A few days up north
A few days off work; a scenic flight up to Wellington, a visit to Pukerua bay and a stunning overland ferry and train journey back to Christchurch just in time for St Patrick’s night, Kiwi-style. It’s all in the gallery including some additions to the Christchurch and Wellington albums.
I’d never boarded a flight in my life without security and photo-id before I climbed onto a Turbo-prop at Christchurch airport on Monday for the 45 minute journey to the capital. Wellington greeted me with good weather but I headed further north by land to Pukerua Bay, hometown of the renowned film director Peter Jackson, and the location of his classic homemade splatter-flick ‘Bad Taste’. A quick tour of ‘Bad Taste’ locations the next day preceeded a visit to the public gallery of the New Zealand parliament where I watched MPs debate exciting questions like flu vaccines (cameras not allowed unfortunately). They’ve had Proportional Representation for about 15 years here, which leads to a broader mix of parties and opinions in the chamber than in the UK.
St Patrick’s day saw me travel several hundred miles back to Christchurch by ferry and train. Trains here aren’t so much for getting around as for enjoying the view, and the train company provides big windows and an open-sided viewing car for this purpose. The local Irish bar in Christchurch didn’t seem to be too fussed if their band played The Pogues, The Proclaimers or Bryan Adams, but wierdest of all were the songs that everyone except the foreign tourists seemed to know. It was like New Years’ in Bratislava and the crazy Slovakian rock songs all over again.
Big thanks to Hugh and Tim for keeping me entertained in Pukerua Bay, and Scott and Catherine for sharing St Patrick’s night in Christchurch. Don’t forget to check the gallery.
