'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

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Wednesday 19 January 2011

Whakatane







Whakatane (fock - ah - tar - nay) is a pleasant little town. In the middle of the business area there is a large treed bluff, which is a distinctive picturesque backdrop for the everyday and mundane things that have to be carried out in towns, especially in midsummer when the red-flowered pohutukawa trees are in bloom.
But you won't see that in any of these images because I didn't go into the town itself.

Briefly, some facts:
Whakatane's population is about 15,000, with another 15,000 or so in the nearby district. 40% of locals have Maori ancestry (the NZ proportion of Maori is about 20%), and the economy is mainly agriculturally-based. Forestry (there's a mill), dairy farming and horticulture, fishing, and some light manufacturing. It's also a popular tourist destination for whale-watching, swimming with dolphins, bushwalking, hunting, and charter fishing.

8 comments:

  1. "swimming with dolphins". I think that is often the dream of beauty pageant contestants but I doubt it would be a dolphin dream.
    Whakatane looks kind of sleepy. Where are all the cars?

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  2. A very pretty place. I like the tree-lined, broad streets, and the colorful flowers. Thanks for the pronounciation clarification on the town's name.

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  3. http://dawntreader-picturebook2.blogspot.com/
    Kia Ora,

    Came via Dawn Treader's blog.

    Always enjoy visiting fellow New Zealanders.

    My posts too are mainly on NZ.
    I enjyed Whakatane. Visited in 1980, and never forgot collecting muscles in the channel.

    Ann

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  4. Wait...Ann collected muscles in the channel? I think she meant mussels. She knows what she meant.

    I'm enjoying the photo tour of the real New Zealand you're giving us.

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  5. YP, actually dolphins generally enjoy swimming with humans, beautiful or otherwise. Because if they
    don't, they just swim away. We're talking wild dolphins, here.
    And 'where are all the cars?', well, I counted 19 in 5 images, so that's an average of about 4 per image...

    Pat - Thank you. This was the main by-pass.

    Ann. Welcome to TLVD! Thanks for commenting. It can be hard work collecting Kaimoana, eh?

    Robert. Indeed. It's a pleasure to provide you with enjoyment.
    Oh, expect an email from me soon. You have won a bunch of grapes...

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  6. I stayed near the Shell Station a few weeks ago when I was in Whakatane. It's a lovely town. The croquet lawns need a bit more TLC though - they are getting rather worn.

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  7. If your cryptic comment means what I think it means, I will send you my snail mail address via your email connection. The excitement level around here has risen considerably.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Geeb - Ah, that's where you were staying.
    Robert - WIll be in touch.

    ReplyDelete

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