DECEMBER 11th

Mahurangi East - Wellsford

The awesome new Wellsford Library!

Dear Diary,

I have just arrived at Wellsford Library after having spent some time at Mahurangi East Library. The drive over Matakana Valley Rd and through Whangaripo Valley was really pretty, now I can see why the cars are covered in dust! Driving through here in summer it’s hard to imagine that this whole area floods during winter.

Do you know what is cool about Wellsford Library, aside from the fact that it is so big and soooo new? It has a place outside where you can recharge an electric powered car! Now that is looking to the future!

My Google Map tells me I'm in Wellsford!
The Northern-most library in the Super City.

I saw some kids in the children’s corner of the library who were reading some Pokemon books. I decided to sit down next to them on one of the large bean bags, (my body was feeling a little achy from the paddling yesterday). They were very friendly and it wasn’t long until we started chatting. Then along came a couple of girls who joined in on the conversation. All the children were talking about Wellsford and what they liked to do.

I wanted to know what the Maori word for the Wellsford area was? They weren’t sure but suggested that if I wanted to know more about the local history that I should check out the Albertlander’s Museum just next door. When the settlers from England arrived to start a new town the local Ngati Whatua tribe Te Uri O Hau were very helpful in getting the newcomers set up. The friendship extended to the settlers by the tangata whenua ensured their success in conditions that the newcomers were not used of.

They also thought I could take in some local culture by watching the Wellsford Primary kapahaka group perform or by going a little further North to Te Hana where there is an awesome Maori village set up for tourists like me! 

'Amazing 'Te Hana Te Ao Marama Maori Cultural Centre'

I asked the kids to show me around town. They were thrilled at the idea! 

First stop – Peppers Café for morning tea. All these exciting adventures make a boy hungry!  Now that my stomach is full it’s off to Melissa’s farm. Being a city slicker I’ve never been to a real farm before so I’m feeling really excited.

Melissa had lots of animals on her farm. We went and looked at the cows with their baby calves. Did you know that cows have four stomachs? The rumen, the reticulum, the omasum and the abomasums! Try saying that quickly...Cool eh? I googled that!

We also had a look at the smelly pigs and the fluffy sheep. I liked the chickens the best. We got to feed them some pellets. When I’m in town I get my eggs from the supermarket but Melissa just has to go and collect her eggs in the morning when her hens lay. They are still warm. Imagine that?

Then we went for a ride on the big tractor, it was so cool! Phoebe’s dad drove us through the paddocks and as we went over a bump my hat flew off! Then as I got down off the tractor I stood in some cow poo! Eww yuck!! Next time I know I need to wear gumboots. (Cow poo on the high tops…Not a good look!)

Checking out the farm!

After being on the farm we drove back to Wellsford to have lunch at McDonalds. Ryan was telling me about the new playground next to the library. Once we’d finished our Happy Meals it was off to the park. What an awesome playground! There was a tandem slide so we were all having races! Mya was the fastest, no-one could beat that superwoman!

Then we decided to go for a walk to have a look at the shops on the main street. Something I immediately liked about Wellsford was the way the local people all seem to know each other, they are friendly and stop to have a chat with one another. It is so different to living in the city where people are often in such a hurry.

One of the mum’s was explaining to me that Wellsford has always been a service town and rural people from all around have always gathered here for a catch up and to get their farming supplies. They come from all around, Port Albert, Tauhoa, Tapora, Hakaru, Mangawhai, Tomorata, Pakiri, Wayby…All of the smaller communities. The local schools and library bring people together.

My new potae (hat!)
I've been learning some te reo while I've been here! Ka pai!

Anyway, we went into a sports shop and tried on some hats. Reuben said one of them looked really good. So I brought myself a new hat. Do you like it?

Rachel suggested we go fishing at the Port Albert Wharf for the rest of the afternoon.I was getting better at fishing so I was keen to give it a another go. When we got there Rachel’s dad was just putting the boat in the water. We put our orange life jackets on and piled into the boat. The water was choppy and we were bouncing over the swells.

We had so much fun. I got the biggest snapper! What a great way to end an exciting day! Yesterday I was in Kawau Bay on the East Coast and today I’m on the mighty Kaipara Harbour on the West Coast. Did you know the Kaipara is the largest enclosed inland harbour system in New Zealand!

Rachel’s dad took us all back to their place and we had fish for dinner. We decided to have a movie night and put all the mattresses in the lounge. I didn’t even see the end of the first movie! I was so tired I fell asleep! Can you blame me? Tomorrow I’m heading down scenic Highway 16 to see Annie the children’s librarian at Helensville Library.

Auckland is such an amazing Super City! Don’t you think?