If Ilias would have his way, we'd go to the beach every night after dinner. But as the parents with kids amongst you will know this is just not feasible. From our beach we've got a superb view on Kapiti Island, which is the site of Kapiti Island Nature Reserve and adjoins the Kapiti Marine Reserve.
The island is home to a number of native birds (mostly reintroduced), including takahe, kokako, brown teal, stitchbirds, and tieke (saddleback), miromiro, piwakawaka, ruru, weka (hybrid of North and South Island subspecies), hihi, and toutouwai. To protect birdlife organised tourist trips to the island are limited to 50 people per day. I have no idea how these bird look like, so a visit to the island is definitely a must.
Now, New Zealand’s first Maori writer’s residency is being hosted on Kapiti Island,
reviving a more ancient use of the island - as a wananga, or place of learning. Traditional wananga involved tohunga (experts) passing on tribal knowledge, secular and ritual. Students learned about whakapapa (genealogy) and weaponry as well as arts and spiritual practices. Wananga were usually set apart from everyday living complexes, often within a forest.
What a shame I'm not of Maori descent, because the idea of being a translator in residence on Kapiti Island surely appeals to me!
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