Today is Waitangi Day here in New Zealand

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 2:18 pm

This past weekend has been Waitangi Day weekend with today (Tuesday) actually being Waitangi Day. New Zealander's have taken a four day holiday. For those history buffs on FG, you might enjoy reading about the history of "The Treaty Of Waitangi". http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/tr ... -the-1830s

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:59 pm

THAT was very interesting! I've always wanted to see Maoris dance! Are there any foods which are "typically" Maori?

(Hey--what's a holiday without special dishes?)

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:06 am

[quote=Lulu2;541266]THAT was very interesting! I've always wanted to see Maoris dance! Are there any foods which are "typically" Maori?

Yes, people.----------------just kidding ----those days are over. Check out this web site. http://www.maorifood.com/ If you would like to see a good Maori dance, Google Video for Haka.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:10 am

Thanks, Lon! I bookmarked the site for later reading. I wonder what edible mammals were available as food sources before Europeans showed up?

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:19 am

Lulu2;541272 wrote: I wonder what edible mammals were available as food sources before Europeans showed up?

About the same thing that is available today with the exception of the Moa, a

huge bird that has been extinct even before the Europeans came on the scene. New Zealand has no, nor has it ever had, predatory animals or snakes of any kind. That's one of the reasons that there are birds completely unique to New Zealand, and plentiful. The biggest pest is the opposum. Their road kill is over the highways abundantly. They pose a real threat to the forests and vegetation. European red deer are raised commercially.

OzBoy · Post by **OzBoy** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:14 am

Yeah Happy Waitangi Day to all the kiwis! We helped all the London based Kiwis to celebrate this special occasion on Saturday, by participating in a 15,000 strong pub crawl which followed the yellow circle tube line ending at Westminister for a huge Haka display. The atmosophere was electric and it was really fantastic to see so many people from all walks of life participating and enjoying the day without any fighting or negative behaviour. The police provided excellent support with crowd control and happily posed for a million photos with pissed pub crawlers, the whole day was thoroughly enjoyed by all and was a credit to everyone involved. Thre should be more events like it!

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:07 pm

"The biggest pest is the opposum. Their road kill is over the highways abundantly. They pose a real threat to the forests and vegetation. "

Explain this, if you will?

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:26 pm

Happy belated Waitangi Day New Zealand, god bless ya, and all who sail in you. My mate is a kiwi, she is lovely! :-6

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:58 am

Lulu2;542113 wrote: "The biggest pest is the opposum. Their road kill is over the highways abundantly. They pose a real threat to the forests and vegetation. "

Explain this, if you will?

They are so abundant they are a real pest. They are a threat to bird life and forest flora and fauna. Not because I say so, but because the NZ government has an active program to try and reduce their numbers. Their are no predatory animals that eat opposums, so they thrive.

OzBoy · Post by **OzBoy** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:12 am

Diuretic;541711 wrote: Did anyone fall over in the Haka?

Actually there were people kinda falling over everywhere especially by 5 o'clock!!! Lets just say some of the haka's were more wobbly then others!