Spa morning and Te Papa Centre

Maura and I spent the morning at a Spa in Wellington, having a very welcome massage and facial after the thrills of Queenstown.
We then went to the Te Papa Centre, where there is a Maouri Exhibition, celebrating traditional New Zealand culture, which is something the New Zealanders are really proud of .It was evident when Matthew and I came 20yrs ago and I feel this is still the case now .
We happened to experience a group of Maori staff rehearsing for a concert for the Maori new year on 20th June...It was beautiful to listen to ...
They also did a Haka ,the ladies on the front row, were doing the hand gestures and the wide eyes that stare unexpectedly at you..it is a little unnerving...but I think it's meant to be ...not sure
Im.also even more gutted now to be leaving Nz on the 20th. I'd no idea it would be Maori New year and I'd like to have seen what happens.
This is the 2nd cultural New year I have narrowly missed experiencing ,as it was the same in Cambodia..I just missed their cultural/ religious New year.... Both of these New year celebrations have made me realise that Ive only ever considered the New year we celebrate ,whilst making the assumption, that it is the same for everyone and there aren't any other kinds of New year celebrations..so I've learnt something.
In the evening Maura Ian and I went to a local place which seems to be a hub for the community they live in ,in Paraparaumu..45mins outside Wellington.Very nice food. They have the beach at the end of the road..which I absolutely lovedRead more