Kuaka, Godwit

This chap was representing the local iwi down at the farewell to the godwits held at the Old Wharf, Motueka. Being a very high tide the godwits were well out of range of my camera on the sandspit. All fattened up they are gathering until their body clock tells them it is time to leave on their journey back to the breeding grounds of Alaska. They call at a couple of places on the way arriving as the snow melts on the ground where they breed.
The speaker did admit that he had researched on the internet for some proverbs for the occasion so I did the same.


Ka ngau ki te turikakao te paringa o te tai, e tika te rere o te kuaka
The spinifex (seaside grass tuft) wanders along the beach like the incoming tide, the kuaka flies direct.
You can tell I am a shortie because I couldn't get above the shoulders of the people in front.
It was a beautiful calm, sunny, day after the last two days stormy weather.