Sunday, Feb 24th, Russell, New Zealand

Greetings!

Russell sits on a peninsula in the middle of lots of coves and bays.  Directly across from it is Paihia, a ferry ride away.  At the north end of Paihia is the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, our destination for  today.  In 1840, the Maori tribes called upon the British government to address the "Hell-hole" of British lawlessness at Paihia through a treaty.  Dueling (English and Maori) versions of a document were signed in a ceremony held here, and called the birthplace of a nation.

Crossing by ferry, we walked the couple of miles along the strand to the site.  The grounds contain a museum, ceremonial canoe (largest in the world), and Maori cultural center.  The walk was strenuous, and cruise boats have shuttles.  We tried hitch-hiking back, but the island seems less friendly than Pat remembers in 1971.

It is worth the walk, however, as the history lesson easily understood by the experience is very powerful.  In a time when communication between different cultures is increasingly important, visiting and hearing about a seminal confusing moment in British and Maori history can't be under-valued.  We must pay closer attention to the agreements we forge around the world to address the issues we face.  An inter-dependent set of economies and travelers demands that we understand and accommodate each other's points of view.

We crossed back to Russell, just ahead of a drenching downpour which caught us having dinner on our porch.  We never saw it coming, and had to abandon a wine glass on the patio table in our haste.

The photo album has the first good set of views today, so I invite you to check it out.  Click on: Sunday, Feb 24th, Russell, New Zealand.