Helping the Hazara from Bamiyan Afghanistan

The Hazara men of Afghanistan who were english translators for the New Zealand Army and their families are in New Zealand now and are  coming to our community. Bonny and I are working as volunteers with refugee services to help a family with 3 children assimilate into the culture of New Zealand. Our family is arriving to Palmerston North on June 14th. We will meet them and take them to their new house. We will take them grocery shopping and as they are Shia muslims we will need to buy halal meat, bread, rice and oil.  Showing them the direction of Mecca to pray is also important. We will also help them open a bank account, get a doctor and enroll their children in school. We are excited to meet our new family and to help them assimilate into the Kiwi culture of New Zealand.

Golden Bay and Abel Tasman National Park

This weekend it was off to Nelson, Golden Bay and Abel Tasman National Park on the South Island.. This area was first discovered by the Maori and later the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642.

After a beautiful dinner at Hopgoods and a visit at the farmers market in Nelson.

we headed over the mountain and 365 hairpin turns to Golden Bay. After checking in to our hotel we headed for Abel Tasman National Park and had to drive through a giant rock.

 We went tramping up to the Wainui waterfall through a beautiful forrest along a rushing stream and over a suspension bridge.

we finally reached the water falls.

Then it was back down the gentle slope to an incredible view of the mountains bathed in sun.

Finally we headed for Farewell Spit to see the sun set on the Tasman Sea!

Up early Sunday morning for breakfast and a Kayaking trip on Golden Bay.

We paddled out in the early morning sun to meet playful seals sitting on the rocks.

Then we paddled through a giant rock arch to a deserted golden sand beach.

On little Tata beach we had our tea and cookies and traded stories with our Dutch guide Paul of our adventures on the sea.

We watched the sunset as we headed back to Wellington and the North Island. The incredible natural beauty of New Zealand can not be overstated. Kia Ora!