Very excited today to be checking out the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but a few Ks from our apartment. Such is its importance that cruise ships come into the bay to visit. Today the Ocean Adventure and Viking Sky dropped anchor. Managed to get a B&W picture of one of the tender boats bringing some passengers ashore.

It, (the treaty) was signed on 6 February 1840. (The stage is being set up today for the annual anniversary festival). The treaty is interpreted today as having established a partnership between equals. Specifically, the treaty is seen as entitling Māori to enjoyment of land and of natural resources and, if that right were ever breached, to restitution. The treaty was written at a time when the New Zealand Company, acting on behalf of large numbers of would-be settlers, was establishing a colony in New Zealand, and when some Māori leaders had petitioned the British for protection against French ambitions.

Contemporaneously, the multi-cultural shenanigans in Russell were unfolding.

Today our visit gives us this much information and a little more. However the main focus of the experience is from a tour given by a Māori guide. First stop is the longest Waka Taua (That is a ceremonial boat to you) seen close up and touching it gives a sense of how strong and heavy it is. Three trees went into it, 116 feet long. It is very old, goes back to the days of B&W photography. Then nearby, the Waitangi Flagstaff holds the three flags (New Zealand, the Union Flag and Te Kara). A handy totem for past Māori leaders to let the English know they had a problem, simply by chopping it down.

Our promise of more history for you kept, I will write about the show which concludes our tour. Before we allowed in to see it, as a group, we had to face a challenge from some Māori to establish we come in peace. After we all inched forward a bit, our hastely elected Chief, bent down and took the proffered green branch. Horray! The show can go on. It is a mix of martial arts and juggling all done to enthusiastic singing. It is rather good with a tinge of danger as the Taiahas are swinging around quite a lot and the front row seems within range.

Rau Aroha, the museum, commemorates the Māori involvement in several theatres of war since 1840. (They fought on our side).

I was surprised to see in the grounds, a plaque beneath a large tree saying it was planted by Queen Elizabeth in 1953. It is slightly older than myself. There I was, next to it where she stood, now I'm wishing I'd given it a big hug. BTW I hope you understand how much I enjoyed using 'stood' correctly as the past participle of stand.

Arboreal time travel, whatever next? Well, as we have an early flight from the tiny local airport, packing. It has to be said that Liz's modular packing system works like a charm. As we plan to arrive and depart so many times having everything in bags is super efficient.