NZ North Island 1989 Trip 1

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 19:26:46 -0800

While on the North Island of New Zealand in Feb. of 1989, I spotted a river that looked promising to fish. I spent some time there and it turned out to be an interesting part of my trip to New Zealand. I stayed at a motor camp near the town of Murupara. The motor camp host (Bert) gave me some fishing advice. I drew a map in my outdoor journal, based upon where he told me to go. He informed me there was a canal not too far away that had good fishing. I drove down the road he told me about; before getting to the canal, I saw a person in military camo clothing standing along the gravel road holding a gun. At first I thought he was a duck hunter holding a shotgun, who might be lost. But then I realized he was holding a rifle. I rolled down my window to talk to him, and he requested that I show him my "transportation papers"? I did not know what he meant, so I showed him my passport. He told me that I probably shouldn't be in that area. He said I could probably continue, but there are others who might ask me for the aforementioned papers. After getting my passport back, I did a U-turn and I was shocked to be looking down the barrel of a tank! I read an article in the paper a day or two later that said there was a joint New Zealand and Australian military game going on that was simulating a Government coup.

North Island of New Zealand | Welcome to the new Beach House Site

NZ North Island 1989 Trip 1