Jan 27 - The Waitangi Treaty Grounds

We had a bite of lunch at the Gumdiggers Café and then set off for the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. It was here in 1840 that the Maori Chiefs signed a treaty with the British Crown. It has become a document of central importance to the history, to the political constitution of the state, and to the national mythos of New Zealand, and has played a major role in framing the political relations between New Zealand's government and the Māori population, especially from the late-20th century. We learned about the treaty and its many pitfalls and saw the fabulous meeting house that is used by the Maori for celebrations and conferences. Our guide finished the tour by giving us a beautiful Maori blessing that wished us safe travels here and abroad. It was a lovely finish to a fascinating day.

From there, it was a short drive to our hotel in Paihia on the beautiful Bay of Islands. We had dinner at the hotel with lots of laughs and are tucked up for the night. Tomorrow is a free day - stay tuned to see how we spend it!Read more