myamazingtrip

Hey there!
After a long and an approximately boring flight from Sweden I finally reached my destination, New Zeeland. I arrived at the largest airport in New Zealand in New Zealand`s biggest city, Auckland. Curiously, if I heard correctly, this city is not the capital of New Zealand. Instead there is a city called Wellington which is the capital.

Anyway, I took a cab from the airport which drove me instantly to my beautiful hotel, which is centrally located in the heart of Auckland City. And guess what, the hotel is a 5 star masterpiece. There is everything you can wish for at this hotel!

However, today is a special day here in New Zealand. To be precise, it`s the Waitangi day which is also known as the National day. Waitangi is namely the birthplace of the nation. Honestly, I didn’t have a single clue about this day, and that is, to say, embarrassing. And you may wonder now, how did he then find out that this day is today? Uh, well…yesterday I were hanging out with some friends that I newly have met, and from nowhere when we sat in a milk bar, they started to talk about this day. And I listened carefully of course. Anyway, now I know it and got everything under control.

Oh yeah, you may don`t know so much about this day so for that reason you just have to search for the facts by yourself... Hah! No, I just am kidding. I will of course give you some info about the Waitangi day. First of all, it all started with that New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at the Treaty house in 1840, which was located on the huge park-like Treaty grounds. The house was and is like a home for the Maoris and one of the largest remaining Maori war canoes. However, in year 1840, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed what is New Zealand`s founding document. Nevertheless, this day has been a public holiday since 1974! By the way, this is a yearly public holiday every February 6th. Alright, this was a briefly info about the Waitangi day I could offer you guys! Personally it is a holiday for me but for the Maoris it means a lot.

I heard that this day is unique and at this day will every sense get “alerted”. I can`t wait for the festival, I’m just so excited!!! This day will taking place at the city’s birthplace, Okahu Bay Domain. There is some history behind this place which is that the Maori chiefs were just here in 1841 when they invited Governor Hobson to create the city. My new pals did also told me that it will be plenty of surprises at this Bay. And I was like, “please tell me”. And if I heard right, there would be sailing yachts, a flotilla of waka (war canoe) and contemporary boats which arrives at Okahu Bay to a traditional Maori haka powhiri (welcome ceremony). I did also notice something called the Ngatokimatawhaorua (which I thought was a joke first time I heard it, which wasn’t), but it’s one of the world`s largest Maori ceremonial waka (war canoe). There would be an enormous wooden vessel floating on the bay with paddlers and passengers. And things I don`t see in everyday life.

Finally after the naval salute and the speeches from Maori and Pakeha (European) dignitaries, it`s time for the three-day festival, where everything can happen. There is going to be musical entertainment by talented local artists, cultural performances, Maori games and sports competitions, dance and last but not least some food. One of my mates told me that, when you taste the food here at this day you would understand the word enjoy in “enjoy your meal”. There are different dishes at this day like different kinds of fish, fried bread, curry chicken, roasted lamb and beef and something called chopsuey and more. About the games, is Ki-O-Rahi an example for a Maori game.

I told my fellows that this day got both differences and similarities with the Swedish national day. I said that in Sweden we do most of these things as well but in other ways. Like we both eat food at the national day but not the same food as each other. Such as in Sweden you eat something called “smörgåstårta” if I remember right. Trust me, it didn’t sound that well when I tried to translate it into English. But I managed to explain it to them that it’s a cake made of sandwiches with seafood, salad and mayo on it, and that it could be stuffed with other eatable things as well. My friends seemed to understand the dish actually, but after a long time. So after all, there are not so big differences in relation to the activities, except for the three-day festival. And about the clothes I told them that in Sweden’s national day they wear typical dresses which look like those clothes the Swedish population wore for 100-200 years ago, which is of needle work. But here they wear a kilt-like skirt which is made of several plants and got a Hawaii and Indian style. The differences on the clothes may depend on the weather and the climate or how “old” the culture is.

However, this day will without any doubt give me a sampling of their culture and history and an insight into what it means to be a New Zealander and a whole lot of fun! And today I will of course party and dance till I drop!

See ya!

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/media/features/events/events