February 3, 2023
The aroma of sulfur greeted us as we left the kiwi enclosure and rushed to see the small geyser just starting to erupt. Enshrouded in swirls of warm steam, we wandered throughout the mud pots, geysers and hot springs of Rotorua. A gentle rain fell, but it was not noticeable mixed as it was with the damp condensation as the hot bursts of water met the cooler air. The effect was beautiful, like wandering through a misty wonderland.
Earlier, we had glimpsed a kiwi bird in the darkened enclosure. No pictures were allowed of this rarely-seen bird as it is nocturnal and would be disturbed by any lights from the cameras or cell phones. The kiwi is the national bird of New Zealand. In fact, New Zealanders are often affectionately called “Kiwis” and they have named their popular fuzzy brown-skinned fruit the kiwi as well. The kiwi is an unusual bird. It can’t fly and has not tail. It has furry feathers that have even been used to make clothing in the past prior to the conservation efforts to protect the kiwi. However, humans are not the biggest threat to kiwis. The animals they have brought to New Zealand are. In particularly stoats (similar to weasels and ferrets) and dogs threaten the kiwi bird. New Zealanders who live near kiwi habitat are now encouraged to train their dogs to be “kiwi-averse”, so they don’t attack the rare birds.
We next entered the renowned New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute. Students are trained in the traditional Maori carving and weaving, as well as other skills. It is an honor to study here and they do commission work for many places throughout New Zealand and Internationally as well.
The carvers learn traditional carving patterns. They incorporate these patterns and other Maori traditions to create new visions for entryways, performance stages, sculptures, and tools.
Weavers learn out to work with traditional materials like the flax plant to weave clothing, baskets, kites, and other beautiful work.
We returned to the bus and drove to the Polynesian Hot Springs. Birdsong, the hum of cicada, and the crying of gulls competed in the background as we relaxed in natural pools while gazing out on the beautiful Lake Rotorua.
Our final stop was a kiwi farm where we sampled some delicious golden kiwi and learned about how the kiwi vine is grown in New Zealand. Originally this delicious fruit came from China and was known as the Chinese gooseberry. However, it grew so well in the lush volcanic soil of New Zealand, that it became a profitable industry. Wanting a name that made the buyer think of New Zealand, it was rechristened the kiwi.
Even the dogs protect the kiwis!