Waitangi Day!

Yesterday was a public holiday here - Waitangi Day! It's the day back in 1840 that the Maori and the English signed a treaty to share use of the land here. There are all sorts of other interpretations of the treaty, and in the end the Maori obviously lost access to most of their land. At least at the inception, though, New Zealand was founded with the intent to share, and that seems to be what Kiwis would rather focus on now. There were some protests, but overall everyone takes the day as an excuse for music and bar-b-que.

There were two celebrations in town - a smaller local Waitangi concert in the park, and a huge celebration of Bob Marley's birthday called "One Love". I chose the former, the small event, with the hopes of seeing more local color. I guess I showed up a little late for all that, though, because they were all sold out of traditional Maori cuisine by the time I showed up. I am determined to try some paua (abalone) fritters eventually though!

The bands playing were really diverse - a Nigerian group, a Maori group... it was great. Most of the music here tends toward reggae or jam band style, and I can definitely go for the jam band. The reggae I'm still acquiring a taste for...

I was late to the Waitangi celebrations because I was continuing my search for housing. I'm happy to say that search is now over, though! I'm moving in with a lovely elderly woman at the end of the week. I'll update interested parties with the new address over the weekend.

Since the uni was closed yesterday I went wandering around Cuba Street looking for an internet cafe. Cuba Street is sort-of a Bohemian center in Wellington, full of thrift shops and cafes and lots of really facinating people watching. I ended up in this activist/anarchist center full of pieced together computers running Linux. The most surprising thing about the place was that the volunteer staff was mostly American... it made me wonder if hippy activist are one of our main exports...

There's a lot of protesting among the Maori and sympathetic activists here against a police state. Apparently a few months ago the New Zealand police force used anti-terrorism laws to arrest some Maori tribesman. They have an election coming up here, and it's really interesting to see the interplay between the three main political parties and the Maori. There's definitely a delicate courting of the native vote, and every move and handshake is closely analyzed in the press.

The coverage of the US elections has been pretty extensive here, too. Not sure if I'll figure out how to vote in the primary in time, but you can bet that I'll be ready and raring to go for the main election this November!