Each year around 6th February, New Zealanders are treated to a long weekend which means we get Monday off. Along with the barbies and the family picnics, each region holds Waitangi Day Celebrations with public events and cultural acknowledgement of New Zealand’s most historic document Te Tiriti o Waitangi, The Treaty of Waitangi.
As we walked from the Nelson Harbour out to Tahunanui Beach today, it struck me as to how much we’re all in this together. We passed a number of fellow New Zealanders who smiled and said “hello”to us. No doubt some of these people held differing political opinions to our own, but our commonality as New Zealanders was enough on this day.
Where else in the world do we have so much freedom to be our individual selves? I love the fact that as a female, I can get into my ‘togs’ (swimwear) without fear of harassment and join other happy families. And we can openly criticize those that govern us, without fear of reprisal.
We’re a nation of adventurers – we’ll give anything a go. That’s why we’re often the first in the world to take on a new idea or trend. In other countries, banking transactions can take days or even weeks! Our banking systems are so advanced, transfers happen in one day.
We don’t have to travel far in this country to have unobstructed views of the the land where we can look for miles and not see any cars, hear the drone of lawnmowers or a stereo at full blast.
I grew up listening to the evening chorus of cicadas, Tuis and Bellbirds. They lulled me to sleep and when we head off for a break, they still do. There’s a lot to celebrate here folks.
Happy travelling.
