Wairoa

Here we are in Wairoa, last visited by me 45 years ago, and nothing much has changed except for a few new buildings. Unlike the small towns that we passed through up north, Wairoa is struggling and there are many old shops that are empty plus some very run- down buildings. However the town has lots of charm and we are enjoying being here. Wairoa has the highest Maori population as against the European (62%).

The camping ground is amazing. It is small, green, well maintained but the facilities are best described as very pretty. They are also spotlessly clean and I feel afraid to use them. The ladies have pink gingham curtains below all the basins and there is blue gingham in the men’s.There is also carpet on the floors and pictures on the walls. The kitchen area is also very homely and the outside patio has an imitation old car against a wall (made out to look like a car halfway out of the garage), which contains a BBQ. I love it all! We are sitting in the camper van listening to a Maori radio station which has requests on it – Whanau hour (family hour). They use whanau (family)a lot on the station – we have listened to it all the way around the Cape and I think the station is based in Gisborne. A bit of local flavour! Also lots of country and western music

.Last night we stayed at a Top 10 Campsite in Gisborne, which of course was predictably of a high standard. This morning we went for a walk and had a look at the statues of Captain Cook and his cabin boy. They did not get a good reception from the local Maori so could not land and get fresh food. Therefore they named the bay Poverty Bay.

We both feel a little overdressed and have done so for a few days and realised we should have brought our woolly hats, old jumpers, jogging bottoms and gumboots (Wellingtons), which appear to be the standard dress around here. Very practical in such wet weather, but I am amazed at how they can wear gumboots all day (I can remember doing so as a child).

I may have this wrong but ‘Footrot Flats’ comes to mind. Was this cartoon series based around Gisborne? Also did Murray Ball write the cartoon sketches?

As we left Gisborne we passed the A & P show which officially starts today. I am glad I am not walking around the exhibits as there was mud everywhere but I hope for their sakes it is going to be a successful weekend.

We are enjoying the lack of tourists on the East Cape and Wairoa, and there are very few camper vans (I believe it is quite different in the summer time). Consequently everything is much cheaper but of course not so good for the local economy. I helped today by buying some wool to knit scarves which is very optimistic as I have not finished the socks yet! However I could not resist the lovely bobbly wool.
Observations from the van today showed very dirty sea water (flood water) so no beautiful blue sea. The rain has stopped thank goodness. Gum trees that have been planted in the NI do not look healthy so obviously not suited for this climate. Also blackberries are a real problem around Wairoa and if something is not done soon the hills are going to be covered completely.

We are camped beside a really wide river. Thank goodness it has stopped raining otherwise we may have found ourselves floating out to sea. Off to Lake Waikaremoana tomorrow.