New Zealand women

Not only does New Zealand have a female prime minister, 40% of its MP’s are women. Though given the vote in 1893, it was over half a century before the first female minister, Mabel Howard was appointed. Ironically, her ministerial achievements are less well remembered than the day she stood up in Parliament holding up two pairs of bloomers and demanding that sizes be standardised. Pictures show a waste bad variation of 6 inches between two pairs of extra large female attire.
Maybe there will be a time in the future when sizes on a garments are standardized. In the meantime, if I want to attain the male equivalent of the Liz Hurley figure I’ll apparently have to settle for a lettuce leaf and a glass of water for lunch. Just as long as I don't have to do as much running as 50% of New Zealanders appear to do daily.

I only walked out onto a hotel corridor to find two joggers trying to trample me down.

South Pacific Highways and village names

Those versed in European languages will know that mastery of German street and place names is greatly aided by understanding the parts that the word breaks down into.

Those who irregularly travel to the Principality, may find Welsh difficult, but again familiarity in due course starts to inform understanding.

I guess Maori is the same. But the Wellington to Paraparauma train stops at Kaiwarawara, Porirua, Paremata, Plimmerton,
Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki.

It makes the St.Petersburg Metro seem a doddle.

And while I’m at it, what self respecting bather would swim at Peka Peka Beach?

Biggest building

Given the regularity of volcanic eruptions in New Zealand, its no wonder that when Government Buildings were erected in 1876 they were built of wood rather than stone. When Mt. Tarawera erupted in 1886, destroying the unique silica terraces in the process, there were probably many who felt the choice of material was appropriate. Not only that, they were proud that Wellington boasted the largest wooden built structure in the world.

Unfortunately, it was later revealed that the Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan was not only 150 years older, but was substantially bigger. In spite of its vastness, the latter building was only two thirds the size of the temple it replaced.

Inspired to write

Long time since I wrote a song, but New Zealand inspired me. Its probably the boiling earth that does it.
This is the chorus. Still working on the tune and refining the verses.

Ask forgiveness, not permission
Be outraged and brave, and bold
Seek your fortune, but remember
Once you’re rich, to share your gold.
Stalk the borders of experience,
Hone the razors of your mind,
You’ll discover there’s no pleasure
Beats the love of humankind.
Stand your ground and fight your corner,
Don’t conform, act ‘cause its right
And you’ll move in with the Angels

When your daylight turns to night.

In the circumstances I breached the 2797 metre summit and enjoyed the exhilarating experience of peering down into two mammoth volcanic craters, filled with ice and snow, yet active within the last decade.

The icing on the cake was relaxing afterwards in a steaming open air hot spring pool. Pity the showers were plumbed in to the glacier though.

Equipped?

You often read about ill-equipped people attempting to climb mountains and unplugging their brains before they set forth. Sometimes it ends in tradgedy, mostly people get away with it. Mea culpa.

By the time I reached the foot of Mt it was already 15C and the chair lift that covered the lower reaches beckoned. However, in spite of others being clad in shorts, trainers and tee shirts, there were others boasting furry hats and weatherproofs, which suggested I should have at least a pair of jeans over my shorts, a jumper and windcheater, a cap and a pair of socks to double up as gloves. Even so, when we had climbed the glacier and passed 2,500 metres my “get back down” mind set was starting to dominate. Indeed, it would probably have won out were it not for the fact I was above the rapidly ascending clouds and the route back was shrouded in both mist and mystery.

Seeking comfort from my snickers bar was a mistake as the cold had already turned into nut brittle.

More female councillors in India, than the rest of the world

Even those of us with international experience sometimes need to do a double take when we have to deal with statistics that relate to China and India. My friend Daniyal Aziz , Chairman of the National Reconstruction Bureau of Pakistan, asked Mani Shankar Aiyar, the Minister of Panchayati Raj and Youth Affairs in India about Capacity building and communication in India.

“Its not easy communicating with our 3.2 Million councillors," came the reply, " particularly when they speak 26 different languages. We are not like the Chinese who can send out 8 million notices a week to their politicians. Even though they can’t understand each other’s language in China, at least they can all read the same script.”