For someone who is fond of clear blue skies, lush green fields and rolling hills, Delhi is indeed a hard place to live. So when I got the chance to present a paper at an international conference in faraway New Zealand, I lapped it up immediately and almost broke into an impromptu Bihu, only to see my wife giving me a startled look. I had read, heard and seen a lot (on TV and in movies) about New Zealand and had always dreamt of visiting it someday and I knew this dream of mine was to become a reality soon. 100% Pure New Zealand is how Tourism New Zealand advertises the country and indeed, there are very few places on earth that are as scenic as New Zealand. I took a Thai Airways flight from Delhi to Bangkok and then another Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to Auckland in New Zealand. Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest city. The flight from Bangkok to Auckland is painfully long (around 12.5 hours) and I kept on strolling in the plane at regular intervals to prevent the onset of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) or what is known as Economy Class Syndrome. From Auckland I took an Air New Zealand flight to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand where I was to present my paper. Wellington is located at the southern tip of the North Island of New Zealand. The city has earned the epithet “Windy Wellington” because of the strong winds coming from the Cook Strait that lash the city and due to its location in the “roaring forties” latitude.
Wellington is named after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington. It is home to the Parliament of New Zealand, the offices of government departments and diplomatic missions. Wellington is a new city as compared to many Indian cities. European settlement in Wellington began with the arrival of settlers in 1839. A multicultural city with people from countries around the world, Wellington is breathtakingly beautiful. As soon as I came out of the airport, a cold wind took me by surprise. Many a times during my stay, the strong cold winds billowing across the city had me running for cover.
Wellington has hills as well as a splendid harbour! What more could I have asked for? Travel within the city limits is very easy and convenient. It is not a very big city and one of the best ways of exploring the city is by foot (of course, with a map in hand). During my stay in Wellington, I came across quite a few Indian restaurants, including a Hare Krishna vegetarian restaurant right in the heart of the city. I had visited the Hare Krishna restaurant in Wellington on Janmasthami Eve and the staff was busy making preparations for a function to be organized to celebrate Janmasthami.
The people of Wellington are very friendly and willing to help. One noticeable difference from India is that cars and other types of vehicles give way to pedestrians in New Zealand (just as in many foreign countries). Another thing to be noticed is that drivers rarely use the horn unless extremely necessary, just the opposite of what goes on in India. The streets are clean and the parks are well maintained. One place not to miss out in Wellington is Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum that provides a unique insight into the life of New Zealand and its people. A trip to Wellington cannot be complete without a ride on the Wellington Cable Car, which allows a beautiful view of Wellington and the harbour. I hopped on to the Wellington Cable Car one fine morning and headed to the Wellington Botanic Gardens. The Botanic Gardens are a treasure trove of the flora of New Zealand and houses many of the lesser known and endangered species of flora found in New Zealand.
Wellington has been hit by a series of earthquakes including one in 1855, which raised a large tract of land out of the harbour. This land was then reclaimed. The Karori Sanctuary in downtown Wellington houses many endangered species of birds and animals. Wellington’s waterfront is spectacular and allows one to stroll around in leisure while feeding the seagulls. The Wellington Zoo is another attraction. The total population of Wellington, including the suburban areas would be around 450,000.
Courtenay Place is the hub of Wellington’s cultural and nightlife and buzzes with life till the wee hours. Once you have seen the major attractions inside the city, you can have a dekko at the suburbs. The Hutt Valley is around 10-15 minutes from the city and is famous for its parks, gardens and walkways. Just 40 minutes from Wellington is the Kapiti coast, which is home to miles and miles of sandy beaches, the Kapiti wildlife sanctuary and plenty of shopping areas.
Wellington is undoubtedly New Zealand’s cultural capital and has a rich music and professional theatre scene. It houses major arts organizations like the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand String Quartet among others.
Accommodation is a not a problem and Wellington has a range of accommodation options to suit every budget.
How often does it happen that you meet complete strangers on a local bus and then they invite you home for dinner? Well it happened to me in New Zealand. Gavin, a Kiwi was taking his son Matthew to a local theatre on a Sunday and I happened to be on the same bus as them. I had asked them a few things about Wellington and they were happy to help me. I ran into them again while they were coming back from the theatre and this time they invited me to their home for dinner. Gavin’s wife is a Chinese from Shanghai and she treated me to some lovely dumplings. When I met Gavin’s wife, I felt as if I was somewhere in the Northeast. Lady Luck smiled on me again when Gavin told me that he had a friend Chris who has visited Assam. Early next morning, I met Chris Bishop who has visited many places in Assam like Majuli, North Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Sibsagar and Golaghat and had some very nice words to say about Assam and its people. He gave me a lift in his motorbike and when I thanked him for the lift, he said that it was nothing compared to the help and hospitality he received from the people of Assam during his visit.
The clear blue skies and the gentle waters of the Wellington Harbour have a soothing effect on your body. It was soon time for me to leave Wellington for my journey back to Delhi. As I left Wellington, I could not help feeling nostalgic about Wellington, which during my short stay had embraced me with its welcoming arms and left a lasting impression on my mind. I felt sad thinking of what we could have made out of Guwahati or maybe Tezpur, which like Wellington are also ringed by hills and have the mighty Brahmaputra flowing by them and the mess we have created. As they say in Maori, who are the indigenous people of New Zealand
“Ki mai koe ki a au,
He aha te mea nui tenei ao:
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.”
“If you should ask me what is
the greatest thing in the world,
the answer would be:
It is the people, it is the people, and it is the people”
By Rupakjyoti Borah
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