The Great Conjunction on Great Barrier Island Have you seen them, getting ever closer? From a country lane in a village in the UK a world apart from London, my friend Mary of the MirrorStones sent very glad tidings: “On 21 December, the day of the summer solstice 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will be in conjunction for the first time in 20 years. This Great Conjunction is a time when the planet of structure and restriction, Saturn, meets the planet of growth, expansion and miracles, Jupiter, marking a societal shift we’ll see leading into 2021. It’s a new day … a new era!” Ro and I are looking forward to that new day more than anything on our journey through life. Meanwhile, on to some history, adventure, homoeopathy, culinary delights and photos! Aotea Sojourn The twice-a-month Barrier Bulletin serialised over seven issues a tale by local author Don McGregor. Three thousand years ago, 1126 BC to be exact, two children – a sister, age 8, and her brother, age 11 – were the sole survivors of the wreck of a boat from somewhere in Polynesia that had been carried off course and broke up as it came ashore on the rocky coast at the south-eastern end of Great Barrier Island. In time they named the island Venosia in tribute to a beloved elder and mentor who was lost in the disaster. What brave and resourceful children they were! They adapted and not only survived on their own, but thrived, by using the skills they already had, recalling knowledge they’d internalised from their culture and elders, and acquiring new skills they needed to feed, clothe and shelter themselves in a very different environment. They even built a sturdy sailing craft and circumnavigated the island on a three-day journey. The villains of the tale were giant eagles, now known as Haast’s eagle, which frequently menaced them and several times could have killed little Ila, had not her bold and protective brother thrown rocks to deter it. The Haast’s eagle was the largest predator and the top predator among New Zealand's prehistoric fauna and the largest, heaviest eagle species ever known. It weighed up to nearly 18 kg and had a wingspan up to 3 metres. Its legs and bill were larger and stronger than the largest living vulture species, and its feet and claws were as big as a modern-day tiger's. The Haast's eagle was certainly large enough to attack human children, so the fears of the children in the story were very real. It specialised in hunting the moa, which were up to 3.6 m and 249 kg. Both the Haast's eagle and the moa endured through many glacial periods, when size mattered for survival. They both went extinct around the same time, 500-600 years ago – perhaps you can work out why. If not for the eagles, the children may never have attempted to find their way home. To return to their home island seemed impossible until the constant anxiety of sky-scanning whenever they ventured into the open became too much to cope with, and they worked together again to overcome the greatest challenge of all, navigating the great ocean to find the tiny speck they longed to return to. By using bits of charcoal to mark the position of stars on flattish pieces of wood, and then burning them in with hot stones, they created two star maps, one of the night sky as seen from Venosia and one of the night sky as they recalled it from their home island. They discovered an overlap in one corner of the two maps. With their maps as a guide, and their boat filled with provisions and water cleverly stored, they set out for home. Archaeological finds of Māori prehistory on Aotea: Part 1 Fast forward a few thousand years to 1200-1300 AD, when Māori tīpuna began arriving in Aotearoa. Ancient Polynesian navigators could read the weather, sea birds and seaweed to know when they were within 100 km of land. Like the children in the story, they created star charts with to find their way back home. Because they knew they could return, others had confidence and motivation to come to the new lands of Aotearoa. The Hauraki Gulf islands were probably among the first places settled by east Polynesian voyagers to Aotearoa. A very early arrival was the explorer Toi, who named the islands: nga poito o te kupenga o Toi Te Huatahi – the floats of the fishing net of Toi Te Huatahia. The founding waka Tainui and Arawa arrived in the Hauraki Gulf almost simultaneously, about 600 to 700 years ago. Three others landed on Great Barrier Island before travelling further: Takitimu, Mataatua and Aotea, which became the Barrier's Maori name. And so, the Ngāti Rehua, hapu of Ngāti Wai, who live on the island today trace their association back over many centuries. Aotea is important in Māori history. Because of its location at the entrance to the Hauraki Gulf, it was a major networking area for early Māori. All waka travelling between the Bay of Islands and the Bay of Plenty, and beyond, passed close by Aotea and Hauturu (Little Barrier Island). Māori settlements on the smaller Gulf islands were mainly temporary or seasonal. Visits were made to tend gardens, gather shellfish, harvest mutton birds or set up temporary fishing stations. Only larger islands like Great Barrier and Waiheke sustained longer-term settlement. Archaeologist Don Prince, who has roots on the Barrier, assisted with Auckland Council’s Aotea Great Barrier Island Historic Heritage Survey, which