>=================== Time Out

>=================== Te Awamutu's famous family

TE AWAMUTU, New Zealand, Nov 28 (AFP) - A museum in the small New Zealand town of Te Awamutu has devoted over a third of its space in a tribute to the town's most famous musical sons -- Neil and Tim Finn, of the internationally successful rock groups Split Enz and Crowded House. The exhibition, to be opened on December 19, features family photographs and film footage, the family piano and costumes the Finn brothers wore as members of the zanily dressed Split Enz. Organisers said Saturday they expected Finn fans from around the world to trek to the Te Awamutu Museum, 160 kilometres south of Auckland, to see the "True Colours" exhibition. They have already received calls from the United States, Britain and Germany after setting up a promotional web site. Tim Finn has already agreed to open the display, and organisers are hoping Neil Finn will also attend.

Too cool! Whose heading to Gisborne to watch Split Enz and David Bowie sing in the New Year?

>=================== A beast of an adventure race

December saw 42 teams competing in the eighth Southern Traverse, a 5 day adventure race 418 km long running, biking, caving, paddling and abseiling their way up, down and through some of the wildest country around, Fiordland National Park. Navigation plays a critical part with one team getting lost for 18 hours ... and they had a map and compass!

Not only did the competitors get lost but so did one of the support helicopters. Legendary Te Anau pilot Bill Black spent two nights cooped up in his helicopter perched on Hindley Peak marooned by thick cloud and strong winds. Now that wasn't too bad (he called his wife on the mobile and explained he wouldn't be home for dinner ) but when the hip flask with the obligatory emergency medicinal ran out things really started to get serious.

The winners, Haydn Key, Aiden Craig and Tim Grammer had three hours and 20 minutes of sleep in the 91 hours of extreme physical and mental activity. And these were "power naps". At the changeovers they would all clamber in to the back of their support vehicle fall dead asleep for 10 minutes then be loudly and urgently awoken by their "support" crew. No wonder that in the final 38km mountain run they "lost their lolly" and were hallucinating.

So if you think you need to test your mental strength and navigational prowess the next Southern Traverse is in Nelson in December. I think I might stay home.

>=================== Like to work on a NZ ski field this winter?

Mount Cook Group Ski Areas operate Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Mt Hutt snow fields. If you or a friend would like to be one of the 750 people that they employ each year then get on over to their employment page and get your application in before March 26, 1999. You may be required for an interview, and if so you will be contacted during April or May. Note carefully that you can only apply for Mt Hutt OR Coronet Peak / The Remarkables. NOT both.

For any specific queries you can email Fiona Boyer the Human Resources blokess or;
Mount Cook Group Ski Areas
P O Box 359 Queenstown
Phone 03-442-4611 Fax 03 442-4624

What are they looking for? Honesty, integrity, experience, true understanding of customer dynamics and a big all day long smile, even when you wish you were up skiing!

>=================== Travel Tips

The two major trans Tasman airlines, QANTAS and Air New Zealand recently put the price of travel across the ditch up $50 siting "unsustainable prices" and "increasing costs". Freedom Air wasn't having any of that and promptly dropped its prices by $30. Work that out. Stranger still Freedom Air is owned by Air New Zealand. And the dark horse on the domestic scene? Origin Pacific Airways.

It seems many of the super discount fares on domestic travel services are only available in New Zealand. These are the book 3 -5 weeks in advance but expect to pay a small penalty if you want to change your booking type deals. Great in theory but sometimes independence and flexibility are the key. Anyway, if you are overseas, know your dates and want to get the cheapest fare available just ring the company directly and get an e-ticket using your credit card. Did you know that you can get a Campervan across Cook Strait for NZ$83?

>=================== How to name a Hump?

Those of you that have explored the deep south or visited our Kiwi Wilderness Walks website may be aware of the moves afoot to develop a new track exploring the newest section of Fiordland National Park. To help get you bearings you might like to check out some maps of the area.

Tuatapere is possibly better known as the sausage capital of New Zealand ( that's another story!) but it also has a fantastic group of dedicated locals who have helped restore four huge wooden viaducts deep in the bush, established a world class multi sport event the Tuatapere Wild Challenge and now started on the creation of a brand new Great Walk including sections of the South Coast Track, Port Craig a significant historical sawmill site in the early 20th century, those magnificent wooden viaducts and oh yes, The Hump Ridge. See our October NewsZine for more details.

The Tuatapere Hump Track Trust had always proposed the track be known as the 'Hump Track' however the powers that be decided this might be a bit hard to "swallow" for our adventurous new age walkers. Hmmm. So in accord with one of the conditions laid down by the Department of Conservation a public meeting was held. Suggested names included;

Hump Track - derived from the Hump Ridge which is the principal geographic feature and the highest point on the walk. Surveyor James McKerrow during his survey of Fiordland named it in 1862. Some believe various connotations of the name 'Hump' make this choice unsuitable.

Hump Ridge Track - incorporation of the word 'ridge' removes some connotation by highlighting that 'the Hump' is a geographical feature. Oh yeah.

Okaka Track - This is a Maori name that refers to the legend of the wrecking of the canoe 'Takitimu': '…Struck by the wave, Takitimu lost its bailer, which turned into rock and is now the Hokonui Hills west of Gore. Then it was struck by another great wave, Okaka, now the name of the west ridge of the Waiau River. There Takitimu lies as the range of mountains east of the river which bears its name'.

Waitutu Track - surrounding conservation lands (formerly the Waitutu State Forest) are designated as the Waitutu Conservation Area. Some believe this name should be used for the track as the area is nationally recognised, (primarily as a result of the lengthy controversy surrounding the Government acquisition of the Waitutu Maori Lands. However other groups regard this name unsuitable and that it should be retained solely for that land lying west of the Wairaurahiri River.

And the winner? Compromise of course - the 'Hump Ridge Track' it shall be known.

>=================== Advertisement

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>=================== Back Issues

Last month we talked about;
The big snow in October
Gidday to our online Koala Cousies
The Takahe is Extinct!
AJ Hackett Bungys 10 Birthday
Maori History at Arrowtown
Waiorau Snow Farm Spins On
Pilot Whales Beached - A Sad Tale

Click here to go to the index for our previous issues online.

>=================== That's all folks

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