Svetcovs' Kiwi Experience: Bay of Islands

On June 2, Kiwis celebrate their Queen's Birthday. Interestingly enough, a friend of mine from the U.K., told me the Brits do not celebrate it... Since, as we say in Poland, any excuse to celebrate (and drink heavily) is a good one, Eric and I chose to honor the Queen by spending a few days in the Bay of Islands.

Here are some bits of information about the region:

The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 240 kilometers (4 hours and 15 minutes) north of Auckland and it is close to the northern tip of the country - Cape Reinga.

"The first European to visit the area was Captain Cook, who named the region in 1769.The Bay of Islands was the first area in New Zealand to be settled by Europeans. Whalers arrived towards the end of the 18th century, while the first missionaries settled in 1814." (Wikipedia)

It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country. It is world-famous for its big-game fishing. Apparently, the Bay of Islands was found to have the second bluest sky in the world, after Rio de Janeiro... (Wikipedia)

On the way to Paihia we stopped in Kawakawa. Apparently, Kawakawa is the Train Town of the North. Well, from what we saw, the main attraction seems to be the public toilet:

We stayed at "Chalet Romantica" (I know!!!) in Paihia.

The bay has many interesting historic towns including Paihia, Russell, Waitangi and Kerikeri. Russell, formerly known as Kororareka, was the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand, and dates from the early 1800s.

Christ Church in Russell is New Zealand’s oldest existing church and possibly the oldest building still used for its original purpose.

Kerikeri contains many historic sites from the earliest European colonial settlement in the country: the Mission House, also called Kemp House, which is the oldest wooden structure still standing in New Zealand

And the Stone Store, a former storehouse which is the oldest stone building in New Zealand, construction having begun on 19 April 1832.

While in Kerikeri, we also visited an old Maori village.

One of the main attractions of the Bay of Islands are the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Eric and I found our visit there very informative and the views from the grounds just stunning. Below you can read up a bit on the history of the Treaty and see some of the pics we took there. Enjoy!

"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. After the initial signing at Waitangi, copies of the Treaty were taken around New Zealand and over the following months many other chiefs signed." (Wikipedia)

"Until the 1970s, the Treaty was generally ignored by both the courts and parliament, although it was usually depicted in New Zealand historiography as a generous and benevolent act on the part of the Crown. From at least the 1860s, Māori looked to the Treaty, with little success, for rights and remedies for land loss and unequal treatment by the state. From the late 1960s, Māori began drawing attention to breaches of the Treaty, and subsequent histories have emphasised problems with its translation. In 1975 the Waitangi Tribunal was established as a permanent commission of inquiry tasked with researching breaches of the Treaty by the Crown or its agents, and suggesting means of redress." (Wikipedia)

"Today it is generally considered the founding document of New Zealand as a nation; despite this, the Treaty is often the subject of heated debate." (Wikipedia)