We all run towards the ice cream shop like dogs off their leash until we find out the price and half of us return to the vans. 

Kaiiwi (Whanganui)
Parihaka (Pungarehu)
Te Tatau o Te Po (Lower hutt, Wellington)

In the vans we go, cramped up, air-cons on and we are on the road! 

After many stops due to road works, we arrive in Murchison where the ice creams meet our eyes. We all run towards the ice cream shop like dogs off their leash until we find out the price and half of us return to the vans. 

On the road we continue to Blenheim with many more road works. 

We arrive at our destination, Omaka Marae where we are told about a new Pā opening up here. 

Up and ready early the next morning and onto the Interislander. Bumpy sail and we see land after a while, Wellington Harbour, where we load off and back into the vans. 

We head to Whanganui, we stop by the river and are told a story about a time when Matua Wira chucked a skinhead off the bridge nearby. 

Continuing our drive, we arrive at Kaiiwi Marae. We return Matua back to his home. 

The kai was mean! Reminded me of a buffet with all the different types of puddings and kai. Later that night we light fireworks. 

The pudding was so good that we couldn’t help ourselves, we had more for a late night snack. 

We leave later that day to Parihaka. 

Before we head to Parihaka we stop into Tutahi (a church).

When we arrive at Parihaka, we're taken on a tour around the village and later on in the garden. 

The next day we head up to New Plymouth and that is when we reunite with Makitanara. 

Our journey comes to an end and we head back home. 

Once we hit Murchison Uncle Tauira shouts us all a real fruit ice cream that we could not afford. 

We arrive in Christchurch safely. 

I want to thank everyone who helped us get to these places and looked after us.

Nā Iwitea