So, a little trivia about what we - (this one written mostly by Jay) are finding interesting about things in this wonderful country.
Nobody can seem to explain to me why doorknobs in this country are different heights and types. When we first checked into our little cottage, (c 1890's) the front doorknob was at chest height, almost 5 feet., reminded me of Britain, probably brass, with cast-iron lock. They had also installed a deadbolt on the front door. The interior doorknobs were standard height. But, when I went to the clinic, the knobs are about the level of our US knobs, above belt-line. And had modern handles, which you can push down to open doors without grasping the doorknob (there actually isn't a doorknob on these modern passage sets )
Then we went to an old hotel (1880's vintage) where the doorknobs were below waist level, actually had to stoop over to get to it. Maybe they took the old British-type doors and hung them upside down. They had old cast-iron type keys, but were re-fitted for standard lock and key. Modern motels have standard key-lock latches, sliders or dead-bolts, and are clean, well-equipped. All have kitchenettes and full cooking and eating supplies. No ventilation fans or A/C, (just open a window) no window screens, no central heat but have wall space-heaters. Many also have electric blankets that are under the bottom sheet! Most motels on the north island have free internet access. We may not be as lucky on the south island.
Then there are the toilets. Old-style has water tanks hanging on the wall, with a pullchain for flushing. Later ones had one push button on the wall tank. The modern ones are similar to our US models but have dual-action options: light or full flush, great for water economy.
See the picture of the unique urinal in the Tui Brewery, the bottom half of a beer keg. The upper half is the sink.
The people here are actually very economy and "green-clean" oriented. There is virtually no road litter, re-cycling is a given, and motels encourage re-use of towels and linens instead of daily changes. "Green" also includes use of natural resources - 15% of energy is hydroelectric, 5% geothermal with use of hot springs, geothermal wells. Abundant coal but little is used except some on the south island, with the bulk of coal exported to China, some to Australia.
Rarely see central heat, A/C or heat pumps. Space heaters and firewood are primary house heat sources.
Several storms have dropped temps into the 40-50 range, with very high winds, 50+ mph and considerable damage.
A tiny fraction of electricity comes from wind power, one full-sized windmill can supply enough electricity for 50 thousands homes for a year. We passed several wind farms - awesome sights, highly controversial due to terrain disturbance and the whooshing noise about which the locals complain. Nuclear power was banished in the 1980's, scientists want it back, the general public does not.
Petroleum products rank first in cost of imports, even though there is oil and gas here, refineries, but better prices to send it to Australia and Japan. Oil here is of poor quality and costs lots to refine, even tho production has been under way since the 1800's.
Speaking of hot air, there is a lot here (not the weather, which is warm 70-80 range, sunny, some breeze all the time) in preaching and politics. One Presbyterian minister of a mega-church of 7,000 from which he has just suddenly retired, where everyone is encouraged to tithe, and the church spends 20% of its income on public good and outreach, has been exposed as having a 1.25 million dollar house and 75K auto, a Raleigh 20 bike $1K+)stipend of 100+K plus church member donations evidently of 500+K.
His public explanation and I quote: " I kinda like me. I figured really early in life I'd better get to like me first or it would be an ugly situation. But that's not pride. I'm confident. At the same time, I'm honoured and I'm humbled to be used of God in this measure. My wife and I have lived right. We don't drink, smoke, we haven't wasted our money, we have got some wisdom behind us. Shouldn't we have a house and a car by now? ".
His name is Brian, shades of Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye. (remember the old British comedy :"The Life of Brian", tongue-in-cheek mockery of Jesus' life?) Political cartoonists are having a hey-day. Other mega-church ministers are now being outed, with huge amounts of properties and salaries. He is called Bishop Brian - which is interesting since the Presbyterians don't have bishops!!
Remember the song: "Here's to you Mrs. Robinson". Dustin Hoffman in " the Graduate": Well, I am not making this up ! Mrs. Robinson, a councilwoman in New Zealand, arranged for her teenaged lover to get a government-sponsored loan to start a restaurant. Her husband, a member of parliament, quit his post to "defend his honor" once all this hit the fan with not only her financial but personal affairs being in the public eye.
Multiple cabinet ministers have recently been caught using their government charge cards for personal items such as family vacations, wines, meals, etc., etc.; some have been censured, fined and one has quit his appointed post. This all came out as a result of a newspaper inquiry into one minister's questionable charges, then a full-disclosure of all ministers, with plenty of public embarressment, one guy had over 500K of limo charges in the LAST quarter of 2009. Another on the Traffic Safety Board resigned after being arrested for "drink-drive" before he was terminated.
The list goes on, as well as horrific tales of domestic violence and deaths, especially in the Maori, most often with alcohol as the catalyst. Amazingly light fines and sentences for the most grievous offenses. If someone is killed in the course of a felony (armed robbery) and it cant be shown the intent was to kill the victim, the charge of manslaughter is brought instead of murder. Admitting or confessing to a crime seems to almost always result in a lighter penalty - house arrest and community service instead of jail time seems to be more likely than being locked up.
On a lighter note, Beverley and I went on a sight-seeing boat-ride from New Plymouth in the Tazman Sea on a life-saving boat built in England a LONG time ago, it was ancient but sea-worthy. The captain was a 38-year career fisherman, and 20 years with this venture. His elderly dog looked like a Jack Russell and sat in a basket behind the skipper's chair. With three hook-lines trailing us, we went where the seagulls were feeding as pacific salmon were going thru, and Beverley caught two salmon, each about 15 inches. Our skipper filleted them, and we cooked them for supper, pan-cooked in butter and milk, delicious at our motel which was well furnished with kitchen supplies - better than our cottage!!
The dog was also very attentive to the lines. When they went tight, he would bark and grab one in his teeth and pull, but he didn't catch any this trip. The captain said he usually gets the first fish. They feed the fish scraps to a "pet" stingray which hangs around the boatshed all the time.
More details on travel and sighseeing in another installment. We remind everyone we want to hear from you what's going on in your world, this is not intended to be one-way communication. We are half-way thru our adventure and will have to start getting prepared to enter the other side of the world before long. Still lots to see and do before that.
It continues to sound so very interesting. You're being exposed to so many new and different experiences and I'm glad you're documenting them with photographs and your blog. We continue to do our ordinary things - social hour at the Community House tonight, going to St. Paul's for Lenten speakers. Bishop Spong is here this week and, so far, hasn't said anything that made people run from the church!He has had some good talks, though. I'm going to walk the 10K with Betty Wright Saturday and am hoping for a clear day.
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