Volume XVI, No. 2

DECEMBER 2003

A NEW VIEW OF NEW ZEALAND

By Siew Hoon Yeoh

It has been ten years since I visited New Zealand. My impressions of boring food --- mainly lamb chops and cream, nothing to do at night, and more sheep than people were still strong.

This time the scenery blew me away, as it did the last time. New Zealand is one of those places blessed with more stunning scenery than the human eye and mind know how to deal with.

As someone fed on a strict diet of skyscrapers, concrete blocks, traffic jams and crowded streets, one can go instantly into something I have called "nature shock".

The heart starts slowing down, the lungs start expanding and the eyes start glazing over-how is it possible for skies to be that blue, forests to be that green and mountains to be so white?

In my six days in New Zealand, I realized how little, yet how much, has changed since my last visit. What's not changed is the scenery (as mind-blowing as ever). What's changed is the creativity and sophistication that is coming through in the food, wine, lodging, design, fashion and arts.

I indulged in a meal where I ate and drank everything the "new" New Zealand had to offer in one sitting. That included 15 types of local wine. I guess after ten years my hosts decided I needed an instant massive catch-up.

Accommodation is far more varied and sophisticated-although personally, I am not sure I would choose to stay in a place decorated with terracotta warriors from China when I visited New Zealand.

In Nelson I stayed at a delightful bed and breakfast which evoked memories of an English country home. The hosts were warm-if only the bathroom was!

The World of Wearable Arts is about the most creative and zaniest event I have seen. As I sat through two hours of the fashion show, I thought, "This is the "new" New Zealand". A New Zealand that is creative and wants to be interactive. Thing is, interaction is a two-way street. And Kiwis too have to learn how to interact with their visitors, especially those who don't speak English and are not as familiar with Western customs.

Personally, my one wish would be to have more interaction with the Maon culture. That to me is what differentiates New Zealand from other Anglo- Saxon destinations such as the US, England or Australia. But that remains elusive.

Interaction takes several forms though-and I am sure New Zealand counts shopping as one of them. I went home carrying two huge packets of Kapiti cheese and four bottles of pinot noir from the Waitiri Creek winery. They go very well with fish head curry and rice on banana leaves.

THEN THERE WERE TWO...

The famous Three Sisters rock pinnacles on Taranaki's coast have become Two Sisters and a stump.

High seas have fmally toppled one of the rocks, leaving only a bit of the base sticking out of the sea.

The Three Sisters were popular with photo graphers, appearing on many postcards promoting the region.

New Plymouth photographer Pat Greenfield, who was in Tongaporutu, north of New Plymouth, on Monday taking photographs as part of a year-long photo essay on the coastline, said most of the smallest sister had been washed out to sea.

"There's only about a metre left of it because the top half has toppled over. The pedestal is there but

the statue has gone. It's quite sad really," Mrs. Greenfield said.

Parani Gibbs of Tongaporutu, said locals had been down to the Sisters to take photos of what was left.

"We had been waiting for it to happen. The coast around here has had a hell of a thrashing in the last few days, especially on Sunday night," Mrs. Gibbs said.

Tongaporutu residents have known for a while that it was only a matter of time before The Three Sisters became two.

In June, the smallest sister partially collapsed into the sea after it succumbed to erosion.

The Department of Conservation said at the time big high tides, rough seas, rain and wind would have contributed to the gradual erosion of the stack.

The remaining sisters are expected to also eventually erode away. They already have big cracks in them and are gradually getting thinner.

United States actor Tom Cruise swam at the beach this year during breaks from filming The Last Samurai at nearby Uruti.

THE ANCESTRAL HOMELAND -

from The Story of the Maori People by G. L. Pearce

Until comparatively recently the story of the Maori people could not be traced back with any degree of certainty for more than a few hundred years befire it vanished into the mists of legend. Beyond the legends lay myths even more insubstantial-and that was the apparent limit of research.

