Bay of Islands, New Zealand, 26th February 2023

After the warm welcome by the dolphins, we took the tender boat to shore. First, we wanted to see the place where the English and the indigenous people (Maori) had signed a treaty regarding their relationship, and then take the ferry to the neighboring town of Russell.

The place and the exhibitions about the treaty, the ongoing history, the historical and current experiences of the Maori people, their culture and art were so interesting that we spent the whole morning on the premises.

In the afternoon, we had booked a paddling tour on longboats. On one hand, it led us up a beautiful river to a waterfall, and on the other hand, the Maori people shared their culture and life experiences along the way. Like the Native Americans in Canada, they have also had similar, albeit not as extreme, experiences. Among other things, they were forbidden to speak their own language. This was a great addition to the things we had studied in the exhibitions beforehand.

Time passed by so quickly in this way that we did not have time to go to any of the villages.

Now we will leave New Zealand towards Sydney and be at sea for two days. We also liked New Zealand very much. New Zealand is an interesting and diverse country. Although we only visited the North Island with its moderate climate, we would love to stay here longer and also visit the South Island.