our 

jumpers, grab our not-so-much-anymore anklebiters, and show you a really great time (as we would 

our cuz) through the wop-wops of Aotearoa.  We’ll even let you use our loo and serve you up some 

pav and a cuppa when you arrive.  Sweet As!

Study up on a wee bit of Kiwi slang, safe travels, and see ya soon mates.

-m&m&j&t : )

Anklebiter - toddler, small child


Aotearoa - Maori name for New Zealand meaning land of the long white cloud


Chips - deep fried slices of potato but much thicker than a French fry


Cuppa - cup of tea, as in cuppa tea


Cuz - cousin, family


G'day - universal kiwi greeting, also spelled gidday


Good on ya, mate! - congratulations, well done, proud of someone


Good as gold - feeling good, not a problem, yes
 


Jandal - thongs, sandals,flip-flops

Jumper - sweater, jersey


Kia Ora – Maori general informal greeting of hello

L&P - Fizzy soda water


Lift - elevator


Lolly - candy


Loo - bathroom, toilet


Mate - friend

Oldies - parents


Pav - pavlova, dessert usually topped with kiwifruit and cream


Rattle your dags - hurry up, get moving

Ring - to telephone somebody, as in "I'll give you a ring"


Rubbish - garbage, trash


Serviette - paper napkin


Ta - thanks


Take-aways - food to be taken away and eaten, fast food outlet
 

Togs - swimsuit, bathing costume 


Wop-wops - situated off the beaten track, out of the way location


Poi-E, A Kiwi Classic

In New Zealand, the Maori culture is deeply integrated within the Kiwi culture.  Throughout New Zealand, you will find both English and Maori signs, and even the government run television here has a dedicated station just for Maori programming.  While there have been struggles between the Pakeha (non-Maori) and Maori (just as in the United States between whites and other ethnic groups such as Native Americans, and African Americans), and the Maori struggle to help their youth retain their culture, the Kiwis seem to have done a decent job of trying to be inclusive and promote the Maori culture throughout the country.
Poi-E is a classic Kiwi song that became a hit in the early 1980s. What is significant about this song, is that it is viewed as part of what helped kick start renewed interest for the Maori youth in their roots. Poi balls were originally used by men and women alike to strengthen wrist muscles for battle.  Today they are used by girls and women in traditional Maori performance dances.
-Meryl

Before

Here we are all together (almost) for our before picture in Florida.  

Just a few more weeks and we will be official Kiwis for the summer!

Christchurch in the New York Times

C1 Water Dispenser

We have seen much change over the past six years in Christchurch. It is amazing to see the city continuing to transform itself - After Earthquakes, a Creative Rebirth in Christchurch