Waitangi Day

I spotted this when L & I went paddleboarding at Tahuna this morning . . . .

ABEL JANSZOON TASMAN

Explorer and Navigator

1603 - 1659

Born in Lutjugast in the Dutch Republic in 1603 and died in Batavia in the East Indies in 1659.

Between 13th December 1642 and 6th January 1643 he and his Officers charted parts of the western coasts of both main islands of New Zealand, and on 19th December 1642 were the first Europenas to make contact with the local Maori.

We herby commemorate our journey through life together.

HE RERENGA TAHI
Our Journey Together

So reads the inscription on the plinth of the Abel Tasman statue at Tahunanui Beach. How fitting that today, Waitangi Day, someone has given him the national Maori flag to fly.

Oh - and the paddelboarding was great too :) I'm up for a few more sessions over the next few weeks. Watch this space.



PS Can anyone else see the face in the flag?