May 30, 2000
I receive much mail from Canada and the northern USA concerning growing delphiniums in the climates that prevail there; so completely different to New Zealand. Not having visited that part of the world (to be remedied) it is difficult to fully understand the problems, or rather the circumstances, that these climates bring. It is also interesting to muse upon differences in culture and attitudes that are reflected in the way we regard our gardens and our lives. I have written this article in order that you may understand a little of New Zealand, or at least my view of it.
Some time ago, 35 years actually, a rather thin and bewildered, English youth disembarked with his parents from SS "Orcades" and stood, still swaying gently to the rhythm of the ocean, upon the quay at Wellington city, New Zealand. Wellington, we were led to believe was named after the illustrious Duke, because the rubber boots that also bear his name are essential footwear, and umbrellas, which aren't, are useless as they are invariably blown inside out by the gentle breezes so common there. So, steaming serenely into Wellington harbour on a sea of glass under a cloudless sky, the bright autumn sunshine burning off the last thin flags of morning mist still clinging reluctantly to the hill tops, as if leaving was really too much of an effort on so beautiful a day was, apart from being a needlessly poetic setting for a "Mills and Boon" paperback, somewhat unexpected.
The callow youth has disappeared, mostly, but that sparkling day still remains and many have followed. New Zealand is a refreshing place. At times we can have four seasons in a day and at others it seems, none at all. We are a long, rather thin island (north island and south island) nation bounded by oceans, our nearest neighbour of any size being Australia, two and a half hours west by 747. Argentina is a mere
14 hours flight to the east.
Our climate is therefore determined by the surrounding oceans which tend to be cool and wet, and their interaction with the land which has a backbone of young mountains, snow covered in winter (south island and central north island) running almost its entire length. The prevailing wind is westerly, rather draughty at times and brings regular rain which it drops mostly in the west.
It then descends calmer, warmer and drier to give the east coast, about 150kms away, the lion's share of the sunshine (by and large). Temperatures are rarely extreme due to the intense maritime influence and a wide range of plants survive and thrive including many which are indigenous or endemic. Away from the mountains grass grows year round. We are a country peopled by many races but the rat race is still largely confined to the Auckland region in the north of the North Island, which accommodates the bulk of the population but very few of the brains.
New Zealand was populated by the Maori people who sailed from the Pacific Islands reputedly a good many years before Europeans knew much about navigation. European settlement dates from the early 19th century. There followed a short period of conflict and a long and continuous period of resolution. The vast majority of the population are happy, well fed, wonderful people. The balance are politicians and Aucklanders. |
