Kōwhaiwhai (Ko - fy -fy) is a traditional Māori art form used to decorate waka (canoe) oars and the rafters of whare (fa-ray, meeting halls) in colors of red, black and white. Each pattern represents different aspects of life. These designs have been adapted to many different modern art forms. (artsonline.tki.org.nz)
Kōwhaiwhai decoration on the main meeting hall at Te Puia
Over the last weekend there was a stock car race at the Paradise Valley Raceway in Ngongotahā Valley. We watched with interest as the latest residents of the AirBnb backed not two, but three gigantic rigs full of stock cars down the lane and proceeded to park them ponderously on the lawn. For some reason, the grass doesn't get ruts from this sort of activity, in spite of all the rain. I congratulated Wayne, one of the drivers, for his amazing backing-up trailer skills.
They were here for several days and were the winners of the racing trophy. They said they would be back.
Kimy Clendon, a recent convert, with Elder Hubbard and Elder Marble. She is warm and kind and I wish I had her sense of style. She always looks good.
Kimy is devoted to making sure the missionaries are taken care of. Here she is with Sister Brown and Sister Perkins.
I have been trying different cheeses, and although NZ has good dairy products, I haven't found anything remotely resembling Darigold Colby-Jack. Although the mozzarella is very good. Tasty Cheese is a type of white cheddar.
President Nikoia called us one evening and asked us to be present for the ophthalmologist visit of Filipino Elder Genoguin, stationed in Taupo an hour away, who was driven to Rotorua by Taupo missionary Elder Fermanis, a Kiwi. Elder Genoguin, diagnosed with a detached retina, was directed to go to a consult in Hamilton for possible surgery. We haven't heard how things turned out.
I have been interested in the striking designs on Maori halls and houses. This is a building on Tarewa Road with the Kōwhaiwhai design on the roof line. Mokopuna means grandchildren.
The missionaries going home want to buy ties for their fathers, especially with the silver fern or one of the Kōwhaiwhai designs.
Kōwhaiwhai on the rafters of the meeting hall at Te Puia
Patterns on the front of a child care center
Different patterns found at Twinkl.co.nz
Puhoru represents speed, swiftness and agility, storms and tempests
Pātiki represents the flounder, symbolizing generosity and hospitality
Ngaru represents cutting of the ocean waves by the waka, canoe
Marama, the moon, or Ngutukākā, beak of the kākā bird
Mangōpare, the hammerhead shark: strength, courage and power
Kōwhai Ngutukākā, flowers of the kākā beak plant
Koru--unfurling fronds of a fern, also, the waves of the ocean, and energy flow
Koiri--the koru pattern turning back into itself. Self reflection, nurturing, and flourishing.
Kōwhaiwhai tiki fence at Government Gardens
Typical traditional Kōwhaiwhai of the Te Arawa tribe of Rotorua Lakes, from The New Zealand National Library
Wiki, who is recovering splendidly from her surgery with the help of Robbie and physical therapy, is keenly interested in her whakapapa, genealogy. She came over one day and we looked up her family on FamilySearch.org. She was thrilled to see names of her relatives and ancestors.
Elder Rooks and I took our daily walk to Spotlight, so we could get a sewing kit for Elder Watson, who will be learning simple mending.
Another day, our walk took us to the tallest building we could find in Rotorua, which seems to be the Pullman Hotel
There was a basketball tournament going on at the Events Center which some of the basketball-playing missionaries really wish they could go to.
A map of the Rotorua bus services, with the usual Kia Ora greeting in several languages. In looking for Tarewa Rd on the map, we are reminded again that our address doesn't belong to any of the neighborhoods, which is why our mail keeps getting misdirected
We stopped at Lady Jane's Ice Cream Parlour next to the downtown food courts for bowls of Tip Top ice cream
President Nikoia was in town with his family, who were participating in the basketball tournament. He finished his interviews with the young missionaries, then came to visit us. We had a nice long conversation, during which Sis. K called wondering why the elders couldn't trim her hedges without an adult male present. I gave the phone to Pres. Nikoia, whew, and he straightened that out. It turns out that they could trim her hedges as long as they weren't interacting, since she is a single woman.
So we went to visit Sis. K the next day and stayed quite awhile in such pleasant and interesting company. I took a picture of this pink version of Tibouchina in her yard. It is growing very large and soon the elders will need to trim it, too. We decided that we would all go to the Hamilton Temple to do some of her family sealings in February, along with a friend of hers.
Sis. K., who also goes by Chris, told me I needed to get my hair cut and even made the appointment for me on the spot. I'm sure she is right since I have been neglecting my hair for six months. So we went to Cutz 4 U and found the pink-haired Diane, who was watching for our name tags. She gave me a pretty short cut that should last awhile. I will post pictures when the time is right.
I think this is a crack willow, named thusly because "shoots snap with an audible crack." I could be wrong since crack willows are generally shrub-sized, although trees, shrubs and flowering plants seem to grow quite large here
I didn't try snapping any shoots.
You can hear the cicadas, which can be loud at times. Here they are making noise at Kuirau Park
Crocosmia blooming all over town
Another beautiful sunset
The moon is very bright this week.
I took this picture with a Cool Night Sky camera scene setting
I took this picture with a Cool Night Sky camera scene setting
I couldn't resist this glass pukeko, which I can take home with me. It will not shriek or eat plums.
Long-legged adolescent pukekos still sticking close to Mom & Dad
