Captain William Russell

 

Photo taken at Old Napier Cemetery 5 years ago

Last time we visited Napier in the north island of New Zealand we stopped by the old cemetery to meet my mum's Scottish grandparents who lived there during the 1800s. I'm one of those people who likes to take photos of old things especially cemeteries and this headstone that fallen over near the entrance caught my eye.

This one belongs to a Captain William Russell, born 12th November 1838 in Berkshire, England to parents Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Hamilton Russell and Elizabeth Howlett. He married Harriet Hodgskin on 7th July 1867 and they had 10 children; William, Harold, George, Cara, Charles, Lionel, Hugh, Walter, Violet and Marjorie. 

Apparently he was a well known politician in the area but passed away after an unsuccessful operation on 24th September 1913.

btw I'm interested to know if anyone out there knows of any Norwegian/Swedish or Danish bloggers, if so please leave a comment. 😃

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Wharerangi

 

Photo taken in Autumn about 5 years ago.

Napier - Wharerangi Cemetery. Opened in 1948 and is mostly dedicated to returned servicemen and women who played a part in the 1st and 2nd world wars. B and I visited here about 5 years ago to pay respects to his grandmother and her husband. This is not the entire cemetery, it's only a small part of it.

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Emporium

 

One of Napier's main streets in town

Napier is one of those old town's that has been reconstructed with art deco buildings due to the major earthquake of 1931. Every years they host an "art deco" festival where people dress up in 1930's costumes and celebrate.

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Napier

 

Photo taken last time we visited Napier which was about 3 years ago I think from memory. This was down one of the little quiet spots in town, which is full of 1930s art deco buildings. This one shows one of the national cell phone companies in New Zealand which is 2 degrees. We have quite a few companies, but this is one of the larger popular ones along with Spark and One (Vodafone). They all have different quirks and ways of doing things - this one isn't for me.

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Otatara Pa

During our trip to Taupo 3 years ago (I had forgotten I'd taken these photos), we spent the day in Napier as my grandmother on my mother's side grew up there. This was one place we decided to visit.

Otatara Pa site is a historical reserve and walk which sits on top of a hill outside of town. The carvings are known as Pou.

So there is an upper pa (Hikurangi) and a lower pa (Otatara). Visitors can see the remnants of terraces, living sites, and food storage pits.

The area covers over 40 hectares and is one of the largest and oldest pa sites in the Hawkes Bay area.

Maori preferred this place because of it's strategic point in Napier and of it's expansive views over the region.

The Chief Turauwha was very important at this time, around 400 years ago. Another Maori named Taraia lead Ngati Kahungunu (a tribe) to Heretaunga where they attached Otatara. 

Through living there, intermarriage and power/influence they expanded to dominate the region.

In 1973 part of the pa was designated as a historic reserve to protect what is remaining. In 1987 management of the reserve was passed to the Department of Conservation which has carried on added parts to the pa to show how it once was.

Otatara Pa is now registered as a category 1 historic place. Information from the Hawkes Bay website.

 Linking up with Through my lens, All Seasons, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Raku

Another one from Napier - down one of the streets in the city with a little sign that says "Raku". At first I thought it was a sushi shop but it seems it is a Japanese shop selling art and household products - I wish I'd had a look in there now.

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Pania of the reef

In Napier along the waterfront and promenade is this iconic statue sitting amongst the flower beds. Named "Pania", according to mythology she was a beautiful maiden who lived on the east coast of New Zealand and by day she swam around about with creatures of the reef world  but after sunset she would go to a stream that ran into a bay where Napier now exists.

Karitoki, the handsome son of a Maori chief quenched his thirst every evening at the stream where Pania rested. He was unaware she was observing him for many weeks until one night she whispered a faint spell which carried on the wind to him when he turned around to see her emerge from her hiding place.

They fell in love and pledged their lives to each other and were secretly married. Pania and Karitoke went to his house (Whare) but because it was dark no one saw them enter. In the morning she was preparing to leave but he tried to stop her. She explained that as a creature of the ocean, when the sirens of the sea called her each morning she could not survive if she did not go to them. She promised to return every evening and their marriage continued on that basis.

Karitoki boasted to his friends about his beautiful wife, but no one believed him because they had never seen her. Frustrated by this, Karitoki consulted a wise elder (Kaumatua) in the village who believed Karitoki as he knew ocean maidens did exist. The kaumatua told Karitoki that being a sea creature, Pania would not be allowed to return to the sea if she swallowed cooked food.

That night, as Pania slept, Karitoki took a morsel of cooked food and put it in Pania's mouth. As he did so, Ruru the Morepork/Owl called a loud warning and Pania was startled from her sleep. Horrified that Karitoki had put her life in jeopardy, Pania fled and ran to the sea. Her people came to the surface and drew her down into the depths as Karitoki swam frantically about the ocean looking for her. He never saw her again.

When people now look deep into the water over the reef, some say they can see Pania with arms outstretched, appealing to her former lover. It is unknown whether she is imploring him to explain his treachery, or expressing her continuing love.

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Napier's Kowhai Sculpture

This sculpture in Napier that we saw caught my eye. In case you didn't know the Kowhai flower is well known here for attracting Tui, Bellbirds and Wood Pigeons. Kowhai is the Maori word for yellow and in 2014 this "Gold of the Kowhai" sculpture by Paul Dibble was unveiled. The 13 foot artwork is bronze and gilded with 24 carat gold.

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In the clouds

This is the main highway between Taupo and Napier, we drove up through mountains so high that it felt like we were driving in the clouds. 

Lots of Autumn colours and a bit of a drop in a cooler temperature, apparently the road use to be a very windy gravel one that took alot longer, B remembers being in the car with his parents in the 1960s and 1970s when they lived in Whakatane and had to drive to Napier to visit his grandad.

 

All up it took us about 90 minutes for the drive when it use to take at least 2 hours or more before this part of the road was made.

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