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New Zealand - October 1995
New Zealand is about the same land mass as Colorado and consists of main north and south islands with several smaller islands surrounding them. It is located 1000 miles due east of southern Australia and has a temperate coastal climate. With the exception of the mountainous areas of the south, it is rarely cold enough to snow. In the southern hemisphere, the farther south you travel, the cooler it is. The unusual angle of the sun can make it difficult for us Northerners to determine direction. If you remember your high school physics, the water in the sink really does twist in a counter clockwise direction, opposite of the northern hemisphere. I led a 24-member contingent from Nebraska and Florida to Hamilton on the North Island, and Nelson on the South Island, where a tree was planted to commemorate our visit. We went to Lion's Club meetings, PTA meetings, the grocery store, touch rugby games, ate fish n' chips, and learned about the day-to-day concerns of our hosts. In addition to the intense greenness of the hills, what most Americans notice about New Zealand is that there are sheep everywhere. We saw sheep in the parks, in fenced yards in the largest city of Auckland, on country golf courses, in the mountains, and even in the back seat of a Nissan! We guessed that was a child's 4H project en route to a show. New Zealand has its own kind of traffic jam. With customary dry Kiwi wit, our host remarked, "The sheep outnumber us 20 to one, so we treat them very well because you never know when they'll turn on us!" Sheep are a big part of the economy of New Zealand and its wool is considered some of the world's best. We were treated to fascinating sheep herding demonstrations. Sheep ranchers utilize several breeds of dogs to herd the sheep and bring them in for shearing. Responding to a series of whistle and voice commands, the dogs seem to know exactly what to do. Often, rather than run around the perimeter of the large flock, a dog will run across the backs of the huddled sheep. Some champion shearers can complete the semi-annual haircut in 90 seconds. Angora rabbits have a thick hollow-fiber coat that must be sheared four times a year. The rabbits could die of heat prostration without their haircut. The angora fur is so fine and light that it floats if not corralled. One rabbit shearing can yield enough yarn for a sweater, not bad for an animal that can fit in your lap! Not surprising, lamb at the butcher shop is quite reasonably priced. But turkey is reserved only for special occasions, as a typical "Thanksgiving-size" bird would cost from $50 to $60. Deer are also raised for venison for export, and cattle and thoroughbred horses are also exported. The New Zealand government keeps subsidies high on many agricultural products and the locals rightfully complain that they can buy New Zealand products cheaper in Australia than they can in their own country. The prices of clothing were astronomical, with Levi's selling for from $100 to $150. It made us appreciate US prices which we often take for granted. If you have an opportunity to travel in New Zealand, take it! The people are warm and witty, the food is delicious (they cook with real butter and whole cream), and the scenery is some of the most spectacular in the world. Be sure to take good walking shoes, a good camera, plenty of film, and your sense of adventure. The hearty folk of New Zealand will take care of all the rest! |
©2008 Friendship Force of Lincoln. All Rights Reserved. |
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ew Zealanders call it "God's Zone" or "God's Country" or "the land of 50 shades of green," ten more than Ireland! With some areas of the country receiving upwards of 300 inches of rain annually, the lushness of the vegetation is understandable. The terrain is like Wisconsin, Colorado, Maine, and Florida wrapped into one with a bit of Switzerland and Norway thrown in for added effect. The Kiwis (New Zealanders) are very proud of their country.