was published last year. He contributed to the database of pā sites and settlements by locating and describing them and speaking with tāngata whenua and others with knowledge of the island’s prehistory. Earlier this year we went to a talk he gave at Medland Haven, a house for group accommodation run by St Johns Church. (More people than expected turned up – the talk was in the kitchen/dining area, but the lounge was full!) Because of the island’s relative isolation and small population, many of its heritage sites have survived relatively unmodified, offering clues about the island’s prehistory (before the written word). Māori use and settlement of the island over a period of 700-800 years left behind nearly 600 archaeological sites and other places of cultural significance. Some of the treasures are early campsites containing the remains of moa, more recent pā, settlement sites, pits for crop storage, middens (food refuse deposits), cultivation and resource gathering areas, urupā (burial grounds) and places where conflicts or other events took place. Some of the midden have been dated to the earliest period of occupation and provide information on the past environment and food sources. Most of the sites are at accessible areas of coastline of the main island and on the smaller islands. Don has been locating and investigating these archaeological sites. I’ll share some of his findings next time. Intrepid friends (didn’t quite) reach Everest Base Camp Auckland has a super lively tramping club that our on-again, off-again island friends Margaret and Peter are super active members of. Their ultimate adventure, in October 2018, was to tackle the nine-day, 65 km trek to Everest Base Camp. They were ready to share their once-in-a-lifetime experience at the club’s September meeting, but it was held remotely, so Ro and I were able to attend as well, and I screenshot-ed madly throughout! Their adventure began with a flight from Kathmandu to the infamous Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla, at 2680 m. Short runways are always dangerous, but here the runway ends at a stone wall and a steep mountain. The most prominent mountain of the trek wasn’t Everest, but Ama Dablam, 6812 m. What a surprise for me to learn that Everest isn’t a technical climb, but Ana Dablam is. What makes Everest so challenging is its altitude, 8849 m. Everest Base Camp is at 5120 m on the Khumbu Glacier. All the glaciers and ice sheets of the region are melting, increasing the risk of rock and ice avalanches, and even threatening the villages along the route to Base Camp. The tracks between villages are centuries old. The group stopped at villages for lunch and overnight, and twice for two nights to take return walks to higher altitudes for acclimatisation. Donkeys are usually used at lower elevations, and yaks higher up, because they cope better with altitude. Altitude sickness had already forced three members of the group to abandon their dream, when, past the village of Dingboche, perhaps 12 km from the goal, altitude sickness got the better of Margaret. She and Peter had to turn back to Pheriche, the closest village with medical facilities. It’s not far from here that they had to turn back. Once Margaret stabilised at Pheriche, they were flown to a hospital in Kathmandu, and when she was given the all-clear, they did a bit of sightseeing – not their intention!. Meanwhile, the remaining group members reached Base Camp … … and carried on along the Three Passes Route loop. Margaret told me it wasn’t just the altitude that made the trek so difficult. The food was unusual to them, with not a single vegetable. They didn’t know they could have brought some of their own food. They had to filter their water, and though remaining fully hydrated is essential, they didn’t always get enough. The dusty trail with a strong odour of yak poo contributed to breathing difficulties at ever-higher elevations. Though they walked for only about six hours a day, much less than they were used to on other challenging tramps, Margaret always felt tired. Overall, the trek involved adapting body and mind to a brand new experience of physical stress, sensory onslaught and an unfamiliar culture. After the Zoom presentation, instead of the buzz of conversation over supper, everyone drank their quiet cuppas within their own four walls. This, by the way, is Everest! Two years on air and a chat about homoeopathy Early December marked my two-year anniversary as presenter of “Can’t Live Without Music” on Aotea FM. I never missed a show! Except of course when the studio was closed in April and May this year. Last month I interviewed Linda, our island homoeopath. Ro and I have had a number of experiences with the great value of homoeopathy, including the always-at-the ready remedy Oscillococcinum, our ally for decades in stopping flu in its tracks. Here in brief are Linda’s answers to some of my questions. How it is that like cures like? The Law of Similars is the basis of homoeopathy: A substance that brings on symptoms in a healthy person can, in a very small dose, trigger the body’s natural defenses to treat an illness with similar symptoms. How can small doses be effective? Each remedy is formulated by successive dilution of the ingredients (potentisation) and vigorous shaking. The resulting remedy is thought to resonate with the body, triggering