Comments on: Rural New Zealand’s quiet places

By: Cate

Cate — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:07:52 +0000

Child of the Mangawekas – wow thanks for this delightful story I just read it to my mother and she wants to know who you are – possibky because you both came from this area. I would have loved to have seen your Mangaweka and hope one day that it will be that place once again. Thanks for sharing.

Bill – I will send you an email to help you in the right direction but for now, you can access the rivers and shorelines of New Zealand under the Queens Chain which gives the ordinary commoner free access to rivers and seashores no matter where. The main problem is trying to access the shores which means going through private property first. Most farmers I know are pretty good at letting you cross their land as long as you ask first out of courtesy. I would recommend you contact Fish and Game or Department of Conservation in your area, they know the access rights like the back of their hand so to speak and can help you on where to go. Other river user groups are fairly converse with access righst as well and they are worth getting in touch with.

Good luck and thanks for this question Bill.

Cate

By: bill cox

bill cox — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 04:28:26 +0000

Hi im from australia and have lived in nz for about 15 years. I like the dirt roads in the rural australian countryside where you could stop boil the billy or camp for the night.I realise its a lot bigger with wide open spaces with river side reserves where you can free camp beside the rivers. Anyway i find nz all fenced in farmers even must own the rivers here because they have fences blocking access. I travelled down the Buller river a few years ago and found hardly any access places to stop and check the river out. Is there a book you can suggest for people like me can explore rural nz without finding it all fenced off. regards Bill

By: child of the Mangaweka's

child of the Mangaweka's — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:13:39 +0000

I lived in this delightful wee town in the 1950′s. My parents owned the fish and chip shop/local milkbar, and we lived at the back of the shop. Attached next door was the Max movie theatre that showed movies on Wednesday and Saturday nights, with a Saturday afternoon matinee for the kids once a month. Sadly after we left, both these buildings burnt down in the mid 1960′s and the town lost one of its cultural facilities. You are right that there was a steady stream of traffic through the town. My parents relied on it for their livelihood. When I lived there, we would sweep stones off the footpaths so that we could roller skate under the shop verandahs. It was a grand place to live and I still pine for those uncomplicated days of my childhood. There are several families still there that were there when I was. Thank you for the memories.

By: Cate

Cate — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:53:07 +0000

Thanks everyone for your warm comments, glad you liked this post.

Cate

By: Wil from Spot Cool Stuff

Wil from Spot Cool Stuff — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:43:17 +0000

These are great photos.

New Zealand is one of the best, easiest-to-travel-in countries, me thinks.