Do you believe in bigfoot? What about Moa?

[Ocean1]

Slightly, very slightly, off topic. I was talking to a fulla who used to hunt in the Waipoua forest t'other day and he was telling me about the remains of stone buildings in the forest. Quite a lot of them. Now that's interestin.

Supposedly Norse-style weren't they? Think most of them have been quietly destroyed. Be nice to know who they were, but I doubt it's ever going to happen.

Also: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5642...white-settlers

[george formby]

Supposedly Norse-style weren't they? Think most of them have been quietly destroyed. Be nice to know who they were, but I doubt it's ever going to happen.

Also: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5642...white-settlers

Their is a lot of tantalising but inconclusive "evidence" out there. The Waitaha descendants talk of stone workers, similarity's of Celtic and Polynesian language, art, and design can be seen all around the Pacific rim.

I'm a bit sceptical, but the dirty, great cliff/bluff you pass on the way to Mangonui, supposedly has Celtic designs carved into it. By metal tools. I've heard this of other prominent cliffs in the area. I've also read of Moa bones excavated from middens which appear to bare cuts made by metal.

It's all unproven and a bit undercover but I see no reason why brave and imaginative people who faced a choice between dying where they stood or dying over a distant horizon would not take the chance of the ocean. Scientists kind of stop 2000 years ago, thinking Pacific society's slowly island hopped. I would like to think that brave souls have used their brains and hopes to cross the seas and oceans for 10'000 years.

How Celts or Norsemen got here is a huge leap but the same questions are being asked of archaeological finds in north and south America.
The skills of Polynesian sea farers are undisputed, a friend of mine was crew on Te Aurere which sailed from Mangonui to Hawaii using traditional navigation. They had a modern compass on board but never used it.

If northern sea farers had similar skills, then it's possible they met, married, and continued the voyages.

The Waitaha make a big point of avoiding in breeding and sending their fittest and finest out into the ocean to strengthen their progeny.

Just sayin, it's a nice idea.

[Ocean1]

The Waitaha make a big point of avoiding in breeding and sending their fittest and finest out into the ocean to strengthen their progeny.

Just sayin, it's a nice idea.

Easy to become unduly influenced by the sheer romance of it all.

Interesting, however, and you may know that the Scottish had a habit of sending their 2nd sons into armed service with neighbouring clans. Minimised fratricide, and cunningly reduced the liklihood that your neighbour might get too interested in your turf.

The only culture known to do that, I believe.

[F5 Dave]

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?


And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark satanic mills?


Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!


I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.


Just sayin.

[Ocean1]

Just sayin.

Think that was the second coming.

The local one must have been the third.

[george formby]

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?


And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark satanic mills?


Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!


I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.


Just sayin.

If I knew how to rep I would, green. My evening has just taken a sharp turn.

[AllanB]

Moa beer YES

[neels]

It wouldn't surprise me if there are still moose in fiordland, it's a bloody big place to hide.

Moa in arthurs pass, maybe not so much, although they would probably be a bit twitchy about human interaction and hide after what happened to their ancestors.

Just because maori were the ones here when the 'modern' white man turned up doesn't mean nobody was here before, for all we know they existed and ended up on the bbq within a few days of being discovered (after all, there is actually a place called cannibal gorge for a good reason), easter island anyone?

[Racing Dave]

You never know what you might see on the TT2000...

[george formby]

Just because maori were the ones here when the 'modern' white man turned up doesn't mean nobody was here before, for all we know they existed and ended up on the bbq within a few days of being discovered (after all, there is actually a place called cannibal gorge for a good reason), easter island anyone?

Their are quite strong feelings against researching pre Maori cultures. Moriori, Waitaha and whoever else washed up here. It has been implied that some very inconvenient truths are being dodged.

[Jin]

If English settlers behaved same way Maori did when they got here they would have been wiped out. They should be grateful they are still here.

[F5 Dave]

Who? The English? We'd be better off without them. Oh wait. . . um. . .

[F5 Dave]

You never know what you might see on the TT2000...

Is that. . is that , a , BMW without official matching luggage?

[Racing Dave]

Is that. . is that , a , BMW without official matching luggage?

I know - I'm not worthy!

[Maha]

Were down by the lake earlier and heard a noise from across the other side in the wooded area that can only be described as not from this world. The calm quite serenity allowed for the vocal sound to have that echo effect.