Thursday 8 February: Tauranga - Day Trip: Back in Tauranga

We set off back to Tauranga.  The tour was due to end at 4.30pm and, with the ship not sailing until 8pm, we had the chance to stroll round Tauranga a little

On the way back to the ship our driver mentioned that we were about to pass the end of the road where Dame Lynley Dodd, the author of  Hairy McLary from Donaldson's Dairy lives, near Tauranga.

Photo courtesy of Puffin Books

Our guide said that the Maori had felt a sense of injustice against the Europeans ever since they had fought the British and lost.  Many said that was the price of starting a war and then losing, but the New Zealand government in the 1970s set up a commission to review these grievances.  Over 40 years later, 7 of the 8 original Maori tribes have agreed 'full and final' settlements with the New Zealand Government which are proving very costly to the state.

These are Radiata Pine trees. A native of California, they take 50 years there to grow to maturity. In New Zealand they take only 25 years.  In the 1930s, the government planted what is just about the largest forest in the southern hemisphere and it's self-sufficient for a never-ending source of timber, mainly for export.

As part of one of the commission settlements, the Maori were given cutting rights to these trees, a decision which I could tell made our guide very unhappy!

Where the tugs live when they're not busy!

Captain Cook named this area "The Bay of Plenty" as he got all the provisions he wanted.  Along the coast he had been unsuccessful at what he called Poverty Bay and both names endure!

Property on this road starts at £1 million

A problem we thankfully don't have

"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag"

Another sure sign of a civilised society

Lots of competitive bird activity here, either over food or territory

This one (above and below) was definitely being seen off!