Whangarei Daily Photo

Northland placenames

2009-09-03T12:47:00.001+12:00

South African delicacies

2009-09-02T12:50:00.001+12:00

O'Dwyers Butcher campaigns to Whangarei's sizeable South African population.

The Loud Motel is the next block over

2009-08-27T21:01:00.000+12:00

The best tamarillos in town...

2009-08-25T20:57:00.001+12:00

are sold out of a pensioner's hatchback on Hatea Drive.

Isn't this what all municipal buildings look like?

2009-08-19T19:30:00.001+12:00

Isn't this what all municipal buildings look like?, originally uploaded by Fi@PhotograFi.

What does municipal mean, anyhow?

Reflection of heaven

2009-08-18T19:49:00.001+12:00

Reflection of heaven, originally uploaded by Fi@PhotograFi.

Midday sky reflected in the Assembly of God Church window

An unusual visitor

2009-08-17T20:24:00.003+12:00

Sorry for the gap in posting; I've been down in Auckland for the weekend - where I just happened to capture this beautiful kaka, one of New Zealand's native parrots feeding in my friend's backyard. It's very, very unusual to see this bird in the suburbs so I was very lucky - and I've sent this onto the North Shore City Council who always like to hear about sightings like this one.

Searching for spring

2009-08-12T22:19:00.001+12:00

Searching for spring, originally uploaded by Fi@PhotograFi.

Magnolia show

2009-08-11T18:09:00.002+12:00

Instead of graffiti

2009-08-10T19:31:00.006+12:00

These colourful murals decorate the side of Whangarei Bowling Club which also happens to back onto an alley. Normally this would mean this wall would be a prime target for graffiti but for some reason this one has been left unscathed.

Mr and Mrs Mallard

2009-08-09T13:43:00.001+12:00

...basking in the winter sunshine in Cafler Park.

Where the Hatea River

2009-08-07T18:00:00.002+12:00

...meets Whangarei Harbour is the perfect place to moor one's yacht.

Up on the dry, Riverside Drive

2009-08-06T20:45:00.002+12:00

It's been a long time since this boat was at sea...

Toe toe flags

2009-08-05T20:42:00.001+12:00

I'm Sorry

2009-08-04T18:45:00.004+12:00

This strange little character, wearing nappies and sporting a 10 cent coin for a face is painted on the doorway of an empty building in Bank Street. I'm intrigued...who's sorry? Why are they sorry?

But most of all, why paint this odd creature to say it?

Saturday fields

2009-08-02T16:47:00.003+12:00

Tracks in the dew at Kensington Sports Grounds, early Saturday morning

Poster It

2009-07-31T18:25:00.001+12:00

A swathe of daffodils

2009-07-29T18:39:00.003+12:00

A flourishing daffodil bed in Forum North Carpark. This means we're on the countdown to Spring....yay!

Library light

2009-07-28T18:02:00.002+12:00

I love Whangarei Library - if I could I'd spend the whole day there...

"Come On In"

2009-07-27T18:07:00.002+12:00

The Piggery Secondhand Bookshop - Northland's biggest secondhand bookshop and a Whangarei institution. A great place to while away a lunchbreak.

Cabbage Tree Sunset

2009-07-25T14:58:00.000+12:00

Stumpys on Riverside

2009-07-23T19:32:00.001+12:00

,
"Three pieces of tarakihi, four paua fritters, two potato fritters and one battered sausage. Oh, and a can of L&P"

Mothside

2009-07-21T18:30:00.003+12:00

Moth sculpture on the side of the Whangarei Art Museum.

Magnolias in waiting

2009-07-20T20:34:00.001+12:00

Cafler Park , lunchbreak...

Almost daffodil

2009-07-19T14:49:00.001+12:00

Almost daffodil, originally uploaded by Fi@PhotograFi.

Back alley...

2009-07-17T17:59:00.002+12:00

The less than salubrious shortcut between Rathbone and James Street...

Not convinced

2009-07-16T18:50:00.004+12:00

A Greenpeace recruiter attempts to sign-up a passerby in Cameron Street Mall.

She's thinking: "I'll be polite, but I'm not convinced."

He's thinking: "I need to convince her, but I think she's just being polite..."