Now, however, the story is very different. The painstaking work of archaeologists, the careful obser vations and deductions of anthropologists, and the research of linguists have established facts that were not even guessed at before and have corrected many previous misconceptions. Radio-carbon dating, too, has given us a time-scale, and not only enables us to decide conclusively that certain finds in various localities date from the same period, but has even determined their actual age within reasonably close limits.

The work is still proceeding and much is obscure even now, but the fog is lifting, landmarks are beginning to appear and the general direction of the pathway is becoming more apparent every day. We now reckon Maori history in terms of thousands of years instead of hundreds, and can look back to the Neolithic period of South-East Asia, four thousand years ago, for our starting point.

All the evidence points to the racial origin of the Maon people as being basically Proto-Asian, the eastern section of that undifferentiated population which nine or ten thousand years ago extended in a wide belt from the Atlantic to the China Sea.

To the north, in the Gobi region, an isolated group of Proto-Asians slowly developed physical features which are now classed as Mongoloid, whereas those in an area extending inland from the coasts of south China, Vietnam and Thailand appear to have retained many of the original characteristics of both Proto-Asian and Proto-European.

As far as the British Isles, there are Keriy folk in Ireland, dark Scots in the Highlands and thousands of people in the western parts of England and Wales, descendants of Mediterranean settlers of perhaps fiye thousand years ago, who differ little in features from their distant relatives, the Maon. In Spain and in Italy the resemblance is even more marked; a Maori in a crowded street of Seville or Naples would pass unnoticed among the Spaniards or Italians around him.

We must not imagine that any of these populations were there in large numbers. It has been observed that a single family dependent entirely upon hunting or food-gathering needs a hundred square miles of territory to itself if the food-supplies are not to be too depleted to support it. All the evidence so far available indicates that the inhabitants of much of South-East Asia were at this stage five thousand years ago.

On the coast of South China, however, there are signs of a level of culture in which primitive agn culture had begun, but the little scattered settlements were still largely dependent upon fish and shell-fish. These people were a step ahead of those further south, but their mode of life was still not far enough advanced to permit a significant increase in the density of population, so that presumably the inhabitants moved on when food supplies decreased.

Migration because of food shortage was apparently frequent among these people, but such a situation was a strictly localised one, and it is unlikely that by itself it could have brought about the steady outward movement which obviously took place. We must look further afield beyond the Yangtse-kiang to where the Mongoloid peoples were increasing in

number and expanding southward, a process possibly accelerated by the steady desiccation of the Gobi desert and adjacent areas.

The inhabitant of a flimsy hut beside the South China Sea would have known extremely little of the outside world-and cared less. But as the Mongoloid Chinese moved in, the original inhabitants would find that the delicate balance of adjustment to the conditions of their life was upset. Many remained where they were, changed their way of life and became absorbed into the incoming Mongoloid popu lation. Others moved southward and eastward, setting up a chain-reaction which was to have far-reaching effects.

There was no massive migration. Each individual family or small community had to make its own decision and those who left would have gone in small groups, but it was a movement spread over hundreds of years which was to take the men of the mainland first into the island groups festooned between Asia and Australia and eventually into and across the Pacific itself.

From the coast of South China the nearest islands are Taiwan and the Philippines. It is here that the recent deductions of linguists and the excavations of archaeologists have combined to form a picture of communities of people about 3000 B.C., largely Proto-Asian in origin, sharing the same elements of culture and speaking a common language which linguists have named Austronesian.

By tracing related words in Pacific languages it is possible to reconstruct a vocabulary of this origin al language and so learn something of the way of life of those who spoke it. The Austronesians, for it is convenient to apply the linguistic term to the people themselves, depended largely on fishing and culti vated crops such as taro, yam, banana, sugar-cane, breadfruit and coconut. It is clear that fishing was well developed and that they were accustomed to the use of outrigger canoes.

As more and more evidence comes to light, so the certainty grows that it is in this area, the Philippines and possibly Taiwan, that the first Hawaiki was located.

DINING IN CHRISTCHURCH

At the Christchurch Tramway Restaurant we'd like to change your views on restaurant dining.

