Mt. Ngauruhoe & a Pukeko chick

Dear Heather from Perth, Australia was visiting New Zealand lately and has been extremely thoughtful by sending me these 2 beautiful postcards! I really love bird postcards, and this Pukeko chick card was one I had not received yet from this series of postcards, which makes it more than a great addition for my collection. And well, that view of Mt. Ngauruhoe is of course breathtaking. No more words needed...

Mt. Ngauruhoe is New Zealand's newest and historically most active volcano. It is an imposing, almost perfect symmetrical cone that rises more than 3,000 ft above the surrounding landscape of the Tongariro National Park. Eruptions from the central vent have constructed the steep (33°), outer slopes of the cone.

Mt Ngauruhoe has been active for at least 2,500 years. It has produced more than 70 eruptive episodes since 1839, there have been no eruptions since 19th February 1975 and the temperature of fumaroles in the crater floor has steadily cooled since 1979, suggesting that the main vent is becoming blocked.

In Maori legend, the high priest, Ngatoroirangi was caught in a blizzard while climbing Mount Ngauruhoe. He prayed to his sisters in Hawaiki to send him fire to save him from freezing. The flames they sent south emerged first at White Island, then Rotorua and Taupo before finally bursting at Ngatoroirangi's feet. Thus Ngatoroirangi is credited with bringing volcanic activity to Aotearoa New Zealand - not as a curse upon the land, but as a blessing. [source: nationalpark.co.nz]

Also known as the swamp hen, this is the most commonly encountered of the five living species of the rail family native to New Zealand, the others being the closely related takahe or Notornis, weka, banded rail, spotless crake and marsh crake. Pukekos dwell in swamps, along lake shores, and in poorly drained pastures throughout New Zealand and Chatham Islands, and are occasionally wind-borne to the Kermadecs and Campbell Island. Though native to this country, the species, in the form of various subspecies, occurs widespread in a number of overseas countries. The local subspecies is called melanotus.

The plumage is mainly indigo blue; the head and wings are black, the latter with a greenish gloss. The feathers beneath the tail are white. When disturbed, pukekos flick their tail and the white feathers become more prominent. This habit of tail flicking is common to all other rails. Bill, legs, and feet are scarlet and the eyes ruby red. There is no clear distinction in the general appearance of the sexes, but males are slightly bigger than females. Ungraceful in becoming airborne, pukekos are strong on the wing and are also swift runners. Though their large feet are not webbed, pukekos are good swimmers. Their usual call is a piercing squawk. [source: teara.govt.nz]

Thank you very much Heather!

Map of New Zealand

You already know how ludicrously photogenic New Zealand is. The otherworldly peaks and valleys of Middle Earth brought this not-so-hidden secret to the world with good reason. But these views are no Hollywood-crafted mirage- they are the real deal, and certain to take your breath away.

On top of their looks, the islands’ rich Maori culture, passion for rugby, sheep outnumbering people, and exquisite sauvignon blanc create a country that defies even the most imaginative adventurers’ expectations.

But it’s not all look and don’t touch. In New Zealand, adventure sports rule. This is, after all, a nation so dedicated to doing odd things with bits of rubber and plastic that it invented bungee jumping, black-water rafting and zorbing. Whether you’re climbing the Fox glacier or skydiving over a stunning patchwork of mountains and fields, New Zealand is certain to get adrenaline coursing through your veins.

And there’s another aspect of Aotearoa – as New Zealand is known to Maori people - that keeps people coming back for more. The average Kiwi wants you to have a really, really good time. It is in the interactions with exuberant, everyday Kiwis that lasting memories will be made. As a Maori proverb suggests: He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! (What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people!).

Kiwis love sharing their spectacular country with visitors and in turn seeing it anew through foreign eyes. They never tire of being reminded of the rugged beauty of their beaches, mountains, fiords, glaciers, native forests and thermal regions. And once you experience these natural highlights, you won’t tire of reminding them. [source: lonelyplanet]

Thank you very much Vika!

Christchurch Int. airport

Located 12 km north-west of the city, Christchurch International Airport is New Zealand’s second largest, boasting over 6 million passenger movements in the 12 months to June 2010.  International and domestic flights operate from the terminal, which is currently being upgraded.  Domestic and international check-in facilities and a first-floor retail precinct are due to be opened in early 2011, and the upgrade is due for completion in 2012.  Taxis and shuttles leave from dedicated ranks outside both International and Domestic Arrivals Halls, while buses leave from outside the International Arrivals Hall only. [source: hotspotznewzealand.com]

Thank you very much Aaron!

Manawatu Gorge

The Manawatu river rises in the eastern Ruahine Range and, defying logic, flows westwards to reach the sea near Foxton. The road through the gorge was built, under extreme difficulties, in 1871-72 and instability continues to be a problem today. [source: postcard]