Waiting

First Council meeting for the year. Moderately early flight to Wellington, and I did get a good sky from the plane while waiting for the boarding to be completed. Full day in the meeting room; useful discussion and some good decisions made. At the end of the day I checked into the hotel and then went for a run.

Not very far. Nowhere near as fast as the racers doing the Tuesday 5Km run along the waterfront. First woman was 4th overall and looked less strained than a couple of the men ahead of her. Probably didn't get to 5 km either.

I saw a ceremonial waka (canoe) being paddled out under the pedestrian bridge into the inner harbour. Closely followed by another more ordinary looking waka. The second one was fully crewed by women. The first was incompletely crewed, with only men. Looked very impressive with flax capes.

I presumed they were training along with the many other crews of dragon boats which were out on the inner harbour going through their paces. There were also a number of coxed four crews, and a few single scullers, training there. And two paddle boarders.

The two waka went to where the dragon boats set off from, and I stopped and waited for them to set off at speed. And waited. And waited. Then came a young woman to inform the small group of us waiting near the edge of the wharf that: "The English will be here in five minutes, and the boats will come down the water as they come down here. When they do, you will all need to go back [against the buildings] as the photographers want to be able to [get good shots without you ordinary people in the way]". 

Highly put out by what I presumed was just a photo opportunity for the English newspaper photographers, I left and carried on to the hotel. In the lobby of which I saw the English cricket team, being given their last minute instructions on the Maori welcome protocols. So. Not just a photo opportunity, it was part of the formal powhiri (welcome) for the English cricket team, in Wellington to lose to play New Zealand on Friday. I stopped being disgruntled.

After a quick shower and change I joined my colleagues for a drink and then away to dinner. Now back at the hotel, and posting this.

Note the intricately carved bowsprit and sides of the waka. The use of this in the powhiri is a serious acknowledgement of the manuhiri (visitors).