Hobbits, strikes and labour weekend

One of the most spectacular events in the recent history of New Zealand has been the fact that the blockbuster "The Hobbit" was filmed here. The past few weeks has seen everyone who is anyone (the Prime Minister included) dropping everything except the proverbial ball, to try to ensure that the sequel happens here too. At the moment, Warner Brothers have sent a contingent of big wigs over and there are meetings being held behind closed doors and convoys of luxury vehicles being spotted by media and reported on ad nauseum - all in the interests of keeping the lowly kiwis informed as to whether they are going to be filming here or taking the next film 'elsewhere' - wherever that might mean. All we can fathom is that Australia is in the thick of things and the average kiwi is 'seriously unhappy' about that. It was reported that someone in the States said that the New Zealanders who appeared in the first film as extras, were 'Mexicans with mobile phones' which is not the sort of thing that one should say if you want to 'win friends and influence people'. Evidently these extras were 'willing to work for next to nothing' - which may well have been the case but is nobody's business but their own and I should think a huge plus for the chappies who had to pay them. Why this fact should immediately label them as 'unsophisticated and uneducated' is a mystery to me. Having only the scantiest of facts at my disposal, I can only have my opinion!

The secondary schools' teachers are once again on strike - rolling strikes they are calling them - the problem is that the government is not willing (not able they say) to entertain the idea of a four percent pay hike across the board, offering only just under two. Apparently, according to the spokespersons 'what know' - teachers have had four percent raises EVERY year for the past more than a couple of years and are earning 'pretty well'. The teachers 'spokespersons what know' are saying that facts are being misrepresented and nobody is earning anything like what they are said to be earning 'on paper'. Whatever the case might be, a couple of my music students are feeling a little pressurised with absentee teachers and therefore no school days happening just before the year end examinations.
At least the 'Labour Weekend' happens to celebrate the fact that in 1890, workers across New Zealand went on strike and won the right to work a maximum of an eight hour day - that victory has been the reason for the long weekend celebrated every year in October. Although not everyone in every industry got that privilege, for the most part, folks are not expected to put in the sweatshop hours of the eighteen hundreds anymore.

Black sand and driftwood on Castlecliff beach.

Our 'Hamilton Family' - the Bothas, surprised us with a weekend visit and spent a couple of days with us escaping the rat race. We had the most glorious weather and made the most of the sunshine and calm, windless days - strolling along Kai -Iwi beach on Sunday.

The driftwood on the beaches near us makes the most fascinating study. This is the first time we have seen such a spectacular creation.

Having been here for almost 21months now, travelling behind this vehicle shouldn't have one thinking Bethlehem anymore - you would think!

And the centre line should be yellow and the road edge line white- you would think!

Dis al!

PS It's pink!

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge

Sometimes on a Friday, if Jo has some travelling to do, I will accompany him, armed with the camera in the hopes of capturing something interesting for our faithful blog readers to see.

Last Friday, there was some quite scary work to be done on a mountain pass outside New Plymouth (thankfully dayglo jackets are VERY visible) and once the work was done, we ambled past this bridge which Jo discovered in the course of his travels a little while ago.

Admittedly, it's just a pedestrian bridge over the river and no doubt is not called upon to support any kind of dramatic weight, but even so, we thought it had taken someone with a little imagination and willingness to do something different to erect this quite artistic feature - this tiny corner of New Zealand now has a few more folks stopping off to have a look than they ever had before, since there is really nothing else happening for miles!!

There is definitely something in the culture and/or history here in New Zealand that makes much of this sort of 'ribcage motif' - we have seen other sculptures in other places around the North Island which are equally reminiscent of rib cages.

Knowing that there is a plethora of engineering enthusiasts in our circle of family and friends, means that this bridge could fill the 'mildly interesting' category for the blog entry this week!

Dis al!

P.S. Still don't know if it's pink or blue!

The Owl

Eagle Encounters Garden Route is hosting an amazing Art evening with the view to raising much needed funds for the rehabilitation and release work which they do with Raptors - (Eagles, Hawks, Kites, Falcons, Owls etc etc).

Here is the contribution from New Zealand - Acrylic on canvas.

Hope you guys raise loads of money and that folks really support you - with attendance, purchase of art works and general donations which are needed to keep these magnificent birds in the skies and in the wild.

This owl is 'winging' it's way across the ocean to you, courtesy of New Zealand post! With a smidgen of luck, it should be there in time for the big event.

Dis al!