Albert Park Bandstand

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I have never explored Albert Park in Auckland City while I lived there but we got a chance while we were there in June. This bandstand was built in 1901 and is the oldest surviving one in the Auckland region. Designed by James Slater, the octagonal timber structure has an onion shaped roof and was a meeting place for brass band concerts, royal events and local gatherings.

In the 1960s it was where people met for counter culture protests and in the 1970s it was used for free Summer concerts where bands such as Dragon and Dr Tree played their music.

It is registered as a Category 2 historic place under Heritage New Zealand.

Linking up with Tuesday Treasures and Happy Tuesdays.

Ocean

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There’s a few utility box murals in Auckland City. I saw this one along Fanshawe Street. I can’t quite make out the signature on the side but I suspect it’s by artist Paul Walsh.

Linking up with Mural Monday.

Fishing

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We stopped off somewhere in Auckland where I had never visited, despite the fact that I lived in this city for 25 years…. venturing on the other side of the harbour bridge looking out towards Auckland City. We saw 2 fishermen trying their luck to catch their dinner – this was one of them.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.

Scooters

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Do those of you in other countries also have these scooters in various places around your town/city? We saw these on most corners when we were in Auckland.

Here, they are pretty dangerous at times. Not many people wear helmets, like they are recommended and i regularly read news articles about people have been seriously hurt and killed. I’m not sure how they are used but I think you use a credit card to pay for the usage.

Winter seems to have finally hit this week. This is my outside deck with a layer of ice covering it and the backyard. Places around the country like Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington have had snow dumps and flurries. Where I am in Greymouth, we have had -8 temperatures at night but the only places we get snow here are on some of the mountains. Our fireplace has been getting used ALOT but now that it’s August we are hoping that Spring shows itself come September.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom’s Signs.

Puhoi Church

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The church of St Peter and St Paul in Puhoi, north of Auckland was built by early Bohemian settlers in 1881 for the sum of 267 pounds or by today’s standards about $500 which would’ve been a huge sum of money back then. The town itself was founded by German speaking immigrants from Bohemia (the Czech Republic) and Puhoi means “slow water” in te reo Maori.

Linking up with Tuesday Treasures and Happy Tuesdays.

I am the land

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This mural is in Orewa – seen when we were in Auckland recently. It was a shame that the car was in the way but you still get the gist of the mural which depicts the actual beach and the Pohutukawa tree which flowers in Summer on the right. The artist is Dreaming Amaris aka Sarah Carter. So this is my new blog, I’m still making tweaks here and there so please change your link for me.

Linking up with Mural Monday.