New Zealand Highlights and Table of Contents

New Zealand Highlights and
Table of Contents

Table of Contents

North Island

South Island

TO ROTORUA, LEADING TOURIST CITY

TO AUCKAND, NEW ZEALAND METROPOLIS

TO WELLINGTON, THE CAPITAL CITY

TO MT COOK, THE TALLEST PEAK

TO QUEENSTOWN

TO DUNEDIN

TO MILFORD SOUND

TO THE FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

The Kiwi is far more than New Zealand's rare, endangered, nocternal, and generally odd national bird. Human New Zealanders have taken on the bird's name, so they too are Kiwi. My video asks why, obtaining many different answers.

Since Kiwi can generally only be seen in zoos, where dark enclosures mimic night during the day, these birds are far more visible as works of art. Here is a giant Kiwi statue, one of many in New Zealand. As with real Kiwi that I photographed, its long thin beak, complete with nostrils, pokes into the ground looking for food such as worms.

Sheep outnumber people in New Zealand by a ratio of about 10 to 1. I photographed a sheep show of many different breeds. Europeans also introduced cattle and deer, all parts of the New Zealand economy, for export and consumption.

The Maori came from Polynesia by sea and settled the country many centuries before encountering explorers from Europe.
After fighting the English and each other, Maori chiefs signed a formal peace treaty in 1840, under which New Zealand became a British colony, in exchange for certain guaranteed Maori rights. The treaty's meaning is still being litigated.

But New Zealand is today far more bi-cultural than Australia or Hawaii. Maori is an official language; the 15% Maori population have guaranteed seats in Parliament, their own political party and TV station; plus an influence as part of New Zealand that is highly visible in Maori art, dance, and song, which have become integrated into a Kiwi partnership.

With volcanoes, glaciers and alps, New Zealand offers endless natural wonders. Its tallest peak is mighty Mt Cook, which I was fortunate to both see and photograph. National parks cover New Zealand; and outdoor activites range from skiing to reckless adventures I filmed but cannot fully describe. Watch the video to understand what I mean.

TO CHRISTCHURCH

If you have a broadband connection, watch the Intrepid Berkeley Explorer's free video of this trip, "North and South Kiwi", by clicking on AdventurePics.com .

TO MALTA TABLE OF CONTENTS

TO HOME PAGE

TO NEW ZEALAND SCENERY