The city of Chiistchurch, New Zealand, is world famous for its fabulous dining, entertainment, breath-taking scenery and cultural heritage. Combine

all of the above aboard the Christchurch Tramway Restaurant where dining is not only a culinary delight but also a trip back into history.

We invite you to sit back in the luxury of our air-conditioned, colonial style, a Ia carte dining tram and be treated to the fmest service, cuisine and beverages that New Zealand has to offer.

In addition to our daily dining experiences, the Christchurch Tramway Restaurant is available for special events such as birthdays, weddings, and business functions. The tram can seat up to a maximum of 36 diners.

• Breakfast, lunch, morning and afternoon

tea available for whole group bookings only (mm. of 20 people)

• Reservations are essential

• Departs Cathedral Square Tram stop at

7:30pm

For further information and reservations tel. 03 366 7511.

GALLOWAY INTERNATIONAL

-PLASTICS INNOVATOR

"Mommy, Mommy, can we go play at McDonalds?" If you've agreed to this question any time recently, chances are your children have had fun on a New Zealand designed and produced playground system.

Galloway International is one of only three internationally approved suppliers of playground designs and components to McDonalds worldwide. Over 500 playground installations in 40 countries is testament to the visionary, innovative approach Galloway takes in all its endeavors.

The company also produces Rhino road crash barriers, Aqua Tank water storage tanks, rotationally moulded pontoon plastic boats, in fact many of the innovative new plastic products that are in common use today.

KING KONG--PETER JACKSON'S NEW EPIC

Hollywood studio Universal and The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson are teaming up to create another fantasy masterpiece-a remake of the 1930s classic King Kong. The multi-million dollar project, described by Jackson as the realization of a boyhood dream, is likely to commence production in New Zealand mid 2004. The film, which will feature visual effects by the Oscar-winning Weta Workshop is scheduled for release in 2005.

ARROWTOWN (from pim Dodge's newsletter)

Arrowtown is very near Skipper's Canyon, a spot so penious that rental car companies forbid using the path that goes to it. The views going down to Arrowtown are spectacular-scenic and glorious.

Arrowtown itself could have been transplanted intact from the Sierra foothills of Cali fornia. It is a restored 19th century mining village, its main street lined with Arts and Crafts shops and hearty restaurants. It once was in the heart of New Zealand's Gold Rush which took place a dozen years after the American one.

Gold was washed down from the South Island's mountains, scrubbed by snowmelt and glacier-fed rivers which are broad, flat and shallow beds of alluvial gravel. Jet boats were invented in NZ and you can see why.

It is close to this area where you can bungee jump-invented in 1988 by Henry Van Asch and his smooth-talking buddy A. J. Hackett. YOU TOO can try this, jumping from a platform half the height of the Empire State Building's observation deck, suspended between the two cliffs on either side of the Kawarau River near Queenstown. Full of safety devices, this half-million-dollar rig eliminates any chance encounter of danger, OR-in recent years, a spot at Bob's Peak will also provide you with the opportunity to try this sport. Bet you can hardly wait!!

I have a sticker on the back of my car "I bungee jumped in New Zealand". The cost of the jump is about $175 and the cost of the sticker was $1.00. Guess which I spent money on!!!

(pim Dodge, Travel Writer, Host and Speaker, P.O. Box 769, 649 Crystal Ave., Frankfort Ml 49635)

MUSIC -- NEW ZEALAND

Modern Maori Music: Hinewehi Mohi is the voice of modern Maori music in New Zealand. Mohi's iwi (tribes) are Kahungunu and Tuhoe and she passion ately promotes Macni language and culture in her music. Her modern interpretations of traditional Maori themes and music blend with Pacific rhythm and haunting chants to form a unique brand of contemporary pop. Her ground-breaking 1999 album Oceania was produced in association with Killing Joke's Jar Coleman and has been described as "Maori musical culture meeting the modern world". Oceania received huge international airplay and acclaim. Mohi also sang the New Zealand national anthem in Maori at New Zealand's first match of the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Legendary soprano: Acclaimed soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, who made her international debut at Covent Garden in 1971, is New Zealand's best-known operatic voice. She returned to Covent Garden in March 2001 to celebrate an incredible 30-year association with the Royal Opera House. Dame Kiri remains one of the leading sopranos of her generation, whose career highlight was to sing at the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana at St. Paul's Cathedral in 1981 in front of an audience of 750 million worldwide. In recent years she has been reducing the number of performances that she gives, leading to speculation her swansong is near.

KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE-

AND MAKE IT SQUEAKY from STUFF)

Move over Rover-you're history. Make way for Sam the dog of the new millennium.

The simple, single-syllable name Sam has emerged as New Zealand's most popular canine name, findings of a survey of 250 vets throughout the country show.

Fido, Fifi and Trixibell are old hat and descriptive former favourites Buster, Bruiser and Boss don't even rate a mention.

Today it's Sam. And if it's not Sam, the chances are it's Max or Ben with Jess following in the trail.

And we're not alone. A similar US survey shows the two most popular dog names in the United States are Max ... and Sam.

So what's in a name? Plenty, according to Tux corporate services manager Maurice Gunnell.

"We love our dogs and short abbreviated names help us communicate easily with them"

Mr. Gunnell says the increasing use of human names for dogs reflects the extent to which New Zea landers think of their pets as part of the family.

But while individuality and style may not be important to the average house-bound pooch, it is for working dogs and those who work them.

Detective Sergeant Murray Morrissey of the Auckland police dog handling section says most police dogs have single-syllable names, but there are some that don't, reflecting the style and individuality of dogs within the current muster.

These include Chaos and Vandal, Sabre, Kaiser and Yaeger.

Mr. Morrissey says Sams and the odd Max or two have served in the past, but they're names that no longer cut it in the force.

"We've got a Bob, Gnz and Zak. There's Jake and Luke, Raz and Cole but no Sam or Max, Jess or Ben."

Dog behaviouristFlip Calkoen says there is a very good reason for single-syllable names-dogs simply respond better.

"While dogs can learn up to 500 commands they struggle to recognise detailed words."

And a tip for owners struggling to teach old dogs new tricks-squeak.

"New commands should be executed with a pleasant, friendly and slightly higher pitch."

A GREAT BARRIER TRAMP (XtraMSN)

Great Barrier is one of New Zealand's largest off shore islands, north of the Coromandel in the Hauraki Gulf It is home to the most beautiful beaches, amazing scenery, untouched landscape, and beautiful fauna and flora, with plenty to keep even the most ad venturous traveller enterained.

The arrival of our wee boy Teva proved to be the perfect excuse to go visit our friends Penny and Mike at Oasis Lodge on Great Barrier Island and it gave us the chance to do a bit of tramping and check out what the local tracks had to offer.

Determined not to let a 6-week-old baby hold us up, we went anned with a good pair of tramping boots, plenty of food and water and a very contented Teva strapped into the front pack.

There are plenty of short walks to be found on the island, but we decided it was thne for a bit more of an adventure so we caught a ride to Claris with Mike (he also runs the only pharmacy on the island) with the aim to cross the highest part of the island from Claris to Port Fitzroy.

This may sound extremely adventurous, but in truth the highest point on the island is only 621 metres above sea level and the tracks are fairly well marked.

So back packs and front packs filled we were dropped off at the start of the Kaitoke Hot Spring Track. The track runs alongside the Kaitoke swamp, an easy walk, which unfortunately led us to develop a false sense of security where our fitness was con cerned: this was definitely the easiest part of the tramp!

The track crosses over the stream and arrives at the Kaitoke Hot Springs. These are a series of natural sulphurous springs, which have been dammed to create deep pools. Take care as these can be extremely hot and they could easily burn the unsuspecting tramper.

Travelling north the Kaitoki track meets the Tramline Track, which joins the east coast island road to Whangaparapara Harbour and is a 5-hour tramp in its own right. It follows the old tramlines that were cut straight across the island to pull the log-laden trams to the coast. We cut across part of the Tramline Track and then turned off at Peach Tree track, which follows the ridge to Mt Hobson, otherwise known as Kirakimata.

