Redwoods Treewalk

We finally visited the world-famous Rotorua Redwoods Treewalk. We had a return visit from Elder Jack and Sister Charlene Welsh, who have been attending all the Seminary and Institute graduations across the Hamilton Mission area. They came with us to the Tarawera Ward Honouring Our Ancestors activity on Saturday, went to the Fairy Springs and Tarawera Wards on Sunday, had dinner with us, and then invited us to go with them Monday morning to the Rotorua Redwoods Treewalk.

One of 27 suspension bridges and platforms of the Redwoods Treewalk

Saturday evening was the Tarawera Ward's "Honouring Our Ancestors" activity. You brought pictures of your ancestors and put them on the table, dressed how your ancestor would dress, and we were led in a salsa, conga line, and listened to songs and instructions in Spanish and Maori. This seems to be because the natural-born emcee President Maea, a counselor in the Stake Presidency, lived in Spain for a year and was familiar with the Mexican Dia de los Muertos, so we had piñatas, sombreros and skull decorations, like those in the Disney movie "Coco." Apparently Coco is a popular movie in this part of the world. A few of us, including myself, could understand when Spanish was spoken. Many more could speak Maori, however.

We were treated to a Maori Haka with dancers  dressed in Mexican costume. That is President Maea speaking at the last. 

The conga line, including the Elders and Sisters and the stake president. Elder Welsh said this was the best Honoring Your Ancestors activity he had ever been to.

Bev, sitting next to me, is wearing work clothes belonging to her grandmother. Sitting next to Bev is Carmen from South Africa, wearing the colors of the Springboks, the South African rugby team that won the World Cup against the New Zealand All-Blacks. She didn't get too much grief from the New Zealanders about it

On Sunday we attended the investigators' class with Sister Linton and Sister Pancheri. Here they are teaching about the Plan of Salvation. Those in attendance asked perceptive questions and got thoughtful answers from friends who were sitting with them.

We had a relaxing evening chatting with the Welshes about life in New Zealand

Elder and Sister Rooks

Monday we drove to the Rotorua Redwoods Treewalk in Whakarewarewa, famous internationally. It even gained the notoriety of having the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit during their four-day tour of New Zealand in 2018. 

You turn from Tarawera Road onto Titokorangi Drive into the redwood forest

There is also a Nightights Walk, which is lit up after dark along the suspension bridges, platforms, and the dozens of hanging lanterns designed by renowned sculptor David Trubridge

We asked this fellow why he wanted a job climbing to the tops of redwood trees, checking the strength of the suspension bridges, platforms, and the health of the trees. He said he didn't like college, but he liked climbing rock walls. This seemed to be a good way to expand that skill.

This is the kind of thing he does all day--climbing to the tops of giant redwoods

The redwoods planted here are Sequoia Sempervirens, California Redwoods. New Zealand is a lumber exporting country. Redwoods were planted 120 years ago to see if they were commercially viable, but the climate is so favorable to the growth of these trees that they grow faster than they do in California, resulting not in hardwood lumber, but a softer and less valuable wood. So the forest has become a tourist attraction.

Undergrowth ferns. These are probably Black Tree ferns, which I originally thought were Silver ferns

Ferns love New Zealand. Another plant that does not like Fruitland, Idaho.

Me and Elder Rooks on one of the platforms

Elder and Sister Welsh on the platform bench. The walk takes 30-40 minutes and was not taxing, although we ambled our way through it and enjoyed it immensely

Elder Rooks next to one of the decorative sphere lanterns

More lanterns. The passes we bought are good for one year, so we might return sometime to see the Nighlights

One last suspension bridge before the end

I finally finished my first harakeke kete, basket woven of New Zealand flax. It isn't a very good job, but I learned a lot.

Fleabane growing like crazy, the same Erigeron Karvinskianus that grows like crazy in Chile. I've tried planting it in Fruitland, Idaho, but no luck with this one either.

Another delightful fragrance on our lane, traced to the lemon tree which has been simultaneously blooming and bearing fruit since we arrived

Elder Rooks finally finished hacking and chopping the logs lying around our back yard. Now he will have to find some other way  to get a workout

Sad news for Mr. and Mrs. Pukeko. We heard an altercation in the back yard, and found Mrs. Pukeko attacking the ginger cat, who had apparently eaten the remaining little black chick. It all blew over very quickly. We haven't seen much of Mr. and Mrs. Pukeko since. Some clutches must be growing into adulthood, though, because we still see full grown swamp hens running wild in Rotorua.