I love public holidays. They’re a chance to unwind from the stresses of work, have a sleep in, if you want and talk non stop about how exciting it is to have a four day week. (I am truly looking forward to being able to make travel my job at some point this year!)
Being an expat in New Zealand, I’ve had to get used to only having 20 days of annual leave per year, as opposed to the UK of 25 days (I know Canada only has 2 weeks leave per year … which quite frankly is disgusting!), so I’ve come to value public (or bank) holidays here a lot more. If I plan in advance enough to be able to get cheap flights, I can often be out exploring another part of New Zealand.
The first of New Zealand’s public holidays, after the New Year (New Zealander’s get the 1st and 2nd of January off!) occurs on February 6th. Waitangi Day is New Zealand’s National day. Perhaps similar to Independence Day in the USA, but definitely not the same as St George’s or St Patrick’s Day (were it seems an excuse to drink all day).
Waitangi Day has a lot of cultural importance and significance in New Zealand. February 6th 1840 was the day in which the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, in Waitangi (which is in Northland, NZ).
The treaty was an agreement between the indigenous people (Māori) and the Crown (British) to have access to their land and equal rights to non Māori peoples (Pakeha).
I have never realised the importance of Waitangi Day or the Treat, until I came to live and work in New Zealand. The core principles of the treaty and its relevance to healthcare was something I needed to be aware of when I moved here. The above is recited from memory, not Wikipedia!
I have been to Waitangi, in Northland, back in 2011, but at the time, didn’t realise how significant of a place it was.
On my first year here, I spent Waitangi Day near Abel Tasman National Park – camping.
This year, I had the opportunity to go to Okains Bay, near Akaroa, which is about a 1.5 to 2 hour drive out of Christchurch.
I headed over with another up coming Traveller -Jerome Weirsma the hair gypsy who is due to travel to South America in May, using hair cutting to fund himself.
The day was beautifully warm, blue skies everywhere. What I love about driving to the Banks Peninsula is stunning colour of be water – similar to Lake Tekapo, stunningly blue!
I’ve only been to this area a few times since I’ve been living in Christchurch – I swam with Dolphin’s and did some horse trekking there last year.
I had such a relaxing day at Okains Bay. It is quite a secluded bay, with a beach that stretches for a wee while. The whole day was spent sitting in the sun, walking on the beach, paddling in the sea and eating picnic food.
Such a relaxing day, with plenty of down time with friends. Well needed.
If you want to visit Okains Bay whilst in the Christchurch area – head south along State Highway 75 towards Tai Tapu. A stop at the Tai Tapu store for a coffee or morning tea is highly recommended. Here you can pick up some local art and souvenirs.
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