Haruru Falls – Attack of the killer possum

We spent the night in the parking lot of the Haruru Falls regional park. Not really a bad place and a lot better than the night before. While making dinner we get visited by several possums. Now for those of you in N. America the possums in New Zealand are very different from the possums found in N.A. They look more like giant squirrels than giant rats. They are also considered a major pest imported from Austriala. Possums kill the kiwi and other indigenous species as well as some of the trees as well. So we take great delight in throwing stones and chasing them off. The next morning as we are leaving we discover that Mark Hutson’s house in right down the street. Mark runs a really cool Kayaking guiding service and I have been trying to hook up with him since I’ve come to NZ. We have breakfast with Mark and his assistant Anders. Mark is about to take the Hawaiian Female Canoe Team for a three day paddle. No kidding. We opted out as we need to get back to Auckland for Andy’s work. Andy and I have another paddle in mind so we didn’t really miss out. Now it off to the Bay of Islands. This is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. This document that is said to be the foundation of modern New Zealand. In it the Maori and there land become subjects to the Queen of England.