Flowers of Kirikiriroa

baskets of flowers in an alleyway abundance of flowers in pots and planters

Kirikiriroa and the mighty Waikato awa (river).

View of a full and wide river through lush subtropical foliageview of a full dark green river with lush trees and a boardwalk along the nearby riverbo

Not a bad day.

view of a marina on sunny day, still blue water, houses on hills behind

Auckland train and bus to the airport

Auckland airport from Britomart station by train and bus transfer at Puhinui station - transfers every 10 minutes. Total cost $8 - compared to $70+ via taxi or rideshare. Similar travel time.

(Normal trip cost is $5.40; the $8 included a new AT Hop card. It was also Santa Parade day and central Auckland was gridlocked. Uber was quoting $122 to get to the airport - and it would have taken 1.5 hours....)

Britomart train station Train arrivingTrain interiorPurple lights on escalator Brand new futuristic Puhinui stationAirport transfer electronic timetable - every 10 minutes

Rufus Du Sol

Went to the Rüfüs Du Sol concert in Tāmaki Makaurau last night. It was pure joy and wonderment.

A concert crowd seemingly stretching to the horizon, under a blizzard of white paper confetti

The crowd at the Vector Arena seemingly stretching to infinity under a blizzard of white confetti.

Man dancing in swirling white paper confetti

Sam surrounded by confetti.

Two women smiling and dancing

Rusty and Melissa - who we met at the show - enjoying the vibe.

My sister at the concert!

Turns out my sister was at the same concert - neither of us knew till we saw each other in the crowd!

Singer thanking the crowd at the emd of the show

 Rüfüs Du Sol member and singer Tyrone Lindqvist thanking the crowd.

Watching sheep quietly graze the green pastoral landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand is remarkably soothing. This one is a Pitt Island sheep - a rare breed from an island in the Rekohu / Chathams group.

First summer irises at Hōkio beach.

Irises with mauve inner petals, bright yellow stamen, and white outer petals.

The promise of Feijoas!

bright red multi-stamen flowers in a dark green bush

Plants and rocks at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. Pōneke.

lush trees and bushes Tī Kouka flowercarved rockcarving on rock

The aluminium window frames of many modern buildings in Aotearoa have terrible thermal efficiency. But I think our heritage cast iron frames are even worse! #mbnov

Loft apartment iron window frames. View of similar apartment block across courtyard.

Reasons to get out of the office in Pōneke today ….

#Pōneke #harbour #Wellington #YCBWOAGD #sun #summer #raumati

Captivated and transported by Red Leap’s interpretation of Janet Frame’s “Owls Do Cry” this afternoon. It is now 65 years since the book was published; this performance gave it fresh relevance.

#writer #book #modernist #novel #autobiography #JanetFrame #Aotearoa #OwlsDoCry

Programme for theatre performance.

After the rain #wellington #pōneke #water #boats #pier

Boats at the end of a pier on still calm water. Clouds and blue sky in the distance.

In Aotearoa NZ today, a “Minister” is a member of the governing Cabinet, with responsibility for oversight of one or more portfolios and Ministries or Departments. The religious use of the term is very much secondary; nearly half of all Kiwis now profess “no religion”. #mbnov

I’m pretty certain that this is one of the best days in Pōneke this spring.

#pōneke #wellington #aotearoa #YCBWOAGD #mbnov

Bright blue sky, trees in a park. Beach and boardwalk in sun.

Courtney Place, Pōneke, in fine form.

#pōneke #wellington #aotearoa #YCBWOAGD

Sunny streetscape with heritage buildings, trees, and bollards

Kapuka (Griselinia littoralis)

Profusion of glossy green leaves of the Kapuka bush

Hōkio - inside & out. #hōkio #hokiobeach #horowhenua #aotearoa #batch #beach #sun

Mōrena Pōneke. #morning #pōneke #wellington #aotearoa

An oasis in the city. Gardens, seats, trees, and the Bucket Fountain. Cuba Street, Pōneke, Aotearoa. Well done, WCC.