... some parliamentary fun. Well hello to you all what a week it has been, both here in New Zealand and around the world! First up My Heart goes out to those in the States, to those in Boston and to those in the town near Waco Texas where the Fertilizer plant explosion has occurred. But Let me tell you of a rainbow, in this week of darkness. and yes it is a rainbow! But First let us look at what I did last weekend.
last weekend the family and I decided to go for a walk in the Hunua ranges, they are not far from here in distance but they feel a world away in reality. the difference in amazing! we were not walking for very long but still here are some very pretty pictures of the landscape not perhaps at our doorstep but certainly in our neighbourhood.
Hunua falls themselves, looking quite small due to the draught
my sister out on the rock in the middle of a creek further along the trail.
past the steam and heading up into the hills
incredible that this place is so close to where I live yet it seems like a totally different country
very pretty, a small water fall not far from the big one
majestic Kauri trees they used to be common and huge
some very powerful water down there,looking down from the place where we turned around after walking for an hour.
Tree ferns or Ponga in Maori (I think thats how its spelt)
a fancy photo, through the ferns
coming back across the crossing, very pretty.
crossing back across the stream
looking down steam at the crossing.
is that a Gollum in the stream??? another sighting of the many mythical creatures which makes this country the home of fantasy movie production
A good Motto! perhaps one we should all have.
And Now for the Parliamentary fun! this is the rainbow, almost literally! Gay Marriage and Gay Rights are something that in the 21st century people are fighting for, like workers rights, human rights and women's rights in the 20th century the 21st century will be defined by how we react to this issue. Now this Clip I am going to show you is no ordinary clip from the NZ parliament its a clip that shows how great our system is (not how great the government is/isn't), basically this speech is one that has set this system of government apart from the others...
Well whatever your views on this I think we all must agree that we need more politicians who are willing to put a bit of humour into politics, its a nice distraction from the annoying things they usually do. Anyway the bill has passed which is why there is most definitely a rainbow to this week, love it or loath it this is a step forwards for equality in his country. I am straight but still I am very proud of this moment because I do have friends who are gay and I am glad that they are now entitled to the same rights I am.
have a nice weekend everyone! Its the holidays here now! YAY! so 2 weeks off for me to make the kits I was sent by my Dutch friend and hopeful to make that T-90 when it arrives. and once more I tell you that my heart goes out to those in Boston and Texas and to all others out there who have suffered during what has been a very eventful week.
That was splendid news from NZ. If I remember correctly, NZ was the first country to elect a transexual woman to their parliament (and she was a Maori).
that scenery looks amazing - a truly beautiful country to live in.
Germany has some really nice countryside. but I guess your right. thanks, certainly its a change from the UK, actual wilderness something I think quite a bit of Europe has lost.
Fine posting, Gowan. I was as impressed by the change of mind of ultra-conservative MP John Banks on the issue, and his closing comment.
The South Island has its spectacular scenery, sure, but the North Island has its share. And, having spent the first five years of my life in a small place of maybe 100 or so people (mostly gone, now) and completely surrounded by miles of bush at the time, I retain a fondness for the North Island native bush. Especially the sound of the bush - the little grey warbler.
Occasionally I've been hearing them in Christchurch - in the middle of the city.
I should have mentioned the name of this little place in the North Island where I lived until I started school: Waitaanga. You can find it on the map if you look on the road west - some 13 miles (20km)- of Ohura. There's almost nothing there now: the houses I lived in have gone, but the one-roomed school is still standing.
teats interesting. the village I lived in, in England was small, it had one put, one post office and a Skoda dealership, an old church and a nursery school but everything seems to have been closing down last I heard.
its a sad story when that happens. you might find it on a map if you find the road next to the West bury white horse and go east a little way. Earlstoke is its name.
thanks, the PM is what counts as conservative in parliament right now. but I think his opinion may display party orders as well as personal belief. who knows, still he was funny.
thanks to show us this beautiful countryside !!! I will go with pleasure in NZ, but it's too far to my country ...
(I assume that's not Gollum, and it's not a Big-Foot.. strange creature....)
In France, currently, the government is trying to allow the Gay wedding but it's not easy, because of all kind of extremists (religious or worth ....)... sad, because we have many other problems which are much more important!
your right its not a Gollum, no they usually travel around with film crews and live in studios.
I sort of Agree with the gay marriage thing, I think it should be allowed but I can't see why there has to be such a big thing made about it. I guess its because of the extremists, still bigger issues are having to be overlooked because of this nonsensical opposition. allow it and let us move on to bigger issues.
Hi Gowan,
ReplyDeleteThat was splendid news from NZ. If I remember correctly, NZ was the first country to elect a transexual woman to their parliament (and she was a Maori).
that scenery looks amazing - a truly beautiful country to live in.
thanks. I do believe you are correct. it is amazing, probably looks better now, we've just had quite a bit of rain.
DeleteWhat beautiful scenery and well done to the NZ boys and girls!
ReplyDeletethanks Francis. not the best scenery though, that's on the south island.
DeleteBeautiful scenery, love those fern trees. And well done NZ parliament.
ReplyDeleteit has certainly been an eventful week, its great to hear that the culprits for the attacks in Boston were caught.
DeleteGood post Gowan
ReplyDeletethanks paul
DeleteLovely looking countryside...your lucky living there, nothing like it here.
ReplyDeleteGermany has some really nice countryside. but I guess your right. thanks, certainly its a change from the UK, actual wilderness something I think quite a bit of Europe has lost.
DeleteFine posting, Gowan. I was as impressed by the change of mind of ultra-conservative MP John Banks on the issue, and his closing comment.
ReplyDeleteThe South Island has its spectacular scenery, sure, but the North Island has its share. And, having spent the first five years of my life in a small place of maybe 100 or so people (mostly gone, now) and completely surrounded by miles of bush at the time, I retain a fondness for the North Island native bush. Especially the sound of the bush - the little grey warbler.
Occasionally I've been hearing them in Christchurch - in the middle of the city.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI should have mentioned the name of this little place in the North Island where I lived until I started school: Waitaanga. You can find it on the map if you look on the road west - some 13 miles (20km)- of Ohura. There's almost nothing there now: the houses I lived in have gone, but the one-roomed school is still standing.
Deleteteats interesting. the village I lived in, in England was small, it had one put, one post office and a Skoda dealership, an old church and a nursery school but everything seems to have been closing down last I heard.
ReplyDeleteits a sad story when that happens. you might find it on a map if you find the road next to the West bury white horse and go east a little way. Earlstoke is its name.
Both the video and the photos show a fantastic country!!
ReplyDeletethanks, the PM is what counts as conservative in parliament right now. but I think his opinion may display party orders as well as personal belief. who knows, still he was funny.
Deletethanks to show us this beautiful countryside !!!
ReplyDeleteI will go with pleasure in NZ, but it's too far to my country ...
(I assume that's not Gollum, and it's not a Big-Foot.. strange creature....)
In France, currently, the government is trying to allow the Gay wedding but it's not easy, because of all kind of extremists (religious or worth ....)... sad, because we have many other problems which are much more important!
your right its not a Gollum, no they usually travel around with film crews and live in studios.
DeleteI sort of Agree with the gay marriage thing, I think it should be allowed but I can't see why there has to be such a big thing made about it. I guess its because of the extremists, still bigger issues are having to be overlooked because of this nonsensical opposition. allow it and let us move on to bigger issues.