February 2, 2024 Tauranga, New Zealand Day 44 of 138

 Just another beautiful day in Tauranga, pronounced Ta wrong a. We are on a 3 hour excursion around this part of the island. The temperature is 76 degrees, humidity is good, and a strong ocean breeze. This area is known for Kiwis. They have gold ones, that you can eat the skin and fruit. We don't see these in the United States because they don't ship well. We were able to taste them, and they are delicious. We past Kiwi fields, and they look like grapes growing from a distance. We learned that Kiwi was brought to New Zealand by China, where they are called Chinese Gooseberries. New Zealanders didn't like the name, and thought the green ones looked like their Kiwi bird, hence the Kiwi name.

The Kiwi is picked by hand. They bring in labor from other islands, and if someone is too short, the have shoes with platforms to help them reach the fruit. At the Community center they had a stuffed Kiwi that had to come home with me for my soon to be new Grandson Drew, shh don't tell him. They also had Kiwi liquor, candies, chocolate with Kiwi pieces, Kiwi pins, and most anything else Kiwi.

This group performed for us a short Maori dance program. If you notice their eyes, they did this to intimidate their enemies, the tongue is also used for the same thing. As you can see they really get into it. They were very kind to let me take a picture with them.

Above is some Maori art, it looks like a totem pole to me. The wood fence was used to surround a Maori settlement. If an enemy came to fight them, they could only enter one at a time, which assisted in the defense of their compound. The picture above is another Maori place to celebrate. To enter, you go to the gate and wait to be invited in. When a group enters, someone inside will throw something down, and if you come in peace, you pick it up and offer it to the one in charge. This area can be reserved for gatherings, but if there is a funeral, it takes priority, other gatherings are canceled to allow the funeral the space.

The picture on the left is a part of a Maori carving they use the abalone shells for eyes. If you see the top of the carving has the tongue hanging out of the mouth. It seemed to work for them. The Maori's are being honored by the country.

The Maori's would build on the top of hills for defense. If you look at the very top you will see areas are terraced. They gave the top to the Chief and his family, next level was child bearing women and children, then the older women, next came the livestock, followed by their gardens, next was the older men, and last was the young men who were the protectors. All this was surrounded by the wooden stakes with a small opening.

I am hoping you can read this. This sign was at the entrance to the port. "When you are on our site, you're on our team. We look out for each other. We look after each other and we keep each other safe." It seems that all the New Zealanders we have met live by this rule. It is refreshing.

In the afternoon, Mike went for a hike up a Mount. It was a three mile round trip walk about. Here is the pictures he took.

Our ship is the one in front. We had another ship come into port early this morning. The second picture shows you how they have beach and ocean on both sides of the area. 

He thought the tree above looked like it should have Hobbits living underneath it.

Tonight is date night, so it was just the two of us. I am wearing my new dress. I think I am going to love the bamboo material, it is so soft, and light. Win Win.