I felt compelled to contribute. The K was already there, but we improved it with the biggest rocks we could find. It cost me a several days of sun-induced suffering, but that K will last.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Rock Writing
The second coolest feature of Cornwall Park is the field of rock graffiti.
I felt compelled to contribute. The K was already there, but we improved it with the biggest rocks we could find. It cost me a several days of sun-induced suffering, but that K will last.
I felt compelled to contribute. The K was already there, but we improved it with the biggest rocks we could find. It cost me a several days of sun-induced suffering, but that K will last.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
One Tree Hill
Towering above Cornwall Park is the 182m volcano called One Tree Hill.
On the summit of the hill is the grave of Sir John Logan Campbell surmounted by an obelisk. The obelisk was constructed in accordance with the wishes and provisions in John Campbell's will to commemorate his admiration for the Māori people. Before it stands a bronze statue of a Māori warrior. The stone obelisk was completed by 1940 – the centennial year of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi but the unveiling of the obelisk was delayed until 24 April 1948, after World War II was over, in keeping with Māori custom of not holding such ceremonies during a time of bloodshed.
When Auckland was founded as a colonial town a tree stood near the summit which gave the hill its English name. Two accounts identify it as a pohutukawa (metrosideros excelsa). This tree was cut down by a white settler in 1852, in an act of vandalism in one account,[citation needed] or for firewood in another.[2] It seems likely this was a different tree from the totara (podocarpus totara) which, as a sacred tree, had given the hill one of its Maori names. A radiata pine was planted in the 1870s to replace the previous totara.[10] John Logan Campbell repeatedly tried to grow native trees on the hill's summit, but the trees failed to survive - with only two pines, originally part of a shelter belt for the native trees, surviving for long. However, in the 1960, one of the two was felled in another attack,[2] possibly for firewood.[citation needed]
What's left of the One Tree.
The remaining tree was later attacked twice with chainsaws by Māori protesters (partly because it was not a native New Zealand species and thus considered an insult). The first attack happened on 28 October 1994, the anniversary of the 1835 Declaration of Independence.[11] A second attack on 5 October 2000[12] left the tree unable to recover even though substantial efforts were made, and so it was removed due to the risk of it collapsing.[2] The chainsaw used in the first attack was later placed on sale on popular New Zealand auction site, TradeMe in 2007,[13] but later withdrawn by the website after complaints and a poll of users. It was later listed on eBay.[14]
Partly due to uncertainty as to what species of tree should be replanted (a new pine or a tree native to New Zealand), the summit stands empty at the moment, except for the obelisk. A new nickname, "N(one) Tree Hill", soon became popular. Plans are ongoing to plant a grove of pohutukawa and totara trees at the summit, but concerns by local iwi over Treaty of Waitangi claims have so far prevented any actual planting.[15] The Council also had to remove repeated illegal plantings, usually of pohutukawa, over the last years.[16]
The view from the top is incredible.
This should look familiar - Remuera, home.
A kiwi in its native habitat!
A cool tree.
A monument.
On the summit of the hill is the grave of Sir John Logan Campbell surmounted by an obelisk. The obelisk was constructed in accordance with the wishes and provisions in John Campbell's will to commemorate his admiration for the Māori people. Before it stands a bronze statue of a Māori warrior. The stone obelisk was completed by 1940 – the centennial year of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi but the unveiling of the obelisk was delayed until 24 April 1948, after World War II was over, in keeping with Māori custom of not holding such ceremonies during a time of bloodshed.
When Auckland was founded as a colonial town a tree stood near the summit which gave the hill its English name. Two accounts identify it as a pohutukawa (metrosideros excelsa). This tree was cut down by a white settler in 1852, in an act of vandalism in one account,[citation needed] or for firewood in another.[2] It seems likely this was a different tree from the totara (podocarpus totara) which, as a sacred tree, had given the hill one of its Maori names. A radiata pine was planted in the 1870s to replace the previous totara.[10] John Logan Campbell repeatedly tried to grow native trees on the hill's summit, but the trees failed to survive - with only two pines, originally part of a shelter belt for the native trees, surviving for long. However, in the 1960, one of the two was felled in another attack,[2] possibly for firewood.[citation needed]
What's left of the One Tree.
The remaining tree was later attacked twice with chainsaws by Māori protesters (partly because it was not a native New Zealand species and thus considered an insult). The first attack happened on 28 October 1994, the anniversary of the 1835 Declaration of Independence.[11] A second attack on 5 October 2000[12] left the tree unable to recover even though substantial efforts were made, and so it was removed due to the risk of it collapsing.[2] The chainsaw used in the first attack was later placed on sale on popular New Zealand auction site, TradeMe in 2007,[13] but later withdrawn by the website after complaints and a poll of users. It was later listed on eBay.[14]
Partly due to uncertainty as to what species of tree should be replanted (a new pine or a tree native to New Zealand), the summit stands empty at the moment, except for the obelisk. A new nickname, "N(one) Tree Hill", soon became popular. Plans are ongoing to plant a grove of pohutukawa and totara trees at the summit, but concerns by local iwi over Treaty of Waitangi claims have so far prevented any actual planting.[15] The Council also had to remove repeated illegal plantings, usually of pohutukawa, over the last years.[16]
The view from the top is incredible.
