Hawke's Bay - Out in the Wopwops
Hawke's Bay photo galleryA butt-numbing bus ride westwards brought Wingnut and me to Napier on Monday evening where we were picked up by my auntie and brought to their house. It's becoming less rural as the years go by as land owners realise the value of subdividing, but their house is still in a fairly peaceful area.
The weather was still overcast the next day, which was a nice break from the scorching sun of the Waikato region. The laptops made an appearance and during the course of our visit, we introduced the family to, among others, lolcats, Code Monkey by Jonathan Coulton and French music I'd started listening to in Paris (Vanessa Paradis, Zazie). We also may just have murdered any chance that my uncle would be able to listen to his newly acquired James Blunt album. In return, my cousin updated me on NZ acts, e.g., Atlas (rock) and Fat Freddys Drop (dub/reggae).
In the afternoon, we took the dog for a run on the untouched beach where developers now want to build 1,000 houses. Unbelievable.
Edit: The protest organiser sent out a mail on 20 Oct '08 with good news: the plans have been withdrawn! Although the developer seems to indicate in his letter to the council that he might try again, so they'll be keeping alert.
Waitangi Day, NZ's national day, was on Wednesday but we mostly wound up mooching as I was feeling a bit under the weather (the usual thing is to go out and enjoy a free concert and stuff). Mooching is good. My auntie and uncle also took us for a drive up Te Mata Peak which has beautiful views of Napier, Hastings and the surrounding area. Hanggliders use it as a jumping off point. Rather them than me.
Before dropping us at the aiport yesterday afternoon, my uncle took us for a quick tour of Napier. The centre was flattened in the 1931 earthquake and rebuilt in a beautiful art deco style unique to NZ. The gardens are also kept in a 1930's style. Right outside the centre is a lot of industrial terrain, which is a bit odd, but there you go.
Wingnut and me are now in Dunedin. It's the first time I've ever been this far south.