Saturday 6 January
Most of the morning was spent just lazing around the hostel. When I finally got my skates on and went for a walk around the city, I was surprised at how dark Auckland was.
Aotea Square's Māori gate
At the Queen Street entrance to Aotea Square is an arch called 'Waharoa' (Gateway in Māori), formed in wood and copper by Selwyn Muru, a Māori sculptor. This is an expressionist version of a traditional Māori entry gate. It features symbols like birds, fish and the crescent moon and stars but also elements like the nuclear disarmament symbol, reflecting the modern influences on New Zealand art.
Aotea Square is a large paved public area in the Auckland CBD, and was opened in 1979 by Sir Dove-Myer Robinson. It is next to Queen Street and is used for open-air concerts and gatherings, and markets and political rallies.
Pedal Power
In busy Queens Street, the main street leading to the harbour, this chap waits for customers.
The White House
As I was walking along Queen Street, I noticed this sign and thought this must be where the President stays when he visits New Zealand.
Advertising
Bright and colourful with his board shorts and tiki. (In Māori usage, the word 'tiki' is the name given to large wooden carvings in roughly human shape. Greenstone 'tikis' are worn around the neck.)
Sir Dove-Myer Robinson
In front of the Town Hall is a bronze statue of
Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, a former mayor of Auckland. This work dates from 2003 and is by the New Zealand sculptor Toby Twiss.
Later, I caught the
Free City Circuit Bus, (it's bright red) to Wellesley Street, which meant a 10 minute walk back to the hostel. Here is the
bus route.
I cooked pork sausages and fried potatoes for tea and sat on the front steps later with a couple of Brits drinking wine.
3 comments:
You certainly have a ball of your time over there. We only have 13 days spent over in Taupo with half a day in Rotorua, but I tell you Madam, it's worth every single second of being there. We did not let the cold spring-winter deter our spirits but we did vow to go back and see more of the Land of the Long White Clouds:Aotearoa. Such a fantastic language.
I'll visit you again. Promise!
And thanks for dropping by in my main blog.
Hi Bonnie, I had a wonderful time in NZ - it was my first (and only) time out of Australia. I was there a little under six weeks and there are still many places I didn't get to.
I hope to be able to go back again too.
Cheers.☺
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