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.

World Famous Fish & Chips

Mangonui, Far North. April 2009. Ajr

I'm afraid to say that little has changed in the little Far North fishing village of Mangonui in the decades since I last stayed there - but maybe that's a good thing. One thing that has become clear, the Mangonui Fish Shop has taken it's popularity seriously, now billing itself as The World Famous Mangonui Fish Shop. I'm always fascinated by claims like these and wonder just how they arise.