The beginning of the Peach Tree Track junction is fairly level and we found the walking relatively easy, however the route can be a bit sketchy in places. Occasional poles, which are at times hard to follow, mark the track but keeping an eye on the land scape helped us to see which direction to look in.

As we rounded Mt Heale towards Hirakimata the track became very steep. At this point we stopped often to take photos (you may note that photos are always taken on the steepest routes where rests are needed more!). When we reached the summit (a high wooden platform with steps to protect plant life) we were surprised to see a visitor's book in a little weatherproof box.

Regardless of the steep climb and our exhausted bodies the view from Mt Hobson was spectacular. We were fortunate to have the most beautiful clear day so we could see for miles. A great place to enjoy lunch while we debated which had been the heavier load. Teva in the front pack or the food, spare clothing (which there was plenty of as it was a really hot day and the layers kept being discarded) and camera gear in the backpack.

Once we had recuperated we decided to check out the kauri dams on our way down to Port Fitzroy- the important word here, we thought, was "down", thinking that it would be an easy route to the west coast. In actual fact we should have read the guide notes a little closer as the track is extremely steep and even has ropes to help you "swing" down where needed-not recommended when carrying a six-week- old baby! The track takes you past rocky outcrops to the lower kauri dam (all of which are reasonably unstable so stay well clear!)

The final ascent into Port Fitzroy was down Coopers Castle route descending the southern ridge, through the forest canopy with views of both sides of the island. On the way down we stopped at the Coopers Castle lookout, a large rock bluff with a vertical fall to the bush below. A scary but awesome sight.

The landscape of this interior forest is a real mix, with kaun and hardwood forest, craggy cliff for-

mations, hot pools, waterfalls and rivers, and an abundance of bird life. Surrounded by sheer rock cliffs the forest is remarkable for its regeneration and lushness. A very dramatic landscape.

One thing that surprised me was the absence of the huge trees, especially kauri trees, which I had expected to see on our journey. Looking at the Barner from the air on our arrival it is hard to imagine that this remote and pristine looking environment was once extensively logged and consequently much of the flora is relatively new.

When we finally arrived at Port Fitzroy, we felt a real sense of achievement. I always find it great to be able to walk from one point to another and not have to retrace your steps. However, this did mean we had to find our way back to the Oasis Lodge, and so were extremely grateful to catch a ride with a friendly local back to another one of Mike and Penny's fantastic meals.

Great Barrier is a very remote part of New Zealand with much land untouched and unexplored and care needs to be taken when heading out on any tramp. One of the short hikes we went on during a previous visit to the island (which should have taken us approximately half an hour) was not clearly marked and we ended up taking the wrong path out, turning the walk into a much longer hike.

Luckily we were close enough to the road and the sound of a passing car (which are also few and far between) alerted us to our wrong turn and set us back to our car. I would hate to think what may have happened if the car had not passed when it did...

Getting There and Around. Great Barrier Island can be reached by plane, which takes about half an hour from Auckland or North Shore airport, or can be reached by car ferry, which takes over 4 hours.

In the summer months, Fullers also offers trips on the Jet Raider, which takes around 2 and a half hours. One of the difficulties once on Great Barrier is getting around. Transport around the island is scarce and you need to either hire a car or catch a taxi (both are reasonably expensive).

Other than that you can fly your luck at hitching or mountain biking, but the hills may wipe out the less fit and leave you with little energy for your actual hike.

Accommodation. Plenty of accommodation to suit every budget, but we were lucky enough to stay with our friends at Oasis Lodge. Situated above Pa Beach, Penny and Mike run and Lodge and Restaurant that is like a home away from home (just wish I could cook that well).

Level of fitness. Great Barrier island is fairly mountainous and therefore most walks require a reasonable level of fitness.

