public meetings

Day 6 - Kapiti Coast

James Samuel — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:45:50 +0000

Thursday morning began with a trip to the library to meet Barbara who is doing a film project and wanted to do an interview for it. We got about half way through it and the fire alarm went off and everyone evacuated. After wandering around the waterfront for a while we settled in front of William Trethewy's bronze statue on Wellington waterfront of Kupe, his wife Hine te Aparangi, and tohunga (ritual expert) Pekahourangi as they sight Aotearoa.

Day 4 - Masterton, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt

James Samuel — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:31:57 +0000

I left Paul and Christine's place at 7:15 and headed back through the Manawatu Gorge and got down to Masterton by to meet up with Helen Dew, Sonja Corbett and others involved in the Carterton/Wairerapa initiative. An intimate gathering and honest conversation was followed by a lunchtime public presentation to a healthy number of people who were able to break away for a bit to come and engage with the transition consideration.

Day 3 - Marton

James Samuel — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:16:46 +0000

An unhurried morning in Wanganui gave me a chance to post the news from Sunday's event. By the time I arrived at the Environment Centre, things were buzzing already with people engaged in all manner of conversations. Laurence showed me the Wanganui Chronicle which had a picture of me on the front page along with a short quote from the previous evening and referred people to page three where another picture and a favourable article sat alongside a picture of a streaker at yesterday's Rugby match.

Day 2 - Wanganui

James Samuel — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:39:33 +0000

The hired Kia's odometer got to 750km as I drove back to Laurence and Stacy's house on the hill in Wanganui last night. But I'm already ahead of myself...

Day 1 - Havelock North

James Samuel — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:47:50 +0000

Waiheke was still this morning as I looked out over the garden and into the bay. It evoked a feeling of well being. Then walking along the wharf to catch the 7.20 ferry I had a sense of the pivotal moment in history we find ourselves in.

Getting ready to go

James Samuel — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:13:54 +0000

I am getting ready to turn off the tap on my email for a couple of weeks - actually divert it to someone who can read it and filter out anything that needs urgent attention. On Saturday I'm heading off from Waiheke, and have hired a car to drive down to the Hawkes Bay. This will be the first stop on a week long visit to some of the towns dotted across the lower North Island.