June 21st- Gross Gorse and rosemary cookies in Purau Bay

Today began at about 9am with a 50 minute drive to Purau Bank on the northern side of the Banks Peninsula. We started the day's activities at the home of our lovely host and landowner, Jo Ewing, and learned about the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust from covenant officer Marie Neal. Jo treated us to delicious homemade rosemary cookies, banana bread, and tea and coffee to get us kick-started for the day while we listened to Marie talk about the management plan we would be helping with for the rest of the day. The trust helps landowners, like Jo, create a sustainable management plan for their covenant land to protect native biodiversity with accurate land surveys and connecting them to ecologists and volunteers (like us) to carry out useful management techniques that will help make their land the best it can be for local species of fauna and flora. We also had an in depth safety session with Sophie, the volunteer coordinator for Banks Peninsula Trust, and learned about what plants to avoid, like the New Zealand Tree Nettle, and what to do in case of an earthquake or any other emergency. After that, it was out into the wilderness to help save some native trees like Kanaka and Kowhai from the grips of invasive vines and invasive Gorse, as well as mend some fences to stop stray sheep from overgrazing the covenant. We split up into teams and got serious work done before breaking for our first delicious lunch provided by Lincoln University. After lunch, we went in search of Gorse and found a massive area that needed to be destroyed to save native the flora, to which our whole team promptly finished within 30 minutes of aggressive weed-hacking. We finished the restoration by having a second tea time at Jo's house and learned more about the botanical artist and thanked her for her hospitality. We ended the day exploring the actual bay of Purau Bay, holding crabs, finding Abalone and sea glass, and birding until we went back to the Gator Waka. To which we promptly realized needed jumper cables to start, and got some more time on the beach before Meryl came to the rescue with a local named Rick that had jumper cables and a big strong truck (note: new battery now in Gatorwaka)! The Gator Waka came back to life and we made it back to the University in time for dinner :)

Some photos of the day:

Jo Ewing's beautiful home (and place of tea time with rosemary cookies)

The management plans by Banks Peninsula Trust, with information on maintaining Jo's property and making prime habitat for the Karearea (New Zealand Falcon), New Zealand Bellbird, New Zealand Fantail, and Miromiro (Tomtit), all favorites of Jo.

Plant specimen of the New Zealand Tree Nettle, or Ongaonga in Maori, which was everywhere and to be avoided. They are very good for the property, though, as they are native and are the favorite food and shelter choice of Red Admiral butterflies.

An illustration by Jo. After the 2010 earthquake in Christchurch, many people throughout the city and surrounding areas put flowers in traffic cones as a sort of memorial for the lives lost. 

The ancient rain dance, "Fence" performed by Sophie. This helped us straighten out our chicken wire to keep out some greedy sheep from grazing on the covenant.

Lunch and free time after some hard work. If you look closely, you can see each person in their natural state (i.e. me, Camila Leon, frowning at not being able to I.D. a bird or Tupelo enjoying her fruit and talking to Meryl)

The before picture: SO MUCH GORSE! All of us went to town (especially Erika) on this invasive species.

The after picture: All our blood (not really), sweat and tears paid off, featuring a wild Anna inspecting out handiwork.

The home base for clusters of Gorse Spider Mites. Marie told us about how they were extensively tested before they were brought in as a potential biological control for the Gorse in New Zealand. They suck the plant dry, but not fast enough. According to Marie, they look like little balloons under a microscope. 

Some interesting finds on the covenant. A sheep jaw, some natural rocks, and a couple of birds' nests. We also found a New Zealand Fantail nest later, and gifted it to Jo.

The gorgeous shore that was home to mud crabs, Pied Oystercatchers, Mallard and Mallard-Grey Duck Hybrids, and New Zealand Cushion Stars.

-Camila

June 20th - Low Ropes, Lectures, and Letting Loose

Most importantly, we all got good sleep our first night!

The weather gods have been kind to us and we enjoyed a beautiful sunny morning getting to know each other and bond over low ropes team building activities.  We successfully tackled many challenges from speed ball to cross town traffic, and are just really happy we got untangled from our human Gordian Knot.

Gordian Knot

Crossing the hot chocolate river on marshmallows

Cross Town Traffic

After lunch, it was lecture time with housekeeping items, and an overview of conserving biodiversity and what it means to different stakeholders (e.g., farmers, landowners, biologists, etc.).

Reviewing our course manuals and learning about what conserving biodiversity means to different stakeholders

Ah, we can get used to tea time : )

After dinner, we experienced some Kiwiana - Pavlova, L&P, and Flight of the Conchords.  Then we played Heads Up (charades) before going on to town to check out the nightlife.

