While on the road to Okahune, we stopped along the side of the road to view lahar evidence. On top of the lahar, vegetation can be seen followed by a homogenous layer of ash. Winter time is a good time for lahar activity because of the snow/ice.In Okahune, we mailed postcards, did some invertebrae sampling in the river and took a turbidity and temperature sample. After everyone finished at the doctors we loaded up the vans and continued on to Wellington.
Along the way we stopped at the Tangiwai Disaster Memorial. Christmas Eve 1953 a lahar knocked out the highway bridge and railroad. Due to the failure of a train engineer, the train didn't stop in tme and 151 people lost their lives.
By 6pm, we arrived in Wellington and headed to the hostel. After depositing our bags, we headed to the Te Papa Museum. Before heading into the museum, we viewed the isolator system invented by Dr. William Robinson. This system helps to absorb motion caused by earthquakes. The museum is sitting on 152 isolators. Kia Ngawari te Ru translates into "Breaking the Quake."The museum was amazing. Viewing the Maori artifacts and learning more about their culture was a rewarding experience. One interesting story that stood out was about the Te Kore (void). This is supposedly where the stirrings of creation began in Maori culture. Te Po was the darkness adn out came Te Ao Marama, the light. Ihonui is the space that suggests both the emptiness and the vast possibilities of creation.
One Maori staying that stands out also is "He taonga no te whenua me hoki ano ki te whenua." Which translated says "What is given by the land should return to the land."
After a recap and two student presentations on Penguins and the Maori culture, we called it a night.
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