Hori Ngatai

 

Right next to a motorway in the central city is the Tauranga Mission Cemetery aka Otamataha Pa which is known as the Military Cemetery. There are monuments to the Naval Brigade, the 43rd Monmouth Regiment and a mass Maori grave. This particular monument is for a man named Hori Ngatai who was a chief of the Ngaiterangi Tribe and was part of the battles of Gate Pa during the New Zealand wars.

Linking up with Shadow Shot Sunday and Mosaic Monday.

Mauao

 

This is an old photo from about 7 years ago when we lived in Tauranga. I think this is a suburb called Bureta? With Mount Maunganui aka Mauao in the background. The supermarket that says "Countdown" has now been changed back to the original name of "Woolworths".

We class Tauranga has being a city now rather than a town as the population has grown significantly over the years. But the real estate prices are through the roof and are very very expensive. We would move back there if we could but it's above our budget.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

For the babies

 

Seen in a Tauranga cemetery about 10 years ago. It reads: For all our babies, briefly known, forever loved. 

Beautiful.

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

Alone

 

I was walking past a cafe in Tauranga about 5 years ago when I spotted this man having a coffee alone in a cafe very early one morning. There are warmers in the background which have what looks like pies and pastries inside - us Kiwis love savoury pies.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections.

Dark

Photo taken when we lived in Tauranga 5 years ago.

We are now in the days of late Summer/early Autumn - soon it will be time for the mornings to be darker and the nights to be colder. I remember when we lived in Tauranga in 2018, I stoppedbefore work along the waterfront to take photos of how bare the shops and restaurants were in the early morning.

I was driving home from work last night when I decided to stop in at my old workplace and buy a packet of my favourite lollies. On the way home 5 minutes later I, and alot of other cars had to stop on the side of the road as someone had only just had an accident in the pouring rain, I'm not 100% sure but speed was probably a factor. I had missed it by less than a minute - scary stuff.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, All Seasons and Tom's signs.

Traffic

 

One from the archives when we lived in Tauranga, I think this was from when I was working in the city but living in Mount Maunganui. It was the sort of time frame if you didn't leave work by 2pm then you'd get stuck in gridlock traffic for over an hour considering it normally was a 15 minute drive home. Drivers were very aggressive.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's signs.

Rowing

 

This isn't a sight we see much of in Greymouth but when we lived in Tauranga it was a common sight to see families taking part in different sports when the weather was nice.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections, Shadow Shot Sunday and the Weekend Roundup.

Lights

 

Back when we lived in Tauranga I use to take photos of just about anything and everything. I find everyday life of others quite interested - call me nosey if you want. This is one of the main streets in Mount Maunganui (by the beach) in Winter.

B and I were talking about moving back to the north island after the mortgage is paid and although Tauranga is probably out of our budget it's still a place of interest, the other area I am thinking of is Whangarei perhaps as I have family up that way but it won't be for a few years yet.

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

Steinlager

 

I was going through some old photos of the waterfront back when we lived in Tauranga. In March 2015 B and I first met here after talking as friends online for 6 months. We had agreed to meet up in a mutual place where other online friends were having drinks. We've never been back to this place since but I think it's still a pub/nightclub and a very popular one at that.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Zebra Crossing

 

This is an old one from the days when we lived in Tauranga. I don't know what this street is like now but I hear from old friends that there are quite a few shops closed. Seems to be a sign of the times. I don't know whether everyone is in the same boat as us but we have noticed the cost of everything has gone up, I don't know how families with young ones manage.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Kiwi

This photo which is an old one I found in the archives of my "Tauranga" folder. It's the boat marina down at Sulphur Point - can you see the Kiwi? Edited to add: those of you who spotted it on the boat you are correct.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

3 Flags

 

Mount Maunganui, where we use to live is a real tourist town. Over Summer there is usually alot of hire businesses advertising near the waterfront. Kayaking seems to be popular.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Zebra crossing

I was going through some of my thousands of old photos that I've taken over the last 10 years or so and I came across this one from about 5 years ago when we lived in Tauranga. There was one morning when I was working in dentistry in a job I hated for a company who made me feel unappreciated when I had to psych myself up most mornings. I remember walking down one of the side streets near the waterfront feeling the restfulness of that time of day. Now I'm lucky enough to say that I'm in a different place mentally and actually like my job and the people I work with. Time flies...

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

India Today

 

I found this old shot I took over Winter about 5 years ago when we lived in Tauranga of one of the many restaurants along the waterfront. I don't know if it's still there but it looks a bit more authentic with the old rickshaw out on front of it.

Linking up with Weekend reflections and the Weekend roundup.

Flowers...

I don't seem to see many garden beds or flowers around Greymouth. When we lived in Tauranga I hated it with literally a passion but one thing we saw lots of was pretty flowers planted along the edges of roads and intersections. This one had a mixture of what looks like Alyssum and Impatiens - so colourful. 

 

So far here in my backyard we've planted a mandarin tree, a lemon tree and a cherry tree - outside the front of the house I planted 3 red roses which are already blooming.  I think my town needs more colour, especially in Summer. So far here it's been very hot with low humidity so our nights have been very warm and very dry. It's hard to sleep with even a sheet but getting the washing dry outside is easy.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's signs. 

Peet

Wednesday night Bingo anyone? A photo from the 3 years I lived in Tauranga one day when I was wandering around by the waterfront where I spotted this sign. Does anyone actually play Bingo anymore? I know my grandparents use to love going to the local hall for weekly Bingo. There are other things to look at in this photo too like the "Peet Jewellers" sign - Ive never heard of them either and the "Drake recruitment" sign.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Mauao

I'd forgotten about this photo I took when we lived in Mount Maunganui 4 years ago. Sometimes I take random photos of streets and this one is one of the ones near the beach that's full of mostly apartments. In the background is Mauao (which means "caught in the light of day") - it's the sacred mountain based at the entrance of Tauranga Harbour. It's a very popular place for people to climb up as it's quite steep and good for fitness.

Thank you for those of us who have wished us well. Earlier last week my youngest son caught covid off a work colleague, 3 days later B came down with it then my daughter and I got it. So say it's like a mild flu is far from it, B had a mild dose and my son came right from it after 4 days. I never want to go through this again ever, the exhaustion is so great that I had 3 naps yesterday and we have been drinking lemon juice with honey every day plus taking vitamins and we have all been double vaxxed and boosted.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Tauranga War Memorial

We are in the early days of Autumn here and come April it will be time once again to remember ANZAC Day.  Back when we lived in Tauranga I was stuck in a traffic jam one afternoon and took this photo of the war memorial with the pink Rhododendron tree in the background. I think it looks like a pretty scene.

The plaque on the brick wall says: "They whom this scroll commemorates passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self sacrifice giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those that come after see to it that their names be not forgotten". - HM King George V

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, All Seasons and Tom's Signs.

Island

 One from Mount Maunganui. About the only thing I miss from this town is the beach which is approx 700 m in length so quite a distance. The island in the background is Motuotau Island.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Fountain on The Strand

One from when we lived in Tauranga - this was the morning we were waiting to set out on a Dolphin/Whale charter boat about 3 years ago. A crisp Spring morning on the waterfront known as The Strand next to apartment buildings, working office buildings, a railway track still in use and various shops. 

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.