Ali-the-deerhunter had his souvenir bullet casing confiscated by Aukland Airport security today. What's more, Christchurch Airport security are about to get their wrists slapped for letting it through a few days earlier. The security guard didn't seem surprised when, on asking if we still had the boarding passes from that flight, she was presented with a hand-bound book made of the boarding passes and sick bags. [See yesterday's entry.]

As we prepare to leave I find myself noticing lots of unique New Zealand images we are about to leave behind - kiwis, Maori art, maps and emblems - and I've been binding some small travel books to record these last days of travelling. We hope to do a bit of Aukland sightseeing today of course, but for me this is a time of reflection. Perhaps tearing, cutting, sewing and sticking these little creations will help me through this transition stage.

We are leaving Christchurch. We will arrive in Aukland in the afternoon. I hope we will come back to Christchurch some time because we have had great fun here with Susie, Andrew and the boys.

 

Certain items and icons from New Zealand's cultural heritage are often called Kiwiana, a term that represents iconic Kiwi elements, especially from around the middle of the 20th century, and also means a form of kitsch. They may also be defined them as the "quirky things that contribute to a sense of nationhood" (Wikipedia). It was a Kiwiana day on New Brighton beach today with surfers, sunbathers and beach art. This artist created his design with a stick, rake and pile of abalone shells.

We leave Christchurch on the 7th December and bid farewell to these beautiful islands on the 9th, bound for Hong Kong. From there were return to the UK for Christmas, putting other SE Asia plans on hold.