Translation on those hairstyles, please

2009-07-14T18:31:00.004+12:00

Motown Haircutters, on Cameron Street, caters to all. But mostly these in need of an Urchin, a Beatnik, a Beckham or a Fade.

A monotoned Sunday afternoon

2009-07-12T16:34:00.001+12:00

Yes to the jobs in the north

2009-07-10T19:08:00.002+12:00

I had lunch with a couple of friends yesterday, one of whom is unemployed after being made redundant late last year and the other is feeling nervous about the security of her job.

When I first moved to Whangarei (just over three years ago now) the job situation was fantastic; I could have had the pick of many jobs.

Now, not only are there less jobs around, there are considerably more applicants for these jobs.

How is the "Global Economic Downturn" affecting your city or town?

Winter silhouette

2009-07-09T18:42:00.002+12:00

Many faces

2009-07-08T18:53:00.002+12:00

This unusual sculpture/outdoor artwork is situated outside Forum North, Whangarei's main events, performance and conference venue.

As Whangarei is a small city it doesn't attract the big names in music or theatre, but there are some great shows, concerts, plays and musicals staged here by local entertainers and some lesser known international acts.

The Longest Drink in Town

2009-07-07T18:20:00.004+12:00

The milkshake menu in the window of Noodle Canteen on Vine Street, featuring the ubiquitous "Longest Drink in Town" giraffe which has featured on the side of Kiwi takeaway milkshake cups for, well, ever since I can remember.

I notice that although they do Lime flavour, the traditional Creaming Soda and Spearmint varieties are sadly missing off the list.

I am going to have to get up a petition.

Water Street Railway Bridge

2009-07-06T21:27:00.001+12:00

July jonquil

2009-07-05T13:43:00.002+12:00

My favourite winter flower - I love its gorgeous vanilla scent. Next in flower will be the daffodils...

Almost there...

2009-07-04T15:48:00.001+12:00

I've been in Auckland overnight - not long I know, but it's always good to be home.

A touch of light

2009-07-03T17:32:00.001+12:00

Sunrising rays slanting through the mist on the drive to Auckland this morning.

The Answer my Friend, is blowing in the Wind

2009-07-02T15:14:00.002+12:00

Busker in James Street, lunchtime today. Not only did he look like Mr Dylan, he sounded just like him too...

Is it a verb or is it a noun?

2009-06-30T17:06:00.001+12:00

No play today

2009-06-29T19:05:00.001+12:00

Rain looming over the playground at Morningside Park this afternoon.

Curious kereru

2009-06-28T16:40:00.001+12:00

Down on the water

2009-06-27T16:16:00.003+12:00

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiwifruitfi/3663781549/" title="Whangarei's Town Basin by Fi@PhotograFi, on Flickr" target="_blank"&amp;gt;&amp;lt;img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/3663781549_9d65f3d45e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Whangarei\'s Town Basin"/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

This is Whangarei's marina, also known as the "Town Basin". Yachts from all over the world moor here and many accents can be overheard if you take a stroll along the riverside or stop and have a drink or a meal in one of the cafes or restaurants overlooking the water.

It's also home to art galleries, souvenir shops, a clock museum and the purveyor of the best fudge in the whole wide world, NZ Fudge Farm (their Russian Fudge is absolutely delicious!).

Whangarei far, far away

2009-06-25T13:33:00.004+12:00

This is the view from our verandah looking towards Whangarei, which is just beyond the plume of smoke in the distance. We live approximately 27kms away from the city but both myself and my husband travel in five days a week to work (a journey of 30 minutes) and we travel in on Saturdays for sport and to run weekly errands (supermarket shopping, yawn...)

At night the lights of the city twinkle and sparkle like a string of Christmas lights - a photo I should try to capture (with the aid of a long shutter speed and a tripod!)

Sails of contrast

2009-06-23T19:27:00.003+12:00

Two sets of identical sail sculptures on each side of the road greet visitors to Whangarei as they enter the city driving north. One is in wood; the other in metal, representing old and new, Maori and Pakeha, nature and industry.

Beware the Taniwha!

2009-06-22T18:32:00.003+12:00

"Tane" the Taniwha is Northland Rugby Union's mascot. Despite being quite scary, he hasn't helped Northland win too many games, but this doesn't stop Northland fans being fanatically loyal and dedicated to their home team. Go the Mighty Taniwha!

