Guys, whoa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After consuming 562,359,467 (but who's counting) cans and stubbies of Tooheys during the course of my 46 years young, I am well aware of the difference between a Tooheys and a Tui, of which I saw numerous on my 5 week tour in Jan 05
To John Drummond and others:
I was actually in Gisborne for 4 days from 26/12 to 30/12/04. A friend of mine married a Maori Girl, who he has lived with in Sydney for the last 10 years. I think her big brothers decided they would be getting married and it would be with the family in Gisborne
The wedding was on 28/12 at the Maori Battalion Marae at Manutuke.
Following the formalities was a brilliant hangi after which the brides brothers and uncles produced every form of alcohol known to man and then some I believe not previously known to man. It was a brilliant afternoon about 27 or 28 deg and perfect for a large number of cold refreshing drinks with the family on a beautiful hot summers day, which flowed into the early hours of the next day. My wife was not so impressed when at the end of proceedings I was talking left handed Egyptian and unable to get off my chair.
Its a bit of a pity this forum was not so well known back then as we may have been able to hook up for a nights observing.
I will definately try to get to Gisborne next visit to NZ as I would like to go back and visit the wifes family in Hastings again and I would also like to go to Rotorua and Taupo (loved Huka Falls) for a 2nd look. I may even fly into Palmy North and visit Robby, then drive nth to Hastings then nth to Gisborne via Taupo and Rotorua. Its a bit of a round trip but a beautiful scenic drive. I really enjoyed the drive from Gisborne to Tauranga last trip through some pass (about 5 hrs). I possibly will not get to Hamilton next trip but will try to get there on the following trip. I stopped a night in Cambridge in January on the way to Waitomo Caves so again had I known you guys then we could have done a night in Hamilton last trip also.
I will certainly give you guys plenty of notice as to when my next trip will be and thanks for the time responding.
CS- John Bambury
PS: Anyone on here north of Auckland, Whangarei to Bay of Islands area ? I will go and check on the nz astronomers Yahoo group as advised by Robby but thought I would ask the question here also.