Pictures - jen

The silver fern: one of the national symbols of New Zealand. The new, curling fern is a symbol of new beginnings and growth.

Waitangi Day - annual celebration of the Maori and British treaty signed February 6, 1840

 The haka - a traditional Maori dance that was originally used to intimidate the enemy before battle

Last night at Swiss. Kelly, our awesome boss.

Peini and Julian

 Liz, the best waitress

 The Swiss crew: myself, Liz, Julian (Germany), Mani (Maori), Stephan (Germany), Jana (Germany), Stephanie (Uruguay), Kelly (Kiwi), and Peini (Maori)

Our traveling companion, Steven

While eating one of the Valentine’s Peeps my mom sent, Steven gave a gangster shoutout to all his “peeps”

 Sand dunes at Cape Reinga

The Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean colliding….cool. In Maori tradition, the colliding of the seas represents the coming together of male and female and the creation of life.

Te Reinga – the leaving place for all Maori souls to the next world. Souls would climb down the roots of the kahika tree, named Te Aroha, where they would continue on to Hawaiki

 National Geographic moment as the emus started fighting over the bread Liz and I were giving them

 Liz and Jamie standing on the side of the road after the car broke down

 Emus.....scary shit.

Getting towed by Brett, our new Kaitaia friend who saved us from being ripped off by a car mechanic

The black swans of Rotorua

Maori cemetery in Rotorua

 Rotorua meeting house, the official Maori meeting house of the entire central/eastern North Island region. All of the carvings on the meeting house represent famous Maoris and Maori traditions and legends.

 Lake Taupo

Lewis, another of our traveling mates

 NZ wine collection

 King Country