Colour of autumn

2009-06-21T14:20:00.003+12:00

Beautiful autumn leaves on acer trees taken today, the shortest day of the year...

Whangarei - the Mural

2009-06-20T17:04:00.003+12:00

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiwifruitfi/3642443291/" title="Whangarei - the mural by Fi@PhotograFi, on Flickr" target="_blank"&amp;gt;&amp;lt;img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3642443291_2313d27a97.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Whangarei - the mural"/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

This is the newly painted mural under the railway overbridge in Water Street which I reckon sums up the city, its surrounds and its people perfectly.

However, I am a little bit unsure what the green man on the bottom left is up to! Answers on a postcard please.

"Craobh Beatha Og"

2009-06-18T21:32:00.002+12:00

This is one of the ten toa (Maori - meaning a carved pole to honour and represent) situated in the courtyard outside Whangarei Library - this one honours all the Celts who settled in Northland.

As well as the Maori and Celts, Dalmatians, Koreans and the people of the Pacific Islands are also represented.

Somebody alert the Apostrophe Police

2009-06-17T13:40:00.002+12:00

Careless use of an apostrophe or three on Bank Street...

Lookout Hill

2009-06-16T18:10:00.005+12:00

I've driven past this view (just south of the city) on the way home for five nights a week for the past three years and I've always thought to myself that is so worth stopping and taking a photograph.

So tonight, for the first time, I pulled into the rest area and took a photo or five.

The choco-caffeine cure

2009-06-15T20:27:00.003+12:00

Mondayitis getting you down? My ideal cure is a trim flat white and a chocolate muffin from Fresh, my favourite Whangarei cafe.

What's your favourite cafe in your city and what do you have when you visit?

A dash of colour

2009-06-14T14:48:00.009+12:00

A typical mid-afternoon in June, but at least this rainbow added a slice of colour to a dull, showery sky.

On the agenda this afternoon? Finish making that Rhubarb and Apple Crumble, take some more photos of the new winter flowers that are blooming, watch catch up on some reading, check out some other City Daily Photo blogs and watch "Charlotte's Web" with my daughter.

What does Sunday afternoon have in store for you?

On any given winter Saturday morning

2009-06-13T17:58:00.002+12:00

Thousands of Kiwi girls take to the court to play netball - here's our daughter's team at Whangarei's Kensington Courts. Score? 4 goals to 3 to Tauroroa Area School!

Tai Tokerau Matariki

2009-06-12T16:45:00.009+12:00

A banner in Cameron Street Mall, advertising events celebrating Matariki here in Tai Tokerau (Northland).

It's Matariki here in New Zealand at the moment, the Maori New Year, which celebrates the rise of Matariki, a set of seven stars (also known as the Seven Sisters or the Pleiades) and the following New Moon.

As per Tai Tokerau "Traditionally, depending on the visibility of Matariki, the coming season's crop was thought to be determined. The brighter the stars indicated the warmer the season would be and thus a more productive crop. It was also seen as an important time for family to gather and reflect on the past and the future."

Now Matariki is celebrated with concerts, plays, street performances, art and music festivals and classes on traditonal Maori arts such as weaving and carving.

Happy Matariki!

Misty watercoloured morning bonus

2009-06-11T18:41:00.003+12:00

This was the view driving into work this morning. Frankly, I have to get up *way* too early...but this makes it just a little bit worth it.

Time to look up

2009-06-10T20:32:00.007+12:00

Today I escaped from the office for a quick mobilephone photo - here is the clock down on the Town Basin, telling me that I have (yikes!) five minutes to get back to the office.

Anyway. So, yeah, the weather's good compared to the last two days which featured rain, rain, rain, good old Whangarei-ning. With some rain and some wind thrown in.

Okay, from now on, no more talk about the weather on this daily photo blog. You can just make your own mind up.

The Inaugural Post of Whangarei Daily Photo!

2009-06-09T16:31:00.003+12:00

Inspired by Amy's Maungatoroto Daily Photo blog, I decided to investigate if anyone else had signed up Whangarei for the daily photo treatment, and I couldn't find anyone.

So here it is. A photoblog about living rurally in the Whangarei district and working five days a week in the heart of Northland's biggest (and only) city.

And I'm really looking forward to joining all the other daily photo bloggers all over the world.