Gisborne

Well, it is still raining, has been for four days now, and the local people are fed up. It has rained nearly all winter, the ground is waterlogged and this current rain has tipped the balance and there is flooding everywhere. The road from Wairoa to Napier was impassable this morning and I believe that the roads up north were also blocked so luckily we got through yesterday. We are also fed up and we have only experienced the rain for two days. The latest is that the rain will stop tomorrow and there will be sun on Saturday – we hope.

We travelled down from Tolaga Bay this morning, after walking along the longest wharf in NZ, which was originally used to load ships with goods to take to other parts of the coast. The facilities at the camping ground were very good and spotlessly clean. There were only four people staying there, and the lady was out cleaning the toilets and showers this morning. The camping ground land, like so much of the coastal land in the East Cape is owned by the Maori Trust, and is leased to the people who run the camping ground. They cannot make any alterations unless they get permission from the Trust. However, the Trust has built them a lovely new house and the cabins and toilet/shower block and kitchen are in very good order. All the camping grounds that we have been in have large areas for cleaning fish, plus freezers to keep bait and fresh fish in so fishing is a very popular activity up here (and everywhere else).

We came past the bay where Whale Rider was filmed but of course all you could see was mist. We are again opposite the beach and cannot see anything but the immediate waves. I have given up looking for a Tsunami as you will never see it through the mist (until it hits you). The instructions at Tolaga Bay said that on hearing the warning you must run for higher ground, which is very comforting if you can find some higher ground. We also heard on the radio that they were going to have Tsunami disaster practice somewhere in Gisborne today. I am pleased that preparations are in hand.

We have passed many schools during the past twelve days and are impressed with the condition of the grounds and buildings. Most of the schools are built of wood or hardiplank and all have been recently painted, with some painted in bright colours. There are always verandahs or sail type shade cloth surrounding the buildings and the grounds are landscaped with large areas where children can play. This also applies to the schools on the East Cape where there is a rough and ready attitude towards buildings (except the Marae).

Schools seem so much more relaxed here than they are in the UK. I am sure there are problems with the NZ system, however nothing can beat the current rigidity of the education system in the UK. Now that I am away from the education system, I can now see just what a destructive system it is, as it punishes the people who work for it. I am glad I am out of it!