Waka To The Haka

Auckland's other name is "The city of sails"

January 13, 2023

“ I want my warm nuts”

- Ricky Gervais on liking First Class when flying

I have been here before. That was the overriding feeling I had when we came to Aukland, New Zealand. The downtown region near the harbor has a familiar air about it. The city center stretches down to the ferry landings is clean, bright, and well laid out. It is a pleasure to walk about. The temperature is mild in the high 60’s to low 70’s. I have since learned that it stays that way year round.

Downtown with "Sky tower" in the distance

It reminds me of San Diego in California. At least parts of it. It is better though.

Aukland has consistently been rated one of the most livable cities in the world. Walking among its streets and people it is easy to see why. There are pubs, cafes, and sidewalk eateries everywhere. And the food is good, real good. There are all kinds of restaurants here. There is also a plethora of craft beer pubs.

It is a delight to sit at an outdoor cafe with good food, outstanding coffee, and watch the world go by. I could easily move here and never miss the States. I mean that sincerely.

Warm nuts are nice.

Aukland bestrides a narrow isthmus that joins two narrow harbors that lead out to the Tasman sea and the Pacific Ocean. The isthmus is joined by the Aukland Harbor Bridge. It is the largest city in New Zealand with a population of 1-2 million people. For many years it was the capital before it moved to Wellington. Aukland has 50 volcanoes that surround it.

It is home to the world’s largest Polynesian population. Although the initial history of the British and Maori, the local indigenous people, began poorly. - The Maori name for Aukland is Tāmaki Makaurau, meaning “Tāmaki desired by many”, in reference to the desirability of its natural resources and geography. — It is different now. Much different. Back then, the British, predictably, wanting everything and took it by force. In the middle of the 19th century a war was fought.

Aukland was founded in 1300's by Maori. This is after the British arrived

Today, the Maori culture is celebrated and treasured in New Zealand. The language is still taught in primary schools and is one of the official languages of the country. New Zealand celebrates its diversity and the Maori culture is a major economic boon to the nation.

Can you imagine if we treated our native people with a similar respect how different our country might be today?

Yes, it is a very progressive country. All the major offices in the country today are held by women. New Zealand was the first modern nation to give women the right to vote. You have that right here when you turn 18 and participation in the democracy is high. You can drive by age 15. They were among the earliest nations to approve gay marriage. There is no nuclear power. By 2050, its entire power grid will be from sustainable energy sources. It has reasonable gun laws and as such is one of the safest countries in the world. Journalists can cover the news freely here and misinformation is strongly frowned upon by both the government and the population, it has national health care and a good standard of living. And it takes environmental protection very seriously. While it’s neighbor Australia is riddled with invasive species, New Zealand is zealous about protecting habitats and vigilant with even bio scanners at the airport looking for potential pests coming into the country. As such, the reason The Lord of the Rings looked so spectacular was new Zealand works very hard to keep it that way. And their efforts appear to be working.