Month: May 2024

           

 This is a pukeko, a rather dumb chicken size bird that hangs out in the pastures and along the roadsides.  We have decided to find them charming.  I call them dumb because they often wander into the road when cars are coming.  Matt and I slow down or stop to let them pass.  That does not appear to be the New Zealand way.  Drivers get annoyed when we slow down or stop.  In fact, drivers do not stop at all if a pukeko is in the road.  People just seem to run them over without a care.  That means there are a lot of dead pukeko along and on the roads.  So I wrote to the local council to ask about this.  A few things to remember—farmers consider these birds pests and they are hunted to keep their populations in check.  (I am not sure if they are edible).  Even so, deliberately running over any animal, pest or not, strikes me as heartless and I wanted to express my concern and, frankly, disgust.

Here is the entire email exchange:

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December 15, 2023

As a transplant here to the Kapiti Coast, and an American, let me say I am appalled at the number of pukeko that have been run over by cars on the local roads.  I live in Te Horo Beach and there are numerous dead birds on Te Horo Beach Road, Pukehamo Road, and the surrounding roads including Old SH 1. In the spring there were numerous pukeko in the fields, and now there are few.  

Is this some kind of tradition, to run over birds on purpose?  Because it sure does look like this is entirely purposeful.  Can someone please explain this to me?  I thought these birds were protected.  Is there anything the Council can do?


Marsha Schmidt
Te Horo Beach

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December 18, 2023

Kia ora Marsha

In response to your enquiry of the Pukeko. 

1. It is not a New Zealand tradition to run over any animal on our roads.
2. The Pukeko are not indigenous to New Zealand, therefore it is not a protected species.

Council is not responsible for the death of the Pukeko on public roads. I would suggest maybe contacting Game and Fishing for further information.

Kind regards

Compliance Officer

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December 26, 2023

Thank you for your response.  The pukeko is indeed a bird native  to New Zealand.  See https://fishandgame.org.nz/taranaki/game-bird-hunting-in-new-zealand/new-zealand-game-bird-species/pukeko/

 While I understand that many think they are pests, I have witnessed drivers running over the birds without even a tap on the brakes.  So it sure does seem to me that this is thought to be normal—to run over the birds without a thought.

I am not sure I understand why the council cannot remind people these are living creatures who do not deserve to be flattened for no reason.  Yes, they cross the road haphazardly but even so, stepping on the brakes is not too much to ask.

Marsha Schmidt

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That was the end of that dialogue. The birds continue to be flattened.

   

KFC has invaded New Zealand and they are crazy about the Colonel’s chicken.  There are stores everywhere.  

Matt knew someone who swore that one particular KFC outlet had better chicken than other stores and he drove out of his way to get it. Matt kind of laughed but this guy really believed it. How do you explain the methods used to guarantee the uniformity of fast food?

When I was buying my car, the salesman, knowing I was from the U.S., asked whether I liked KFC because he loved it.  I confessed that I had not eaten Kentucky Fried Chicken in decades.  This puzzled him.  I told him I was not really a fast-food person.  This was also puzzling to him.  Apparently, we have the reputation of living off food from places like McDonalds and Pizza Hut and now, KFC.  And why wouldn’t we since we export all of that junk to the rest of the world?  

One thing that really messed with him was portion sizes. He could not believe how big the portions were. I regaled him with stories about the 7-Eleven Big Gulp and the even larger drinks they offered. He had never heard such tales and puzzled over that too. “You mean they sip on that drink all day?” Yes, I said, many people do just that. “Doesn’t it get warm?” Yes, I responded it becomes just a big cup of warm sugar water. He grimaced.

That was so depressing that I have decided it is best to just avoid the topic all together. There is no explaining American fast food.

(As an aside, I can remember vividly when, on days she did not have time to make dinner, my mother stopped for Kentucky Fried Chicken, as it was then called. We loved it then, and maybe if I tried it now, I’d love it just as much. I am not sure. But not the sides. No. That gravy was never, ever good. Even the Colonel agreed with that point. See this article.)

            In the summer, some New Zealanders prefer to go barefoot.  Not just at the beach.  But everywhere–concerts, sporting events, shops, city streets.  You will not find a sign that says, “NO Shoes.  NO Shirt.  NO Service.”  Instead, it might read: “NO Shoes.  NO Shirt.  NO problem.”

  We were warned by our relocation mentor that we would see this because it is a tradition.  She was kind of embarrassed and wanted us to not be surprised by it.  Indeed, it is hard to actually watch some guy lumbering through the grocery store without shoesand dirty feet for all to see.  All I can think is: buddy, can’t you at least try sandals or flip flops (they call them “jandels”).  Something? Anything?  

            I know you can see people in bare feet when visiting tropical isles (actually you are more likely to see them in flip flops or rubber sandals).  But, to be clear, this is not the tropics.  The attitude seems to be that summer is short and this is the way to enjoy it—no shoes.  When I was a kid, I rarely wore shoes.  If I was wearing shoes, I was wearing flip flops (we called them thongs).  So I can sympathize and don’t think I am that delicate about it.  But there is something that bothers me about a grown person wandering around the streets and in stores in bare feet.  

            We have neighbors who walk in bare feet to the beach.  Okay, they are going to the beach.  That makes sense.  But I can’t understand how those feet can withstand the asphalt rendered blazing hot on a clear summer day.  Nor can I understand the ability to walk on the rocky beach that is Te Horo.  This is not a few rocks here and there.  There is often a carpet of stones covering the sand.  This is what it looks like:

I mean, ouch! It is hard enough to walk on the stones with sandals let alone in bare feet.  The soles of their feet must be leather.  They are certainly hardier than mine.  It hurts me to think about it.  

