Timeless Words From the Land of the First Light…

Timeless Words From the Land of the First Light…

As we leave the beautiful shores of New Zealand, it feels appropriate to share this powerful Waitaha* Chant. This heart-touching prayer was used to kick off the event at which the “Money Types” were launched earlier this month in the Southern Hemisphere: Aroha Aroha...
Grape Expectations…

Grape Expectations…

So, yesterday we were in Marlborough country – Blenheim to be precise – and the whole area is not only beautiful but it offers so many great opportunities for wine tasting. There are lots of wineries offering tours and tasting, but as time was a bit tight,...
The Gifts Brought By Gorgeous Greenstone…

The Gifts Brought By Gorgeous Greenstone…

Beloved by the Maoris – and Kiwis generally – the New Zealand Greenstone is a major player when it comes to the ‘gift economy’. A type of jade, ‘pounamu’ as it’s commonly known in New Zealand, is hard, durable and highly valued. Used in the past for making...
Where There’s Mud, There’s Money!

Where There’s Mud, There’s Money!

The geo-thermal mud pools in Waiotapu apparently have great healing qualities because of their rich mineral content – but given that they were practically boiling, we didn’t get in! The good news for the people of neighbouring Rotorua though, is that they’ve...