a gentle but profound healing response. * How did they work out in the first place what remedies are helpful for what problems and conditions? It’s called “proving”. A homoeopathically prepared substance is given to healthy volunteers to find the symptoms it produces, which are the ones it will potentially treat. * With over 7000 available remedies, how do you find the right one? Homeopathy is wholistic. It’s based on the philosophy that the body, mind and emotions are fully integrated. Homoeopaths do detailed consultations covering each person’s physical, mental and emotional situation, past and present, before deciding on the best remedy to remove the underlying cause of their problems. Linda is currently becoming an even more wholistic practitioner by complementing her knowledge of homoeopathy with study in traditional Asian nutrition. and when she’s further along I’ll interview her again. Tune in to Can’t Live Without Music on Sundays from 3:40-6 pm, livestream at aoteafm.org or www.radio-new-zealand.co.nz/aotea-fm. Send me your requests! Binging on beetroot Between Greg’s and Robert’s gardens, and our garden, we’ve been blessed with beetroot! Beetroot salad, beetroot and hemp heart burgers www.kindearth.net/hemp-beet-veggie-burger-recipe-gluten-free-vegan/ and borscht have been on the menu. And thanks to our dear Lina, KVASS, a delicious beetroot-based fermented drink, became the latest in our fermentation repertoire. Here’s her easy recipe! Kvass – from the Queen Bee of Fermentation Wash a 1 L jar with baking soda, then pour boiled water over it. Cut beetroot into small cubes. Fill jar 1/3. Add water with salt: First dissolve a level tsp salt per cup water. If you have it, add 1 tsp clear whey to the jar. Leave a one-inch space at top (unlike in the photo!). Use a plastic lid, screw tight, keep in the dark. Shake after two days. Taste after three days. Once fermentation starts you can add a small amount of beetroot blended with a little water and leave another day or more. It may take up to a week to taste nicely fermented. Before it does, if there's white mould around the lid or top of the jar, scoop it off and rub a wee bit of salt around the edge and lid. If there’s grey mould, don’t use the kvass. You can do a second fermentation with some of the old beetroot plus new cubed beetroot and blended beetroot. Just like kombucha, kvass improves in taste and fizziness after a stint of at least a week in a sealed bottle. If you give it a try, let me know! * * * * * * * * * * * * Lovely Kat has been baking her beautiful all-organic “Glow Sourdough” for the community. She makes two kinds: artisan white and glowgels (rhymes with Vogel’s!): rye/spelt with sunflower, pumpkin and flax seeds, plus great big generous dollops of love energy vibrations. She does a two-day slow ferment, finishing on Wednesday mornings at the kitchen at the Barrier Social Club. She’s been scaling up – eight loaves to start, to 12, then 16 and now 24. She’s sold out and beyond every time! In the new year she’s starting a Bread Club for sourdough by subscription. We’ve enjoyed both kinds and given some as gifts. They are DELICIOUS! Bread baking is one minor string in Kat’s bow! She and her partner, Bodhi, created the incredibly successful Breathe School: https://breatheschool.com. Their mission: "To integrate the ‘Mindful Breathe Break’ into as many schools and systems as we collectively can around the world. A three-minute break from technology, thinking and ‘go go go’ mode. Helping alleviate stress and anxiety, while building a daily habit of peace and calm.” Check out their inspiring story in the videos on their site! * * * * * * * * * * * * * I was thrilled to hear from Purple, Renee and others about plans to revive H.A.N.D.S.! What a joy to read the market was a great success, just like the old days! I hope the energy is sustained to get the system back on its feet and thriving, Dear Mary Allan, my spectacularly wonderful medical herbalist and beautiful friend, with a big batch of aerials for me: calendula and chamomile flowers and true peppermint. Worth needing her to meet her! One weekend she sent this photo with the note “Doing the rounds, at Kumeu market, just sold a copy of your book xxx.” The Wholefoods Handbook, of course! The other books are lovely, informative and inspiring collaborations of Mary and another awesome herbalist, Isla Burgess. Check out their newest book at Mary’s clinic website: www.solsticeherbs.co.nz and the others at her herbal products (best in the world!) website: www.thymeheal.co.nz Ready to view the Great Conjunction a bit later in the evening. My comfy nightgown was once a new bamboo T-shirt we bought for Ro from Barbara in Takaka! Elastine is the secret ingredient here! Drying seaweed on the clothesline. Crunchy, delicious and nutritious! My fifth GBI calendar! This year’s cover photo is by Ken Blackwell. Many thanks also to dear Carrie for her InDesign work! Seen on Barrier Chitchat Orca from a kayak in Tryphena Godwits at Whangapoua, up north Kaka in flax Winnie and Charlie’s granddaughter is now captain of the Blackferns!! Also at Karaka Bay, up north on the west coast near Port Fitzroy My deepest heartfelt wishes to you and every human being for a peaceful and healthy season and new year to come.
Pohutukawa at Medlands
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