Memorial Cross

Whanganui, NZ, August 2013: For a small country, in population at least- New Zealand has many war memorials. This striking memorial cross near Wanganui commemorates the death of many local country men (both pakeha and Maori)- who fought and lost their lives needlessly in the 1914-1918 war- 18,000 miles away…

Qadisha

Lebanon, November 2005: Prior to traveling to the Middle East I had read William Dalrymple’s 1997 book “From the Holy Mountain: A Journey in the Shadow of Byzantium. It was in these pages that I’d first heard about the Qadisha valley. The mystery of the place intrigued me, so I was determined to visit it […]

The Watchtower of the Plains

Manaia, South Taranaki, NZ, August 2012: The Manaia Redoubt- constructed around 1880 on the site of the former pā Te Takahe- was the response by the local armed constabulary to the passive resistance of the Parihaka chief, Te Whiti, and his followers. The original wooden watchtower (35 feet high)- blown down in a storm and […]

Desert Tracks

Mother Earth

At the fringe of this neglected community garden area, there was a strange new-age prayer circle thing. I didn’t find it peaceful, inspirational, meditative or any of those positive attributes- just plain weird, kitsch, humorous, tacky and kind of creepy. This “amphitheatre”, inspired by something called the Vortrovia Vision, is apparently called an Amphenium. Wow, […]

Arctocephalus

Wellington, New Zealand, today: Had a close encounter with this gang of young local males today. They were your usual hairy, lazy, good for nothing bachelors. One barked at me when I got too close. By strange coincidence, an elderly man was attacked in New Plymouth today (400km Nth West) by a young male seal- […]

A Mansion Has Many Rooms

According to local legend, this mansion house was transported to it’s current hilltop location in four sections, sometime in the 1980’s. Allegedly, the farmer who owned the house and property, had intended to renovate the mansion, making it the family home. With spectacular 360 views of the surrounding countryside, it’s obvious as to why. Apparently though, soon […]

Turuturu Mokai

“Turuturu Mokai” is one of the oldest fortifications built by Maori in New Zealand and was fought over during the Taranaki Land Wars of the 1860s. Situated just outside the South Taranaki town of Hawera, it was once a former public reserve and popular playground. However, in recent years the Ngati Tupaia controlled reserve has […]

Carpe Diem

December 2013: This former high school closed in 2007, and despite more than $85,000 spent on security since, fed-up residents have arranged patrols after systematic vandalism and theft. A poster in one of the classrooms ironically proclaims “seize the day”- yeah right… The New Zealand Government is currently trying to offload 52 closed schools. Doing […]