Friday 14 April 2023

SEASIDE 2

We went to Pataua today - north and south, 



We drove to Pataua South as that's closest to where we live and walked across the footbridge to Pataua North on the other side of the estuary.


Both sides have lovely beaches




Pataua South and Pataua North are quite quirky and it's like going back to New Zealand in the 1970s with tiny baches on large seafront sections that are separated by high hedges. Pataua North is becoming gentrified (as it is more easily accessed from Whangarei (Pataua South is accessed via Whangarei Heads where we live) with many of the old baches being replaced by multi-million dollar 'cottages'. 

Pataua South, being more in Maori ownership hasn't yet been developed so there are more of the smaller houses, tumbledown sheds and open spaces. Pataua South is home to strong Maori political activists and alternative life-style people and this shows in some of the signage around. During the Covid lockdowns in 2020 locals closed off the road and set up their own 'passport control'.



Have a close look at these mailboxes that are in Pataua South (you may have to enlarge them). The numbering system is erratic and may be a way of hiding in plain sight from the police, the IRD, the council or government departments in general.


4 comments:

Robert Sees Things in Sky said...

Pataua South, Pataua North. Maybe you need a Shepherd team to check them out, especially if you notice any eyes glowing red!

THE CURMUDGEON said...

No.

Richard (of RBB) said...

The sheep fears the wolf, only to be eaten by the shepherd.

THE CURMUDGEON said...

Casseroles don't have to be about canned ingredients and vegetables you normally wouldn't even think of eating alone, much less stuck in between layers of sauce and breadcrumbs. They can vary from everyone's favorite all-time casserole, macaroni and cheese, to the ultimate English casserole, Shepherd's Pie.

Marcus Samuelsson