Feb 7, 2014

Tēnā koutou katoa! - Celebrating who we are.

Yesterday was our national day in New Zealand. Waitangi Day celebrates the signing of the treaty of Waitangi between indigenous Maori tribes and the English Crown in 1840, and it's a day for us to reflect on what makes us New Zealanders. But we're a funny lot us kiwis, we're often a little shy about showing our national colours and we don't go in for a lot of pomp and ceremony. What we tend to do instead is have the day in the sun with friends and whānau (family) getting back to nature.

Yesterday my friend Heather and I continued our little tradition of trying to pack the day full with as many things as possible that define us as New Zealanders.


First, we took our kids to a gorgeous part of the country, the Marlborough Sounds. Here there are endless waterways, peaceful New Zealand bush and people having fun in and on the water. Here is our little picnic site all set up. 

Next, the challenge was to eat as many New Zealand's favourite foods as possible. Of course we started off with snacks - that's my Jay introducing you to Lemon and Paeroa (L and P) a yummy lemony fizzy drink, Kiwi Dip made with dried onion soup and reduced cream (tastes MUCH better than it sounds!), pumpkin and kumara (sweet potato) dip  and Bluebird chips.


The rule for the day was that we could only eat New Zealand food and listen to New Zealand music. Here are two or our favourites - the fabulous Lorde, and one by my gorgeous friend (and godfather to my youngest) Tama Waipara. I love the way Tama includes so much New Zealand imagery in his music.

  

After a swim (and doing "bombs" off the jetty) it was time for lunch— first there was bacon and egg pie, sausage rolls and Watties tomato sauce....

and finally a whole lot of kiwi goodness....pavlova with kiwifruit, mallow puffs, jaffas, jet planes and pineapple lumps.

The day came to a close with a drive home on our notoriously windy roads, with everyone already planning on more kiwi delights for next year.

How do you celebrate your national day?

16 comments:

  1. Hi Barbara

    Sounds like you had a great day with the family and I can't wait to visit New Zealand for the first time when I cruise there in November :)

    We usually have family BBQs on Australia Day and visits to the beach and this year I made lammingtons and we had lamb very Aussie and of course seeing as how I live in Sydney the harbour had ferry races and there are fireworks and lots going on

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. I hope you have a fabulous trip to NZ, Helen! Sounds as though you have a smilier day to us with lots of yummy food and lovely outdoors :)

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  3. Hi Barbara,
    Thank you for sharing your National day. Looks like you have a fabulous day! Cheers, Deb Dufel

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by, Deb. It's taken me a week to recover from all that sugar!

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  4. Hi Barb, thought of you yesterday enjoying all those yummy things you'd mentioned on Wednesday night. Our day was made great with our daughter, partner and grandson turning up for the long weekend. Today is Granddad's birthday and we went out scalloping, wee Austin's first day on the water. Didn't get to eat all those traditional sweet treats, though probably just as well.

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    1. Scallops, yum! Almost as good as onion dip....I bet Granddad had a fabulous day with Austin. :)

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  5. I spent my Waitangi Day shopping with a friend, but I usually relax at home. Your Waitangi Day feed makes me to reach into the photos and grab handfuls of everything.
    Onion Dip definitely tastes better than it sounds or even looks :)

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    1. Lovely to see you again, Lyn! I really shouldn't have eaten so many lollies but it was lovely. Glad you had a great one too :)

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  6. That's sounds like a fab day, Barb, and your table full of sweets is making my mouth water. :-)

    My DH and I were married on Australia Day (in London--there seemed something poetic about it) as we wanted out anniversary to fall on a public holiday. Goes without saying that we always spend the day together. :-)

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    1. Oh, that's lovely, Michelle! My friend Hayson Manning was married on Waitangi Day and I think it's great - an anniversary and a holiday!

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  7. Sounds like a lovely day, Barb. All that food looks fantastic!

    On Australia Day, we usually head to beach for a day of fun in the sun and waves.

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    1. It was fantastic, Jen. The kids think it's hilarious that we couldn't think of any healthy kiwi treats, except kiwifruit of course! Your day sounds very similar to ours. :)

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  8. Looks like it was a great day, Barb.

    We usually have a family barbecue with lots of lamb on Australia Day.

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  9. We had lamb when we came home, Claire, but everyone was really full! Nice that our national days are so close together. :)

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  10. I played Hayley Westenra's version of Pokarekare Ana in your country's honour. :)

    Maybe Australia and New Zealand should have a ritual of doing something in the other country's honour on their national day? Could be fun!

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