Early One Morning

Mangonui, Northland. April 2009 Ajr The little fishing village of Mangonui is one of those places that changes very little over time - even under the pressures of tourism. When I returned there recently - for the first time in almost ten years, it was almost as I had left it - but for a little tarting up with smart harbourside boardwalks and a few new shops. I could forgive them that. It was 9am when I arrived there on this most recent trip and shops were creaking open their doors, locals were leaning in doorways chatting and this fishing boat was chugging slowly into port. Pretty, pretty, pretty.