Wednesday, August 13th 2003 – Day 176
I was up at 9.00am. The other two people were dead quiet when they let at 4.00am to catch a ferry. I got breakfast (scrambled eggs and toast) and headed to the tourist office for information and advice about the NPC rugby season (it starts Saturday). I then walked to The Parliament Buildings . I was a bit early for a public tour at 11.00am. I checked my bags and camera in and we headed off to a nice tour that visited the select committee rooms, the members library and the main house i.e the Dail, House of Commons etc,. It was a good tour as I have never been to Dail Eireann – Ireland’s equivalent. Nice area where different nations donated national emblems. Ireland had a nice embroidered flag.
New Zealand’s Parliament Buildings are on Molesworth Street in the city center and include the distinctive beehive-shaped building that is the administrative headquarters. They reopened to the public in 1995 after undergoing a NZ$165-million ($69.3-million) refurbishment. You can visit Parliament daily free of charge. The 1-hour tours include the Edwardian neoclassical Parliament House, the Victorian-Gothic Parliamentary Library, and, if the group is not too large, the 1970s-style Beehive. If you want to see and hear history in the making, call first to check when the House is sitting. The Debating Chamber makes for fascinating spectator sport.
The refurbished buildings also present outstanding examples of New Zealand art. The most impressive of all is the spectacular work by Malcolm Harrison, which occupies the three-story height of the new Galleria. The Maori Affairs Select Committee Room, at the front of Parliament House, is another interesting feature, worth visiting for the remarkable carvings and weavings specially commissioned for it.
Across the road, the Old Government Building is also worth a look. It’s the second-largest wooden building in the world and now houses the University Law Faculty. And since you’re in the vicinity, you could also check out the National Library of New Zealand, 70 Molesworth St. (tel. 04/474-3000). The ground-floor National Library Gallery showcases the art and history collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library and is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm, and Sunday from 1 to 4:30pm. The Alexander Turnbull Library, in the same building, is the research wing of the National Library, specializing in New Zealand and the Pacific. Books, serials, recordings, manuscripts, and archives are on the first floor and newspapers on the lower ground floor. On the second floor, visitors can peruse files of photographs. Drawings, paintings, and maps are available for research by appointment.
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Wellington – New Zealand – parliament and Beehive. (13-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – Library of Parliamanrt. (13-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – parliament and Beehive. (13-08-2003)
It was still raining bus I was in museum form. After a quick bite to eat, I headed to Kelburn Cable Car and its museum.
This is a splendid little 4 1/2-minute trip taking you to some of the best views you’ll see anywhere. Pray for fine weather, as Wellington city and the harbor look spectacular from up here on a cloudless day. It’s also the best way to access the Botanic Garden
Its NZUS 1.80 each way but the weather was crap on top with no clear views of the harbor. After 25 minutes in the museum (free), I headed back again.
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Wellington – New Zealand – Cable Car Museum. (13-08-2003)
I then walked to the Museum of Wellington City & Sea
There’s been a NZ$12.5-million ($5.25-million) refurbishment at this newest of Wellington’s museums, housed in a historic icon, the 1892 Bond Store. The history of the area is presented in six galleries with audiovisual displays, cinema screens, and traditional exhibitions of memorabilia and photographs. If you want an intense glimpse into Wellington’s past, this is the place to get it.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – Museum of Wellington City & Sea. (13-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – Museum of Wellington City & Sea. (13-08-2003)
It was free in and had some nice stories about the city and its characters. Much of the museum has to do with its maritime history and shipping disasters. I spent about an hour here. Much of the museum has to do with a sinking in 1968 where 51 people died. It was called the Wahine. The NZ National Maritime Museum is situated at the heart of Auckland’s downtown waterfront area. It now has a NEW WWW site and another related site.
After that I walked to the National Tatoo Museum. The Moho tattos are unique to the Pacific and I have seen many people here with unusual tattoos. Some have a moko from their family heritage all over their face. The museum had many pictures of full facial tattoos. Many all get their tights done from the waist to their knees. It was 5 NZUS in and their is a tattoo business there as well if to want a tattoo. I stayed thee about 40 minutes. It was OK to see local practice and the long history of tattoos in the Pacific Region but missable.
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Wellington – New Zealand – National tattoo Museum. (13-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – National tattoo Museum. (13-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – National tattoo Museum. (13-08-2003)
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wellington – New Zealand – National tattoo Museum. (13-08-2003)
After that it 5.30pm and I walked to the local tourist office to buy a ticket for the NPC game next Saturday. It is the first week of the Rugby Union season and they expect over 30,000 at Wespac stadium for the 1st Wellington game – Aug 16 Wellington v Southland Wellington 2.35pm . Another reason I am going is to become part of history According to the Dominion Post newspaper, I will be part of the 3rd Lord of the Rings film. I have the chance to to chant and stomp my way into the final film in The Lord of the Rings trilogy at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
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Wellington – New Zealand – MARAUDING LIONS: Wellington rugby front-row forwards Tony Coughlan, Luke Mahoney, and Tim Fairbrother prepare for Saturday’s battle by donning Rings trilogy props at training in Upper Hutt yesterday. (13-08-2003)
Lions roar for Rings – 13 August 2003 – By TOBY ROBSON
Thousands of Wellington rugby fans will have the chance to chant and stomp their way into the final film in The Lord of the Rings trilogy at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
Rings sound technicians will ask the crowd to stay behind after the Wellington Lions’ national provincial championship opening game against Southland to record sounds for battle scenes in The Return of the King.
It would take “five or ten minutes” to record the noises, sound technicians said.
Fans can hear the results when the film makes its world premiere in Wellington on December 1.
It is the second time the stadium has been used for Rings sound effects.
Last year, fans kicked up a din during the tea break of a one-day cricket international between New Zealand and England. The results were clearly audible during battle scenes in the trilogy’s second film, The Two Towers.
On that occasion, the crowd was led by director Peter Jackson but this time around the Wellingtonian is overseas.
The Lions will be hoping they can display some of the warrior spirit on Saturday as Wellington attempt to break a two-year drought against Southland.
The Wellington Rugby Union had sold 22,400 tickets yesterday.
I was looking up stuff about Wellington Rugby. They are one of the best teams int he league. At the heart of this renaissance is the new “home” of Wellington Rugby – the 34,500 seat WestpacTrust Stadium, located in the heart of Wellington City.
Completed at the start of 2000, the colosseum-style Stadium has already proved a hit with rugby fans. Wellington Rugby now boasts 14,000 season ticket holders compared to a total of 1,800 in 1999, and all three of the Hurricanes Super 12 matches in Wellington were sold out in 2000.
Iam looking forward to it. i checked out the weather forcast. it is supposed to be raining heavy so I booked a seat in the covered Silver stand. it cost 25 NZUS. I was easy to book via the Post office and handy.
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Wellington – New Zealand – WestpacTrust Stadium. The papers call in the cake tin or the baking tin. (11-08-2003)
You may or may not know Jonah Lomu playes for Wellington althought he has not trained for the past two days. Hopefully I will see him play on Saturday.
I did not too much the rest of the evening. I was the only person in the dorm for the night so that was sweet. I borrowed another duvet and a pillow.