Kemp’s Creative Happiness Blog

After a busy 2007, what I needed was to get away from it all:

Photos by Kemp

New Zealand’s East Coast was one of the places I hadn’t seen since moving here over three years ago. It’s also a place less frequented by tourists and has a large population of Maoris with their indigenous culture. There are many beautiful maraes (Maori meeting places) along the way. The East Coast is also the place where Captain Cook first dropped anchor in New Zealand on the first of his three great Pacific voyages. The landing sight was modern day Gisborne, the first city in the world to see the dawn each day, and in Cook’s honour the city erected a statue on Poverty Bay.

Poverty Bay has it’s name from Cook’s failed attempt to replenish his ship. A fight with local Maoris broke out, of whom six were killed. In Cook’s view the area had little to offer and hence the name. Another statue was purchased and erected years earlier in Cook’s honour, however to the city’s embarrassment it was later discovered that the man on the pedestal could not have been Captain Cook as the uniform was not one worn by a Captain of the British Royal Navy.

On one of the plaques it asks: WHO IS THIS MAN???

Well I think there is still no clue. Imagine how even more embarrassing it would be to find out the uniform was one worn by French troops, who were also very active during that time.

Should you ever make it to this neck of the woods come and see this extraordinary part of New Zealand.

Read also: EVER THOUGHT ABOUT LIVING AND WORKING INTERNATIONALLY?

NEW ZEALANDERS ARE A HAPPY BUNCH

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