Monday, February 18, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Oamara 10 Feb
Today we might see some Penguins. We are in a picturesque town on the West Coast, about 250 km south of Christchurch. We are staying at a nice victorian style B&B overlooking the town. There are some pool tables :). The host dresses up because he is a guide at the local museum.
South Island: Kaikoura Feb 7-8
On monday we went by boat to the South Island. The first town we drove to was Kaikoura, a small town on the east coast. The town is situated on a peninsula with a beautifull coastline. On several locations you can find seals along the coast. On Friday we went by boat to go whale watching. We were lucky and saw two whales.
Kaikoura is host to the Sperm whale. This whale is of a smaller type with a length of about 20m. The whales, sharks and seals are drawn to this place because there is an abundance of food here. Because the southernly and northerly currents meet here the food is "pumped" into the Kaikoura canyon. The continental shelve is broken up at kaikoura by a deep sea canyon close to the coast that has a maximum depth of 1600 m. 
Tectonically the Kaikoura region is very interesting. The region is very active because The Indian Australian Plate clashes with the Pacific plate here. The mountains close to Kaikoura are uplifted very rapidly. A few major faultlines run north of Kaikoura.
Wellington 6 Feb
Today we visited Te Papa Museum in Wellington. A Maori guide gave us a nice insight into the Maori views on the treaty with the maori tribes and the British Crown.
From Wikipedia:
The Treaty of Waitangi (Māori: Tiriti o Waitangi) is a treaty first signed on February 6, 1840, by representatives of the British Crown, and various Māori chiefs from the northern North Island of New Zealand. The Treaty established a British governor in New Zealand, recognised Māori ownership of their lands and other properties, and gave Māori the rights of British subjects. However the English and Māori language versions of the Treaty differ significantly, and so there is no consensus as to exactly what was agreed to. From the British point of view, the Treaty gave Britain sovereignty over New Zealand, and the Governor the right to run the country; Māori seem to have had a range of understandings, many of which conflicted with the British understanding. After the initial signing at Waitangi, copies of the Treaty were taken around New Zealand and over the following months many other chiefs signed.The Treaty of Waitangi (Māori: Tiriti o Waitangi) is a treaty first signed on February 6, 1840, by representatives of the British Crown, and various Māori chiefs from the northern North Island of New Zealand. The Treaty established a British governor in New Zealand, recognised Māori ownership of their lands and other properties, and gave Māori the rights of British subjects. However the English and Māori language versions of the Treaty differ significantly, and so there is no consensus as to exactly what was agreed to. From the British point of view, the Treaty gave Britain sovereignty over New Zealand, and the Governor the right to run the country; Māori seem to have had a range of understandings, many of which conflicted with the British understanding. After the initial signing at Waitangi, copies of the Treaty were taken around New Zealand and over the following months many other chiefs signed.
From Wikipedia:
The Treaty of Waitangi (Māori: Tiriti o Waitangi) is a treaty first signed on February 6, 1840, by representatives of the British Crown, and various Māori chiefs from the northern North Island of New Zealand. The Treaty established a British governor in New Zealand, recognised Māori ownership of their lands and other properties, and gave Māori the rights of British subjects. However the English and Māori language versions of the Treaty differ significantly, and so there is no consensus as to exactly what was agreed to. From the British point of view, the Treaty gave Britain sovereignty over New Zealand, and the Governor the right to run the country; Māori seem to have had a range of understandings, many of which conflicted with the British understanding. After the initial signing at Waitangi, copies of the Treaty were taken around New Zealand and over the following months many other chiefs signed.The Treaty of Waitangi (Māori: Tiriti o Waitangi) is a treaty first signed on February 6, 1840, by representatives of the British Crown, and various Māori chiefs from the northern North Island of New Zealand. The Treaty established a British governor in New Zealand, recognised Māori ownership of their lands and other properties, and gave Māori the rights of British subjects. However the English and Māori language versions of the Treaty differ significantly, and so there is no consensus as to exactly what was agreed to. From the British point of view, the Treaty gave Britain sovereignty over New Zealand, and the Governor the right to run the country; Māori seem to have had a range of understandings, many of which conflicted with the British understanding. After the initial signing at Waitangi, copies of the Treaty were taken around New Zealand and over the following months many other chiefs signed.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Travelling (February 4th)
Today we'll drive up to Napier. This is a town which was rebuild in Art Deco style following the earthquake of 1920 which turned the town into rubble. After this we'll head up to the west coast ("wist coast" according to Kiwi's). Where we'll visit Kapiti Island (a bird reserve) next morning. We have to be "early birds" since we have to get up at six on our holiday!!
some links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier%2C_New_Zealand
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapiti_Island
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Tongariro Crossing (2 Feb)
Yesterday I went on a hike with my cousin. We hiked amongst volcanoes and some crater lakes. The scenery was stunning. We had a great day. We had lunch at one of the crater lakes.
Onno and Wesley
red
crater
Onno and Wesley
red
crater
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Bezoek aan white island (31 jan)
Vandaag hebben we White Island bezocht http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whakaari/White_Island . Deze vulkaan, die tot de meest actieve vulkanen in Nieuw Zeeland behoort ligt op ongeveer 50km varen uit de kust. Het bezoek was indrukwekkend. Eerst kregen we helmen en gasmaskers uitgereikt, waarna we in een zodiac naar het eiland gingen vanaf de grotere boot.
Binnen de vulkaan vind je wat kleinere heuvels, dit zijn plekken waaronder zich warmte uit de diepte concentreerd. Je mag hier niet op gaan staan, want dan riskeer je dat je erdoorheen zakt en je op zijn minst ernstig verbrand.
Op diverse plaatsen in de vulkaan vind je fumarolen. Dit zijn gaten waaruit stoom naar de oppervlakte komt. In de meeste gevallen wordt rondom deze gaten zwavel in kristalvorm afgezet.
Het magma van deze vulkaan is van het andesitische type, wat betekent dat de uitbarstingen nogal hevig verlopen. Dit type magma bestaat voornamelijk uit silica. Bij dit type vulkaan zal je geen lavastromen vinden.
Rondom de vulkaan staan seismometers en camera's die ons een gevoel van veiligheid moeten geven, maar volgens mij is niets zeker in de krater van een actieve vulkaan.
Meer achterin de krater is het kratermeer. Het water in deze vulkaan heeft een hogere zuurgraad dan puur HCl.
Na het bezoek aan de vulkaan zijn we nog rond het eiland gevaren en zagen we diverse vliegvissen. Ook zagen we enkele scholen felblauw gekleurde vissen. Op de terugweg zagen we nog enkele dolfijnen
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Waiheke Island (24 jan 2008)
Gisteren hebben we Waiheke Island bezocht dat op 35 min varen van Auckland ligt. Tegenover Auckland liggen vele eilanden waarvan een groot aantal onbewoond en zeer natuurrijk is. De eilanden zijn vulkanisch van oorsprong.Lekker in zee gezwommen op een paradijselijk strandje (Palm Beach) en vervolgens hebben we een tocht gemaakt door een natuurgebiedje met veel tropische vegetatie.
Aankoms in Nieuw Zeeland (23 jan 2008)
Na een lange vlucht eindelijk aangekomen in Nieuw Zeeland. De luchtvaartmaatschappij (Air New Zealand) heeft ons 5 uur extra gastvrijheid geboden omdat ze het leuk vonden een onderdeel te vervangen terwijl alle passagiers al in het toestel zaten. Het zonnetje komt net op, vandaag maar eens een boottocht maken in de haven van Auckland.
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