Remodelled Puhoi Cheese

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Ransom Wines Warkworth

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Northcote

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(G15)

How Kiwis celebrate mothers day

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Grass

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Cake at Eves Pantry - Takapuna

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More Morris and James

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Sunrise , Chelsea Sugar Refinery, Birkenhead

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Taniwha meets the Dragon

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Promoted as the world’s first Taniwha and Dragon Festival,  a celebration of the bonds between Maori and Chinese people took place on Saturday 27 April 2013.

Auckland's Chinese community were formally welcomed with a pòwhiri on to Òràkei Marae by Ngàti Whàtua warriors and whànau, and accompanied by a a dancing Chinese dragon.

"From our ancestors who left Asia millennia ago to settle the vast Pacific Ocean, to our Chinese friends and family who have worked, settled and raised families across Aotearoa over the past two centuries - our eternal ties to Asia can be found in our language, cultures and peoples," said Hon Pita Sharples.(centre top)

A slightly unusual experience for me being neither Chinese nor Maori. The linkages with Asian culture can be found here Maori in the "origins" section there is an interesting map illustrating the migration of Pacific Peoples from Asia.

(Taniwha)

Orange Cake

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Orange Cake from the Edmonds Cook book.

Significant deviant items.

1, Only the third cake I ever made

2, I used the rind off three oranges instead of one

3, My baking dish was not deep enough – hence somewhat toasted exterior

4, I made toffee, and re-dissolved it in the orange juice reduced it and poured it over the top (not in the recipe)

Result

Cake heaven , oh yes 

Porter Pass

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Mt Taranaki , National Park northern entrance

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One last Gannet ....

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Art in the form of a trim flat white coffee L'Assiette Cafe Brittomart Place Auckland

More of those Gannets

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(Canon 50D and 70-200 4L IS) 

Gannets at Murawai

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New Plymouth coastline

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Busy Kiwi beach over Easter

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Mt Taranaki National Park

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Morris and James

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More of those early morning pictures

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Reflections

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Getting darker at the ferry each day ....

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The view from my regular lunch table in the PWC building

Auckland City - Round the bays fun run / walk

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Tamaki Drive looking west towards the city 15 mins from the start

Looking to the east.
More than 70,000 took part including 42,000 official entries.
The fastest person did the official 8.4km in just under 37m. 
We took around two hours to walk it with the masses. 

At Oraki Road

Family at Long Bay

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Sunrise over Rangitoto

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Lantern festival part 3

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(Canon G15)

Autumn harvest

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Auckland waterfront at night

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Auckland Art Gallery from Albert Park

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(Canon G15)