The digital is real, I just added the Orca because this is the line they travel down. My daughter, wife, and I were strolling on the Waikawa coastline one afternoon when we all spotted a pod of Orca doing their thing not 2kms off the tide line. Of course I missed the shot because the camera was at home (not anymore, now that we have seen with our own eyes!).
I use this shot as a benchmark to the passing of my mother-in-law the late Beryl. Ada. Mackie. Pukehou Hill lay down when Beryl lay down.Beryl was a queen in her own right, as local folk will nod to. Anyway, this was a weekend like no other! Absolute mayhem from the hills to the ocean, damage and chaos was everywhere. Newspaper reports stated flood patterns not seen since 30 years! The interesting thing about this photo was a scholar chap from down Otago university was sent up this way to research Pukehou Hill, and the question in moot was: "where did all of the soil go to when Pukehou fell like she did?" His findings were quite interesting; his theory is that: " the soils were totally washed away because there was so much rainfall that weekend near everything was awash.! " There was no damage to fencelines, nor soils along any of the fenclines along the bottom of the hills. I am familiar with this hill as I also worked on this Deer Farm with Rodney Lind, and lived in both farm houses at the foothills, she's a beautiful view from the top skyline by the way! It was here that I bumped into the scholar from Otago one day, we started chatting, and these are the resulting pics. This hill is also a historical site in terms of way back in the Mäori war times when Te Rauparaha and his people lived all through the district. The hill is known as "Ihaia's Leap" or, "The hill of Dedication" where local körero (talk), states a member of the Muaupoko tribe (Ihaia), was found up a tree as Ngati Raukawa people were travelling through that area. They gave him the option to jump; and if he survived...he may leave, yet, if he died...most unlucky in terms of the practices that were in place way back then! Thus; Ihaia survived; and as local talk would have it...this is one line of how the Muaupoko tribes numbers rose again through Ihaia who has direct lineage to the whänau Taueki resident throughout Levin. I do not wish to get into the politics of the actual matters here. This is just an overview of how the story has evolved locally, from whence I came, and no malice is intended throughout this text.
Absolutely Mate! We were there with me ole mate Kev and Päora on the GALILEO! Unforgettable, what can I say...Primo Kev me ole mate.
Waikawa Whitebaiters. If you're not local...get in line or meet your maker! (same if you don't know what your doing!), such is the culture of a purist. That's Kevin Clout up front row.
The local boys out in the fields. One of our most favourite farmers to work for was this man Denis Monk up the Reikorangi foothills. Always a pleasure working for a "Real-Kiwi" such as Denis. Thats uncle Phil Ransfield on the decking, Boof Page in the drivers seat, (I took a breather to take the shot!).
Kaihoe (Rowing Team), for Waitangi escort 1990.
75 ft long from Taurapa (Figurehead_Front) to Tauihu (Stern piece_Rear)
54 Rowers (Kaihoe)
1100 Litres in ballast
Kurahaupö is a Waaka Wairua, that is; a "Spiritual Canoe", unlike the "Waaka Taaua" (War Canoe). She also had no ties to the original treaty of Waitangi processes that are still in dispute today, I am pleased to say.
Tribes akin to Kurahaupö Wäka: Te Aupouri/Te Rarawa (Far North Tribes_My link onboard), the latter being the name of one of our meeting houses; Kurahaupö. Ngati Apa (Wanganui). Rangitane (Dannevirke, Manawatu). Muaupoko (Horowhenua). Ngati Kuia (Who were originally settled in Ohau region, and later migrated to Blenheim). This was the core representation who trained diligently in preparation for the Waitangi escort out in the big blue sea among many waaka including Navy ships that escorted the Queen to the Waaka for the journey in to shore.
An amazing experience was had by all Waaka (Canoe) who attended the 1990 Queens escort.
Plenty of room for a barbie down here mate...straight from a dive and straight onto the barbie...Literally hard to beat!
I love Graphics, and Digitals. I can't draw for nix...but I can "photchop" in Photoshop! To "Pukana" is to "Challenge"... something we all do when we wake each and every morning to face lifes' challenges. The trick to life is in the "how" we face the Pukana! Winston Peters says it best when he said: "There are different levels of clarity for each and every one of us" Whew! Thats a classic if ever I heard one! Beat that one-liner ''ya all. Moral of the story is simple enough though..."Work smarter - Not harder".
There will be a book published in the near future (2008/09) titled: "Whitebaiters never lie" published by Anita Peters & Murray Hedwig. I had the pleasure to meet these two people who have put 3 years research into their book due out soon at Waikawa river one early evening. We discussed culture, tips, sustainability (the latter I hope is in the book). I think it will be a very interesting book for those of us who are in this game for the pure passion alone! (Not many - If any!). Anita and Murray travelled from the deep South to the North to compile this book, and were heading North after Waikawa beach, Kapiti Coast. Can anyone tell us how far North in the North Island whitebait are caught in rivers please? This was my question to Anita & Murray on their visit day, but no one can actually say just yet. I have heard of "Wellsford" north of Whangarei, but not confirmed. Please leave a comment if anyone could enlighten us.
Now that my daughter has got the bug, my whitebaiting years will never be the same again! She has very good spotting techniques I must say. Thats James esquire riding the trap.