  Every country has its own norms when it comes to house design.  But there are some real doozies here.  

            Screens.  When the sun is out, it can get very warm inside the house.  In the U.S. we would turn on the AC.  But unlike the U.S., central air or any kind of A/C system, “air con” as they call it here, is not a standard feature of most homes.  Some houses have it, at least the recently built, but older houses rely on opening the windows.  That seems reasonable right?  Well, here is the problem: the houses have no screens on the doors or windows.  We are baffled by this.  We have asked why, and the responses have ranged from a stare, an uncomfortable um, a chuckle, or a stab at an answer like—”we never open the windows because it is always cold here,” “we don’t have bugs” or my favorite, “windows come with screens?”  It is as if the idea of screened windows is something no one ever considered.  One person asked me if it was normal for Americans to have screens.  Yes, I assured him, yes.  In America, you don’t have windows without screens. 

            The lack of screens put us into a pickle.  We have indoor cats and without screens they are going to waltz right outside.  New Zealand cat owners let their cats roam free, and those same cats, being the apex predator here gladly decimate the bird population.  Since the cats go in and out, Kiwis can leave the doors and windows open without screens.  This was not going to work for us.  

            The second issue is flying invaders.  When the heat became intolerable, we opened a few windows.  This did not go well.  To the person who said they don’t have bugs here, I guess that is true, unless by bugs you mean flies, moths, bees, and gnats, of which they have plenty.  They sell a lot of toxic insect spray here for killing flying insects.  I just want to run around the store yelling, “No need to spray chemicals!  They do make screens!  Screens are not a luxury!  They are perfectly normal!”  But that is contrary to the culture—they don’t use screens here.  

            So what about the cats?  We tried locking the cats out of rooms with open windows, but all I did was worry that clever JoJo could get out.  I did some research and found a few companies who install screen systems that can be added onto the existing windows and doors.  They don’t look great, but they will do in a pinch.  So, in the end, we decided if we were going to be in this house for around two years, it was worth it to spring for screens because without them, there is no air.  

            Now that we have screens, we can open the windows and doors.  Air conditioning is not really necessary because it never gets that hot.  Letting in that ocean breeze has been magical.  Except for one small problem.  This is a really green place and the pollen count is usually high.  I miss the air filtering that comes with central air.  I think I am really allergic to New Zealand.  Ah-choo!

            Heat.  Heat is a weird thing here.  Many, many houses have nothing but a gas or log burning stove in the living room to heat the entire house.  Our house here in Te Horo Beach, a large two story, has only has a gas stove and believe me when I say, it does not warm the entire house.  Not even close.  And it can get cold here.  

            The attitude seems to be you’ll get used to the lack of heat.  One person told us that he bought an electric heater which seemed great.  But he was shocked when he went outside because it was way colder outside than it was inside, and he was not ready for it.  He was raised to think that indoor temps should be close to the outside temps.  You simply dress warmly, and you get used to it.  

            Yeah, we are not going to do that.  We have been living in a house with A/C and central heating for all of our adult lives.  I like to have a toasty comfy house.  We solved the problem pretty easily.  We bought electric heaters, which are lovely.  

            Dryers.  Ask any Kiwi whether they use a clothes dryer and they will assert with great pride that they only hang their clothes outside to dry.  Yes, in wet and windy New Zealand, the preferred clothes drying method is a clothesline.  I think to some extent this is part of the frugal nature of NZ citizens.  Hey, sunshine and wind are free.  Fair enough.  But with the weather, hanging clothes outside can be a hassle.  Matt tried this when he first came here.  He could never find a time when the weather held long enough to get the clothes dry.  One person told us that she dries her clothes outside because the wind will dry clothes in no time.  Add the intense sun and stuff dries in a flash.  But she admitted, she has to constantly watch the weather because it will change with no warning.  This leaves her running back and forth trying to manage the clothes.  

            We were not going to do that.  We bought a clothes dryer.  Most people think that is a luxury.  

            Water.  Water is a matter of great contention here.  Because New Zealand has always been green and fairly rainy, water has historically been taken for granted.  So much so that in Wellington, water is free.  Imagine not having to pay for water and sewer.  It seems great.  Until the rain stops and the water supply dries up.  Without steady rain, Wellington’s water supply becomes so insufficient that it has to resort to water rationing.  

            In trying to determine where the water goes, and why there is not enough, the local government found that about 25% of the water was lost from leaks in the system or in homes where inattention to running water, like leaving a garden hose on or letting the hose drip, adds up to an enormous amount of waste.  Without water bills, people have no incentive to address it.  The local Wellington government has floated the idea of charging for water but so far, there is no political will and certainly no support from the citizenry.

            Here on the Kapiti Coast, the local government had a similar problem and decided to institute water bills.  Nothing draconian.  Just a straight fee.  People lost their collective minds, voted out the politicians who imposed the bills, and some still resent it.  But it worked.  They no longer have to ration water here.  But this logic still does not fly with everyone.  Our fishing guide gave us a five-minute rant about refusing to buy water in a bottle and how water is a human right and should be free for all.  I guess he hasn’t heard of droughts or climate change.  

            For us, we are on a well with a large containment tank, filtering, and UV light treatment.  We seem to be okay.  But I understand that during dry spells people can run out of water here requiring a purchase of a tank of water to keep going.  Which just goes to show that even free water is not always free.