This Monday is Waitangi Day in New Zealand, a national holiday commemorating the signing in 1840 of the Treaty of Waitangi between Maori chiefs and representatives of the British Crown giving the Maori people the same rights as the British. The Treaty is considered to be the founding document of New Zealand. As a result of the holiday, our campground in Kaikoura had filled right up and many of the campers were New Zealanders getting away for the long weekend. We chatted with a couple from Christchurch over supper last night and the family beside us was also from Christchurch and gave us some ideas of things to see.
After packing up we drove to Christchurch, hoping to find a camping spot. We knew the Top 10 was full and things did not look promising as the other one near the centre required a four night minimum when looking online. We decided to pop into that one anyway and had no problem getting a powered spot for just two nights (although there were not many left). The lady who checked us in was nice and even gave Don the senior's discount.
We spent the afternoon strolling through downtown Christchurch and through part of the Botanical Gardens. The Christchurch Cathedral that partially collapsed in the 2011 earthquake is behind fencing and is being rebuilt, with 2027 being the target date for completion. Other scars certainly remain in the city centre, with a number of boarded up buildings and empty lots, but much has been rebuilt since 2011.
We stopped off at the Pak'nSave close to the campground for some much needed supplies and cooked our supper at our little picnic table. Today was hot: 30 degrees Celcius or so, but luckily it has cooled down nicely so that sleeping in the tent should not be a problem.
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