Putz has asked the meaning of the name of the region I live in - the Bay of Plenty.
Here is a short history/geography lesson!
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On 26th August 1768, the ship Endeavour set sail from Plymouth,England, stocked with 18 months supplies, with 94 men aboard and captained by James Cook.
On 6th October 1769, Nicholas Young, the surgeon's boy, sighted the coastline of New Zealand from the masthead of The Endeavour.
On 8th October the Endeavour sailed into a bay, and laid anchor at the entrance of a small river in Tuuranga-nui (today's Poverty Bay, near modern Gisborne). Cook named a peninsula in this bay "Young Nick's Head" after Nicholas Young.
The ship proceeded to sail around New Zealand and they charted the waters of the new country. Many places were named along the way and many of these names are still used to this day ie Poverty bay, Cape Kidnappers, Mercury bay etc.
The Bay of Plenty (Māori: Te Moana-a-Toi), often abbreviated to BoP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name. The bay was named by James Cook after he noticed the abundant food supplies at several Māori villages there, in stark contrast to the earlier observations he had made in Poverty Bay.
The region spans the area from the base of the Coromandel Peninsula to Cape Runaway. Several Islands are situated within the bay, the most notable of which is White Island, an active volcano.
Today, Tauranga is the commercial centre of the region and enjoys a warm, dry climate.
Whakatane is the main centre in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and is the departure point for exploration of White Island, New Zealand's only active marine volcano.
The city of Rotorua is a geothermally active area, where spouting geysers, boiling mud pools and warm geothermal springs come to the Earth's surface.
7 comments:
I knew the history from my research into NZ when we thinking of emigrating there years ago.
I hadn't realised that it was 8th Oct (my birthday!) and also I used to live in a village called Gisburn (or Gisbourne as it was called in the old days) Funny eh?
Life is full of coincidences isn't it?
What made you decide to emigrate? Where in NZ did you want to live? Did you get as far as selection procedures etc? (Not being nosey - just curious)
One of our sons in London has just had his visa application approved to stay on in the UK as a 'skilled migrant'. (Whew) He is becoming quite established there now, even employing a British person.
Our other son in London is already on the same visa but he went in on that one initially.
They are both coming home for a visit during the summer (mid winter for them)
well you two, carry on a conversation without me, huh?????
Actually we have 'almost' emigrated twice. The first time was around 1993. Mick was still in the RN and we were looking into a transfer to the NZ navy, then my Mum got lung cancer so it all stopped.
The next time was just a few yaers ago, we got to the point where we had to satrt paying out substantial money for qualification checks and initial applications. We were pricing up a months holiday out there too. Then Mick started to have second thoughts - mainly about leaving his elderly parents behind. So it all stopped again.
Me - I'd have been out there on the first boat!
We liked the look of Napier and the BoP but I also liked the southern areas as we had heard it is very like Scotland. The plan was to travel around for a month to get a feel for the country.
Oh well, looks like that dream is fading fast.
Sorry Putz - you are welcome to join in at any time!
What a great post, Mrinz! Each time I read your blog, it makes me want to visit NZ even more! I've ALWAYS wanted to visit NZ, but never seemed to have made it. There was always "something" that came up to alter my plans.
BTW, I have a video posted on one of my latest posts...and the singer is from NZ! :)
Have a great weekend! XOXO
Hi Chrissy - yes I saw the Bic Runga video! She is a lovely singer.A favourite of my daughter.
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