The Changing Seasons, January 2017

Deceptive! Mostly this month it’s been too cold and windy to spend much time outside. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

2017 began for the Big T and me at Waitangi, in Northland, NZ. We were there to help old friends celebrate their marriage. The “proper” wedding had taken place earlier in England, so the celebration — on New Year’s Eve — at Waitangi was billed as a ratification of their marriage treaty. And where better to celebrate that than the site where our country’s founding document was signed in 1840.

Members of the groom’s family waiting to welcome the bride and her family. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

Wero (challenge). A warrior from the tangata whenua (hosts) will challenge the manuhiri (guests), checking to see whether they are friend or foe. He may carry a taiaha (spear-like weapon), and will lay down a token – often a small branch – for the visitors to pick up to show they come in peace. Image: Su Leslie

Picking up the taki; an indication that the visitor to this marae comes with peaceful intentions. Image; Su Leslie, 2017

Visitors, in this case a bride and groom, being welcomed onto the Te Tii Waitangi Marae at Waitangi, Northland, NZ. Su Leslie 2017

As the groom is Samoan and the bride English, there was plenty of cross-cultural ceremony and tradition, including welcoming the English family into the Samoan, a powhiri by the marae kapa haka group to welcome us all onto the marae at Waitangi, and lots of energetic Samoan dancing.

And with the formalities over … let’s just say we partied hard and it was a great way to welcome in a new year.

January 1, 2017, Waitaingi, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

The weather has kind of gone downhill during the month, but T and I managed to take advantage of a few sunny days to enjoy some beach time at Raglan where we watched some young surfers and the Big T got an impromptu salt water shower; at Muriwai where the gannets and their chicks continue to enthrall; and on North Head where our picnic attracted the attention of the local bird-life.

And as for the rest of the month? Some time spent playing in a friend’s art studio, lots of photography and a few glasses of wine.

After all, I have to begin the year the way I intend to carry on.

Image: Su Leslie, 2017

This post is my contribution to The Changing Seasons, a monthly challenge hosted by Cardinal Guzman. Please visit to see the Cardinal’s month, and find links to other participants.

There are two versions of the challenge:

Version 1 (The Changing Seasons V1):

Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons
Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery.
Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.

Version 2 (The Changing Seasons V2):

Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons
Each month, post one photo (recipe, painting, drawing, whatever) that represents your interpretation of the month.
Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!