#3 A New Country

Seven surf sessions, three hikes, two waterfalls, two Parkruns and nine nights in. My eyes have adjusted to the colours ; their intensity no longer blinds me to the hues, and I am beginning to see the nuances in the shades and tones. (Apologies to all my colour-blind cousins.)

The scenery however is still completely mind blowingly beautiful. There have been many many times when I have stopped at the side of the road to take it all in. A few of these times a local has stopped to check if I'm OK, or lost, with one understandably insistent on giving me directions. (I was halfway along a 30 km loop of a windy gravel road which links Bridal Veil Falls with Bridal Veil Falls.)

In the UK you will occasionally come across a notable view every so often; here its unrelentingly beautiful. Such a new land - bumpy volcanic hills with regular landslides because new land needs geological time to settle. Wales with its rolling hills and stable mountains has had the time. Comparatively New Zealand is a child, still coming to itself and finding its shape.

Both the Europeans and the Maori recognise themselves as settlers to this land, and their imprints are seen on the landscape in different ways. The tropical plants ("nurtured for this colder climate") have flourished, without diminishing the natural flora and fauna. The impact of sheep and cattle is much clearer, giving the landscape more similarities with Wales; grazed hillsides with a reduction in trees and natural habitat.

People are friendly, as they are in most places, and I'm so used to sunshine holidays where I have minimal understanding of the language that I've been taken aback a few times when I hear English spoken in shops. Albeit with a strange accent.

It's also interesting to hear a little of the Maori language, and to see a few signs at tourist sites which are in both English and Maori. Although perplexing when I hear about opposition to having road signs with both languages. The weather and the newness of the landscape may be different, but there are parallels with the Welsh language, and the few Maoris I have chatted with take what's happening with the Welsh language as encouragement.

The beaches of Papamoa and Maunganui on the east coast carry similarities with Wales- the soft white sands and dunes of LLangennith or Rhossili and other parts of the Gower. However the sea temperature of 18 degrees, which is "chilly" according to the locals, is a striking difference. Writing this at 7pm, sitting in my bathers on the black sand beach near Raglan, and watching the sun beginning to think of setting as the incoming tide draws the sea closer to the palms and the tree ferns, I remember my friends and family will be just beginning to think of waking up to a UK December morning and all that entails. I know that I am very very fortunate to be here right now.