Elder Rooks was on his way to fix a cupboard door upstairs in the Stake Center when he hurt his achilles tendon. So it has been Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation, and we haven't been able to walk very much this week.
Tuesday, February 6th, is the national celebration of New Zealand's founding documents. Called Waitangi Day, it is observed over all the North and South Islands. I didn't want to miss Rotorua's Waitangi Day celebration.
Two parti-colored ladies on stilts. They walked around like this all day long, seemingly enjoying themselves. I don't know how they stay up there.
Fortunately, the Mylers remembered our predicament. Rebekah, mother of four boys, invited me to come along with them. It was fun to be grandmother for a day
The Parade of Flags in front of Wai Ariki Spa, where the event was held. It was traditionally held on the lake shore, but Ohinemutu is having recurring geothermal outbursts, and a boiling pool showed up where it shouldn't. The Spa was a wonderful venue, though.
Several of the pictures here were borrowed from WaitangiDayRotorua's Facebook page -- Waitangi, For the Love of the People. I asked Maori friends about Waitangi Day, and got the answer that New Zealand needed to return to the original reasons for the founding documents. The message from Tania Tapsell, Rotorua's mayor, was one of unity and inclusiveness.
Google Search featured Waitangi Day
One of the performing groups, warming up
There was dancing and music from Pacific Islanders
More music and more islanders
The crowd was large and appreciative
I saw this booth with hand woven items and couldn't resist looking in
This happy gentleman was Nepalese. His family weaves everything in his booth
So I treated myself to a sturdy-looking handwoven Nepalese bag complete with zippers
There was also a table with hand-made soap, another weakness of mine
These are kawakawa and kumarahou soaps and should only be used once a week. This is serious soap.
If I weren't leaving New Zealand in a few months, I would have bought some plants. The Kōwhai, Sophora Macrophylla, is the unofficial national tree of New Zealand, but will not survive in Fruitland, Idaho.
We were invited to tour the spa, guarded by fearsome tikis. Three of the Myler boys let me tag along while Rebekah took their younger brother to the craft table. As the tour began, the guide read the Karakia, prayer, for a blessing
The spa pools overlook Lake Rotorua. You are not supposed to put your head under the geothermal water.
These are comfortable-looking tile beds where you can lie down and apply a thin coat of famous Rotorua mud to yourself. You are not allowed back in the pools after this.
The karakia at the end of the tour. There was also a sauna and cold water walk. It all looked very relaxing.
The stilt ladies, still upright
This is Thomas, a lovely Maori gentleman who recognized my missionary badge, and told me how he and his family were still faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We shook hands before we parted.
Here is Marina and her Miracle Cake Basket. The Myler boys wanted everything they saw and settled for cake pops, and wanted to go back for more.
Marina does have miraculous cakes. I have a weakness for carrot cake, and gave into Marina's yellow-frosted trio inside a nice little box. It's possible that the absence of Elder Rooks enabled me to support the local vendors to such an extent. I did actually save some cake to take home to him and his elevated ankle.
Here Rebekah is getting a temporary Moko, chin tattoo
She looks like a proper Wahine, don't you think?
When Conrad, the dad, showed up after spending the morning doing American taxes, I said goodbye and walked back home via the lakefront road. It was a lovely day and I enjoyed it all. I waved at the swans and ducklings, which are getting pretty big by now.
At home, I checked in the garden, and picked our first Telegraph cucumber. There are several more to come. They are crunchy and sweet.
Mr. Pukeko, sneaking around