DOUBLE STANDARD FOR MEN

An Otago University study of 1000 people has looked at same-sex attraction and found something of a double standard among men. It finds that at the age of 26, 25 percent of women and 11 percent of men are attracted to someone of the same sex. It also reveals same-sex attraction is more common among the most educated. Dr. Nigel Dickson says the research also looks at people's acceptance of a same-sex relationship, with the most interesting result from the men.

He says 36 percent of men believe homosexual sex is wrong, while just 17 percent have problems with lesbian sex. The survey also shows sexual attraction between women is high in New Zealand compared with other western nations. Dr. Dickson says the study is similar to those already conducted in the US and UK. He says same-sex attraction is not exclusive in early adulthood, and therefore does not necessarily indicate sexuality.

BITS AND PIECES

• http://www.business-migrants.govt.nz/
This site is a great source of practical information for those considering investing in New Zealand.

• Danish toymaker Lego has agreed to stop manufacturing a range of toys that uses Maori names after Maori groups complained about the appropriation of the words for commercial gain. The company has also offered to work with the complainants to draft a code of conduct for toy manufacturers to adopt when using the language or traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples.

• New Zealander Norma McCulloch has been named one of the world's top 10 female inventors at the Global Women's Innovator and Inventor awards. McCulloch's innovation-a hand-held resuscitator called the "Breath of Life"- has won her 12 international awards.

• Scientists are worrying about the falling number of native eels. NIWA scientist Don Jellyman says it is becoming increasingly difficult to find large adult female eels. He says long-finned eels are particularly vulnerable to overfishing, as the females can be 80 years old before heading out to sea to spawn. Dr. Jellyman says their numbers are expected to fall up to 30 percent in the next decade.

LETTERBOX

This has been another eventful and fun year. At this time a year ago I was making final preparations to join my sister and her husband for a Christmas/New Years trip to New Zealand. It seemed a bit odd spend ing Christmas where it was warm and full-blown summer, but we certainly enjoyed visiting friends and having new adventures. Before we crossed the international dateline on our way home, Donna and I had hatched a plan to return for a "ladies road trip" in August. This time, winter down under.

Judy Miller, Alaska

DUTCH FLOUR MILL - Brian Harmer (by permission)

On our way back from a visit to Wanganui, Mary and I paused in Foxton. Normally we confine our association with Foxton to some good coffee and one of the beautiful feather-light muffins from the "Laughing Fox" on the main highway. Occasionally we stop at Top Town Bacon to buy some of their fine bacon steaks. Yesterday, however, we were intrigued by the sight of the now completed windmill a few blocks back from the main road. This is a full scale operational flour mill of traditional Dutch design. You can see some images of it on the website of the trust that owns it at http://www.windmill.org.nz/

Up close, this is an imposing structure, tower ing above the modest houses in the surrounding streets. The base, up to the balcony or reefing stage is of wood. We were fortunate to arrive just before they closed it for the day, and for a "gold corn" donation were able to climb up the steep inner stairways through several stages to the milling floor. The quality of the engineering in wood must be seen to be believed. Gigantic square shafts driving massive wooden gear wheels are all built and finished to a standard that speaks of true labour of love. If you are passing through the town, don't miss it. The sails were a matter of some interest to me. You will have seen a picture of a traditional Dutch mill, and perhaps may not have realised that when it is working, the mill has canvas sails spread over the great latticework arms of the mill. The mill at Foxton has two arms that are of a more modern design, with feathering wood and metal vanes in the structure.

By operating the appropriate controls from inside, the miller can engage a series of rods and levers that will turn the vanes so as to give the blade a proper airfoil section to catch the wind. I asked one of the members on site to explain the process to me, which he did. Unfortunately, he got so enthusiastic about his subject that he reverted to his native Nederlandese. I spent a bare three months in the Netherlands, loving every minute of it, but didn't learn sufficient Dutch to pick up more than a tenth of this excited story.

