Gettin' Over to Gizzy

Feb. 18, 2011
Surf Sessions = 4
Km Driven = 5000

To get to Gisborne from Rotorua we drove through Te Urewera (“the burnt penis”) National park area.  No…we don’t know the story on how it got that name.  Our theory is that since this is an area that remained quite independent and unconquered by the Brits until the beginning of the 20^th century, that perhaps it is a way of saying “kicked the bloody Brits a**es”…but don’t quote us on that.  The name is probably much older than colonization!

In Gizzy (as the town is affectionately known), Matitini was on its second day when we arrived.  Vivian Manuel and Ricki Manuel (famous wood carver from Christchurch) have a studio in Christchurch and we had spent some time visiting with them.  Their sixteen year old daughter is in one of 2 groups from Christchurch that qualified. We stayed at the Holiday beach park in a tiny cabin room (essentially a 3 meter by 4 meter cell of concrete block covered by a corrugated metal roof).  A great number of the participants and audience were staying there as well. 

Many of the performing groups were staying at various Maraes (pronounced Mar – i) in the area.  A Marae is a piece of land that contains a meeting house, a community centre, a piece of art (in many cases the interior of the main building has flax woven walls and wood carvings outside and inside), and a sacred place as well.  It is the centre of a Maori community where the  hapu (subtribe) of the iwi (tribe) hold celebrations, funerals, classes, and other activities.  In some areas the Khotanga Reo (language nest) is nearby.  This is a preschool where children go to learn Te Reo (the language).  It is immersion learning and works quite well.
George did go out at a local break just north of Gisborne but the shorebreak was heavy and windblown and could not get outside to the lineup. Two attempts left him breathless and noodle-armed...and a bit cross! Paddling out without catching a wave does not count as a surf session in his opinion:(