While New Zealand is a stunning place, we have encountered one little drawback. It is only little is size. It's referred to locally as the sandfly. Brenda and I refer to them as worse than mosquitos! I know that may be hard to believe but the bites itch more and for a longer period of time; dreadful! Wikipedia reveals this legend: New Zealand sandflies (which are actually a different insect and a type of black fly)have a native Māori legend wherein "the god Tu-te-raki-whanoa had just finished creating the landscape of Fiordland, it was absolutely stunning... so stunning that it stopped people from working. They just stood around gazing at the beauty instead. The goddess Hinenuitepo became angry at these unproductive people, so she created the sandfly to bite them and get them moving". (Women...)
These sand flies were able, according to another Maori legend, to revive the dead hero Ha-tupatu.
Let's just say we are not enamored.
Photos of Brenda (blue)and our friend Jane (orange)at the Waitangi day street market 4 Feb, 2012, a panoramic view as I sit on our deck enjoying my coffee this morning, and a little cafe we stopped for coffee on a bike ride with John and Jane.
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