Enough of the technical. On our return to the ground, we noted a group of people wearing what looked like shiny new klompen (clogs), and after a while they began rehearsals for the traditional dances to be performed at the grand opening. In the actual event, traditional costumes would be worn, but for this occasion, ordinary street clothes were sufficient. The rhythmic clatter of the clogs on the paved pathway went very well with the sound of a traditional Amsterdam street organ. I was a bit surprised that so many people of Dutch heritage could be found in Foxton, but on looking around, it can be seen that the flat flood-prone plains of Horowhenua and Manawatu regions might provide a sense of familiarity for the Dutch people far from their ancestral homes. They have made an enormous contribution to the life and prosperity of this country, and I really hope that the official opening by her Excellency, the Governor- General went well.

NZ PHOTO SERVICE ATTRACTS US INVESTORS AND SALES

New Zealand based Photopages Global Ltd (POL), an overnight photo restoration service which uses unique digital technology, has not only attracted US investors, its US sales are skyrocketing.

PGL has established a US distribution network thanks to a relationship with a consortium of US investors led by Ed Bernstein of Creekside LLC in San Francisco.

PGL offers a service where original photos are scanned at source and sent via the internet to New Zealand for restoration. The service is fast-what takes many photo restorers four to five hours can be done by PGL's technology in just 10-20 minutes.

Ed Bernstein says PGL provides exactly what he is looking for in New Zealand-smart technology with consumer applications.

"Photopages combines very strong technology with very innovative processes. The American market is ripe for this product but no one in the US had the tools to do the job as quickly and efficiently as PGL. That combined with our marketing and distribution skills, makes this a very exciting venture," Ed Bernstein says.

PGL's Ian Handricks says since launching in the US sales have increased dramatically-up to hundreds of orders a day.

(For more information contact: Catherine.Ragan@investmentnz.govt.nz)

NZ DEPRESSION RESEARCH HAILED

A discovery by New Zealand researchers has been hailed as "the biggest genetic fish netted for psychiatry in the world" by the head of the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States, psychiatrist Daniel Weinberger.

The discovery-a gene which makes some people more likely to suffer clinical depression when faced by high-stress events.

The research showed that people with the "long" version of a gene that controlled the brain's serotonin system were better protected from suffering depression. Associate Professor Richie Poulton said the research had broad-ranging implications for diag nosing people at risk from depression and identifying potential methods of treatment. However, A. Prof. Poulton said the breakthrough was only a starting point for more research into those areas.

NATURE

With geography spanning white to black sand beaches, mountains, thermal mud pools and geysers, plains, forests, rivers and lakes, and volcanic plateaux, New Zealand's scenery leaves nothing to the imagination. More than 30% of the land has been set aside in national parks, reserves and special heritage sites to preserve the country's ecological heritage.

New Zealand has 13 national parks featuring relatively untouched landscape, that are home to ancient forests and landforms, rare birds, and creatures

that have survived since prehistoric times. There are plenty of opportunities to explore New Zealand's unique environment, on land and at sea, with a growing eco-tourism industry aiming for ecologically friendly tourism models. New Zealanders are ecologi cally aware, and both Maon and Pakeha treasure the natural environment.

BEGINNINGS: GUTHRIE-SMITH AT TUTIRA 1885 - Peter Bland

(1978, islands, Vol. 7, No. 2)

Who am I? What am I doing here

Alone with three thousand sheep? I'm

Turning their bones into grass. Later

I'll turn grass back into sheep.

I buy only the old and the lame.

They eat anything-bush, bracken, gorse.

Dead, they melt into one green fleece.

Who am I? I know the Lord's my shepherd

As I am theirs-but this

Is the nineteenth century: Darwin

Is God's First Mate. I must keep

My own log, full of facts if not love.

I own ten thousand acres and one dark lake.

On the seventh day those jaws don't stop.

Who am I? I am the one lost sheep

Who must not get lost. So

I name names --- rocks, flowers, fish:

Knowing this place I learn to know myself

I survive. The land becomes

My meat and tallow. I light my own lamps.

I hold back the dark with the blood of my lambs.

KIWIphile FILE

Published quarterly by Eva Trapani

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