Southern Coastline

Waihao River Mouth, Waimate. Nov. 2008. Ajr I love the barren, blue-skied beauty of stony eastern coastline of the South Island. I took this shot at the Waihao River mouth, just south of Waimate a few weeks ago. Most of my other photos were of the whitebaiters but I'm always more drawn to a landscape completely devoid of humans. To see some of the other images from the area click on Waiha0 Marae in the label line below.

Traditional Food Gathering

Eel Catching, Waihao marae. Nov. 2008. Ajr

Last week when I was down at Waihao Marae, near the coast just south of Waimate, I managed to get this photograph (right) of a traditional Hinaki - or eel pot. These were usually made from mangemange, a climbing vine. The eels would swim into the narrowing ‘tunnel’ of the hinaki and not be able to get out again. Eel – members of the Anguillidae family and known as tuna to Maori – live in streams and lakes and form an important part of traditional Maori diet. The one shown in the left photograph, ended up as part of our lunch – served as a garnish for a very tasty tomato soup.

Marae Interior

Waihao marae, Waimate. Nov. 2008. Ajr

The Waihao Marae sits in a field on a quiet gravel road south of Waimate.

It's just two kilometres from a dramatic stony coastline (see whitebaiters below), where locals gather the sea's rich bounty. It doubles as the local community War Memorial Hall - for both Maori and Pakeha. This is the back interior wall, where old photos of war time soldiers are displayed along with two traditional piupiu (skirts)

Whitebaiters at Work

Waihao whitebaiters. Nov. 2008. Ajr

I've never quite understood what all the fuss is about when it comes to whitebait. I always find these tiny, transluscent slithers of fish a complete disappointment. However, after watching a big group of whitebaiters at work at the mouth of the Waihao River, south of Waimate two days ago, I think it might be more about the act of gathering than any spectacular taste. I can relate to that and certainly, spending a day in this wild, windswept coastal environment must be invigorating indeed.

Contemporary Kai

The Waihao Lunch. Nov. 2008. Ajr

Kai is the Maori word for food; Ngai Tahu is the major South Island Maori tribe (iwi). Put the two together and you come up with Jason Dell, Ngai Tahu executive chef at Blanket Bay, who yesterday whipped up a culinary treat for us at Waihao Marae, south-east of Waimate, three hours south of Christchurch. Using the traditional foods of marae –eel (tuna), flounder (patiki), yellow-eyed mullet (aua) and sea-run trout – Jason prepared a lavish lunch for the marae kaumatua (elders). We started with tomato soup with Waldorf salad and eel (top left and bottom right); then raised our forks for sea-run trout set on a polenta cake and lobster ravioli (top right); finishing with fresh bread, baked flounder and baked mullet stuffed with pickled mussels, tomato and an assortment of herbs (bottom left). Not a bad way to spend a sunny day in the south. For more information on Jason Dell put Meet the People - 4 into the blog search box above left. www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz

Whitebaiting at Waihao

Waihao River Mouth, South East Coast. Nov. 2008. Ajr

This is where I have been for much of today - at the Waihao Marae and Waihao River Mouth, about three hours south of Christchurch. It was all in the name of work - another kai (food) feature for Ngai Tahu's Te Karaka magazine......This time a look at the abundant of kaimoana (seafood) found in these parts. After lunch at the marae, cooked by Ngai Tahu chef, Jason Dell, who works as executive chef at Blanket Bay, near Queenstown, we headed for the river mouth to check out the whitebaiters. They were working hard in dangerous seas but it appeared to be worth it. They had bucket-loads of these little fishy delicacies.