L&P, World Famous in New Zealand

Heads Up

Pavlova with whipped cream that we made!

Tomorrow, we will meet some of the stakeholders and get to work with our first conservation project!
Until then, Sweet Dreams All, m : )

Our First Adventure - Monday, June 19th

After a little time getting settled in and having some lunch, we took off on our first adventure to the Port Hills. We had a little hike up to look out over Christchurch and Lyttelton Harbor.  Along the way, we saw some of our first New Zealand plants (flax, tussocks, fierce lancewood) and wildlife (silver eye birds, a spider, a bee).  Then, much to our delight, the Sign of the Kiwi was open after having closed in 2010 because of the earthquakes, and we were able to have tea time there with beautiful views!  We got to taste Hokey Pokey ice cream (vanilla with little bits of caramel/toffee), have a tea or coffee, or a slice (little piece of cake).  Not a bad first outing.  On our way back we got to see the village of Lincoln and stop at the grocery store to get some basics for the kitchen at the dorm and some laundry detergent.  Then back to the Uni to get dinner and a good nights rest.  Sweet Dreams All, m : )

Hiking up to view over Christchurch

Gator chomp at the top

Checking out a purple thistle flower

View looking down to the Sign of the Kiwi

View out to Lyttelton Harbor

Enjoying tea time inside Sign of the Kiwi's renovated digs

Enjoying tea time outside of Sign of the Kiwi's renovated digs

Our first Silver Fern

They are here!

After missing a tight connection in Aukland, everyone arrived safely just one hour later than expected.  Two of our students were already in country after having spent a few weeks here traveling about.  Now that we are all together, we are getting settled into the dorms, and will spend the rest of the day staying awake so that we can be on NZ time.  More on the afternoon adventures later. - m : )

Translate This, We are getting excited to see you soon...

View of the Canterbury Plains from the plane when approaching Christchurch.

Kia Ora, You might consider us like oldies, but we are going to kick off our jandals, throw on our jumpers, grab our not-so-much-anymore anklebiters, and show you a really great time (as we would our cuz)  through the wop-wops of Aotearoa.  We’ll even let you use our loo and serve you up some pav and a cuppa when you arrive.  Sweet As!  Study up on a wee bit of Kiwi slang, safe travels, and see ya soon mates! – m&m&j&t : )

Anklebiter - toddler, small child


Aotearoa - Maori name for New Zealand meaning land of the long white cloud


Chips - deep fried slices of potato but much thicker than a French fry


Cuppa - cup of tea, as in cuppa tea
(Tea Time!  Wa-hoo!)

Cuz - cousin, family


G'day - universal kiwi greeting, also spelled gidday


Good on ya, mate! - congratulations, well done, proud of someone


Good as gold - feeling good, not a problem, yes
 


Jandal - thongs, sandals,flip-flops

Jumper - sweater, jersey


Kia Ora – Maori general informal greeting of hello

L&P - Fizzy soda water


Lift - elevator


Lolly - candy


Loo - bathroom, toilet


Mate - friend

Oldies - parents


Pav - pavlova, dessert usually topped with kiwifruit and cream


Rattle your dags - hurry up, get moving

Ring - to telephone somebody, as in "I'll give you a ring"


Rubbish - garbage, trash


Serviette - paper napkin


Sweet As – what you are saying is good by me


Ta - thanks


Take-aways - food to be taken away and eaten, fast food outlet
 

Togs - swimsuit, bathing costume 


Wop-wops – situated off the beaten track, out of the way location

Poi-E, A Kiwi Classic

In New Zealand, the Maori culture is deeply integrated within the Kiwi culture.  Throughout New Zealand, you will find both English and Maori signs, and even the government run television here has a dedicated station just for Maori programming.  While there have been struggles between the Pakeha (non-Maori) and Maori (just as in the United States between whites and other ethnic groups such as Native Americans, and African Americans), and the Maori struggle to help their youth retain their culture, the Kiwis seem to have done a decent job of trying to be inclusive and promote the Maori culture throughout the country.  Poi-E is a classic Kiwi song that became a hit in the early 1980s. What is significant about this song, is that it is viewed as part of what helped kick start renewed interest for the Maori youth in their roots. There is a new movie out about it as well.  Poi balls were originally used by men and women alike to strengthen wrist muscles for battle.  Today they are used by girls and women in traditional Maori performance dances.  I can show you how to make some if you like.

-Meryl

Almost Time...

Hi All,

Excited that it is almost time to go to New Zealand for our summer/winter adventures!  Happy Packing!

Here is the group from this spring: