Several days have passed since we started our long journey. Between the 3 of us we have accumilated thus far, a total of eleven blisters. Unfortunately for me I have seven of them. On top of that I almost lost the toe nail from my little toe on my left foot. I had to take a couple of days rest to heal and the good news is the blisters have dried and the toe nail looks like it will live on. What next as we brake our bodies in to all day hiking with full packs?

Kauri Forest. These trees are native to New Zealand and have an incredible history worthy of exploring. The Kauri tree is second only in size to the mighty Redwoods in the USA.

 

 

We hiked in steady rain for a few days and most things we had in our packs became damp.

 

Beni is holding a species of the largest insect in the world. They get bigger than this one.

Can you name the insect?

 

 

 

As we make our way south east to the Bay of Islands we are warmly greeted with sunshine.

Sarn and Beni making friends.

 

 

 

We pass this historical stone building. The oldest of its kind in the country.

Worhty of exploring its colorful history.

 

This is a Maori Pa. A meeting house on the grounds where the "Treaty of Waitangi" was signed.

 

Unlike other countries, New Zealand does not have a constitution in the form of a single document. The Treaty of Waitangi is a founding document of New Zealand.  The Treaty consists of 3 articles.   All but one of these copies is written in longhand, and only one is in English. The structure of each follows a similar pattern, but the wording differs.

 

It is a collection of common laws, customs, and legislation, that establish a framework of government, entered into by representatives of the British Crown and Maori iwi (tribes) and hapu (sub-tribes). 

 

It is named after the place in the Bay of Islands where the Treaty was first signed on February 6, 1840. This date is known as Waitangi Day, a public holiday in New Zealand.

 

The Treaty was the initial agreement that established British authority.  This authority was later transferred to the New Zealand Parliment. It was a broad statement of principals upon which the British Officials & Maori Chiefs made a political covenant to found a nation state and build a government in New Zealand.

 

Based on the English Version & Maori translation, there are different understandings of the Treaty, and have long been the subject of debate.

 

The status of the Treaty has evolved over time.  In recent history, successive governments have recognized the significance of the Treaty in the life of the Nation.

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the detailed hand carvings and designs in the wood that make up the meeting house.

 

 

 

Next time I will discuss the types of food we eat along the trail.