This should look familiar - Remuera, home.
A kiwi in its native habitat!
A cool tree.
A monument.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Cornwall Park
I went to Cornwall Park/One Tree Hill a week or so ago with my kiwi friend Liz. It's a huge park just outside of downtown Auckland with sheep, cows, and a big obelisk on a hill. I think this picture sums it up best.
Cornwall Park is the legacy of Sir John Logan Campbell. Originally the land was a farm owned by him on the outskirts of Auckland. Upon his return from Italy in the 1880s he intended to build a great family residence on the slopes of the hill (where the current tearooms are) and planted many trees including olives on the slopes. Eventually he constructed a house closer to town (the land is now part of the Parnell Rose gardens). By about 1900 he realised that Auckland's suburbs were spreading at an alarming rate and he decided to leave the Greenlane property to the city as a park. Parts of the park, about 120 hectares (296.5 acres), are still run as a farm today, providing Aucklanders with access to an example of rural life in the heart of the city.[5] The park was designed by the landscape architect Austin Strong and is based on Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.[6][7]
The park lies on the slopes of One Tree Hill.
Campbell initially intended the name to be Corinth Park after the noted region in Greece. It received the name Cornwall Park because of the Royal visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1901 by the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall (later King George V & Queen Mary). John Logan Campbell was asked to be honorary Mayor of Auckland during the visits, and he took the opportunity to gift the park to the people of New Zealand and asked that it be called Cornwall Park. In return he was knighted.
- Acacia Cottage
Cornwall Park is home to Acacia Cottage, one of the earliest surviving timber buildings in New Zealand, and also the oldest extant in Auckland. Built in 1841, it was originally the home of William Brown and John Logan Campbell and located behind their store. It was relocated in 1920 from its original location off Shortland Street, in what is now the heart of the CBD of Auckland City. In 1956 moved again within the park to a more prominent location. It is listed as a 'Category I' site by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.[8]
I don't think that's Acacia Cottage.
- Stardome Observatory
The Stardome Observatory (previously known as Auckland Observatory), is also located within Cornwall Park, and contains two telescopes and a planetarium. The observatory has, amongst other research, discovered and named the asteroid 19620 Auckland. Its current functions combine entertainment and education (via the planetarium and via public access to the older telescope) as well as ongoing research with both telescopes. It is operated by a charitable trust.
-Wikipedia FTW (but the pictures are mine)
Monday, November 17, 2008
The end.
This is the door from the shower/bathroom to the kitchen and Taylor's room.
The Kitchen.
Taylor's room.Saturday, November 15, 2008
Roadtrip
I found this video, so I'm going to take a detour from the tour of our flat and show you what driving is like in rural New Zealand (which is about 90% of NZ).
This was filmed in the Waipoua Forest, the place with the giant kauri trees that I took pictures of a couple of months ago.
This was filmed in the Waipoua Forest, the place with the giant kauri trees that I took pictures of a couple of months ago.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Chez Moi
Through the portal our paths diverge, straight ahead through the front door (to the right of above) is....
My room! This former living room/den has been converted into a comfortably messy bedroom. Once a staircase, The Ledge has become my combination bed, dresser, and desk. In case you were wondering that is my water bottle you see there next to my laptop. Glass tastes better.
The road more traveled by leads to the shower, the kitchen, and beyond.
The door you saw in picture number 1 is just out sight in this photo. This is our bathroom/laundry room/kitchen sink (since our kitchen sink is eternally clogged...something to do with tile grout apparently). Not for the faint of heart...Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The tour continues...
The Back of the house, our flat is the bottom half. The truck is mine.
Our backyard, and the neighbors front yard.
Into the rabbit hole...
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Place
As promised, a virtual tour of our flat.
Ormonde Road
La Casa.
We have the downstairs half... right down this driveway.
Ormonde Road
La Casa.
We have the downstairs half... right down this driveway.More to follow...
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Guy Fawkes Night
Tonight is Guy Fawke's Night - this night marks the only three days of the year that Kiwis can buy fireworks. Poor souls.Guy Fawkes Night (also known as Bonfire Night, Cracker Night, Fireworks Night) is an annual celebration on the evening of the 5th of November. It celebrates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of the 5th of November 1605 in which a number of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, England. (Wikipedia)
I think it's quite poetic that (due to the time difference) we are celebrating a man who tried to blow up the government on Election Day.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Rugby
I watched my first full rugby game last nights. The landlords had a big barbecue and they invited me up. It's an interesting sport, kind of hard to explain. Basically, there are two different kinds of rugby - League and Union. It's kind of like American Baseball's American and National leagues, but the rule differences are more drastic. In both though, the object of the game is to get the ball into the endzone scoring a try. You can then kick the ball through the uprights for extra points - very much like american football. In rugby, however, play very rarely stops. The basic rules are: you can only move the ball forward by running it or kicking it, and you can't run past your team's ball carrier. There are a ton of complicated rules about tackling and all that, but that's the gist of it.
At the start of every match New Zealand's All Blacks do their war dance - the haka.
At the start of every match New Zealand's All Blacks do their war dance - the haka.
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