One VERY rainy Saturday, we decided to keep dry INSIDE and explore the Auckland Museum.
We were intrigued by the Maori culture after our visit to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
Here, we learned even more about the Maori and the country of New Zealand.
The museum is a huge, wonderful building situated in the middle of Auckland on a large piece of property with beautiful gardens and walking trails.
No pictures of the grounds because outside it was a downpour . . .
a real "Deluge" - as our family calls it!
Remember the big waka (canoe) at Waitangi? Here is another one - not quite so big!
Notice the koru design in the front carvings.
A sailing canoe - Notice the beautiful Tapa cloth (made from tree bark) hanging in the background.
Remember the "Tiki Room" at Disneyland? We remember when Tikis were a big thing in the sixties.
Yes, we ARE - THAT old!
In Maori mythology, "Tiki" is the name of the first man.
We can tell you more about the symbolism of the Wharenui ("big house"); the Maori meetinghouse.
The ancestor's HEAD is at the top of the gable; the diagonal boards coming down on the front, are the ARMS and the ends of the boards are the FINGERS.
Inside, the ridge beam is the BACKBONE of the ancestor and the diagonal rafters are his RIBS.
The central column inside is his HEART.
The open space in the front of the Wharenui is to welcome visitors or is an area to debate issues.
The Wharenui is a "domain of peace and unity."
Here are the real symbols of New Zealand - KIWIS!
The people here, call themselves "Kiwis"! . . . but you NEVER see a real Kiwi!
They are nocturnal and are even hard to see when they are in a nature preserve.
We met a man in Pahia who had seen a real Kiwi ONCE in the wild. The sighting was so rare; he even remembered the exact date from over 30 years ago!
As small as the Kiwis are . . . compare them to this giant Moa!
(You can barely see Don standing in the back by the leg.)
The Moa is a large, flightless bird that was hunted by the Maori and became extinct about 500 years ago.
I think I mentioned in another blog that New Zealand has NO natural predators - interesting!
Inside the museum there is an exhibit on volcanoes.
Auckland ("Rockland"! Ha-Ha!) is built on a volcanic field with over 50 volcanoes.
In the exhibit, we sat in a mock-up of a home, watching television
and looking out the window at the island of Rangitoto, when it erupted!
It was very interesting and a little fun to see what "could" happen!
The Auckland Museum is also called the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
On the top floor there are exhibits that acknowledge the participation and sacrifice
of the military man and women of New Zealand.
It is a beautiful and touching tribute. As we have mentioned before, the people here are very patriotic.
There are so many wonderful and interesting things in this museum - needless to say,
we spent a wonderful "rainy" day here!
We will close our "Museum" Day with this final picture of a statue we found in one of the historic sections.
Our children, and especially our grandchildren will know why we loved this!
(Mickey is everywhere!)
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