Scenic Sunday - The 4 Plinths

The four plinths located outside the Te Papa - Museum of New Zealand in Wellington, New Zealand showcase temporary sculptures. The sculptures are changed every two years.

Here are the current ones by Peter Trevelyan "Mimetic Brotherhood" - four bulbous kinetic forms made from hinged and mirrored equilateral triangle that envelope the plinths. They are an ever-changing translation of their environment as the constantly shifting surfaces reflect the surroundings.

Information taken from The New Zealand Hearld.

They are quite large and look quite solid until you touch them. Didn't think much of them when I first looked at them, but they kind of grow on you. And they look quite good in the pic.

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NaBloPoMo 28 - Pouwhenua Wai-titi Landing (place of shining waters)

Pouwhenua, meaning land post, are carved, wooden posts or fighting staffs used by Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. They are wooden posts that mark territorial boundaries or places of significance.
taken from Wikipedia - Pouwhenua

These pictures are of the Wai-titi Landing (place of shining waters) Pouwhenua outside the Parliament grounds in Wellington.

taken from the Parliament Grounds with Victoria University's Law School in the background

a closer look at the Pouwhenua

taken from the road looking towards the Parliament grounds

These Pouwhenua are positioned on what was once the foreshore of Wellington's harbour. 

taken from Wellington Sculptures

My related posts:   The Beehive (NZ Parliament)   Law School




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NaBloPoMo 21 - Scenic Sunday - Somes Island

Matiu / Somes Island is a beautiful nature reserve and historic site situated in the Wellington Harbour.

It was formerly an enemy alien internment camp and quarantine station and opened to the general public as a nature reserve and historic site in 1995.

The island has been eradicated of pests since 1981 and has become a sanctuary for native plants, birds, reptiles and invertebrates.

It is also provides safe habitat for the world's smallest penguin - little penguin or korora or little blue penguin - during their nesting season.

(Information taken from Department of Conservation - Maitu/Somes Island)

Here are my  pics of Somes Island. (click on pics to enlarge)

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NaBloPoMo 14 - Scenic Sunday - Showcasing Wellington

I love Wellington. It is such a beautiful city, not too big, great for art and culture, lots of cafes and surrounded by hills. The hills always uplift and inspire me.

On my brother's first visit to NZ, he sent a postcard back to his family with the words ... "Greetings from Wellington, where the scenery is just spectacular".

So here I am, showcasing my beautiful city.

Some interesting facts about Wellington:

     *  Capital City of New Zealand, known as the Harbour Capital
     *  World's southernmost capital city

     *  Named after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, and victor 

         in the Battle of Waterloo

     *  Has 3 Maori names - 

             -  Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara  -  The Great Harbour of Tara

             -  Poneke - transliteration of Port Nick short for Port Nicholson, 

                 the former name for Wellington Harbour

             -  Te Upoko-o-te-Ika - a traditional name for the southern most part 

                 of the North Island

     *  Named 4th top city in the world to visit in 2011 by the Lonely Planet - 

         the coolest little Capital in the world.

So here are some pics taken a few years ago.

Here is a panoramic view of Wellington taken from the Botanical Gardens. I had to stitch 4 pics together to create this panorama.

(click on pics to enlarge).

The tall building on the right is the Majestic Centre. It is the tallest building in Wellington.

a closer view of the Majestic Centre (on the right) and the State Insurance Building (on the left). Mt Victoria in the background. (Mt Vic deserves a post on it's own so will showcase Mt Vic tomorrow).

View of Oriental Parade, Overseas Terminal, Te Papa - Museum of New Zealand, St Gerard's Monastery 

More scenic views of Welly:

Ferry pulling out of the harbour

Wellington Airport

Coolest little capital

Te Papa

Wellington Regional Stadium

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NaBloPoMo 07 - Scenic Sunday - Ferry pulling out of the harbour

The Bluebridge ferry pulling out of Wellington Harbour. The ferries sail between New Zealand's North Island (Wellington) and South Island (Picton). 

The other ferries that sail the same route are the Interislander ferries. 

Taken from the Interislander webpage:

The voyage has been described as "one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world".

And it is truly spectacular. I must hunt out my pictures and post here.

The picture also shows Mt Victoria in the background. But Mt Vic deserves a post all on it's own.

Picture taken from the 16th floor of the Vogel Building.

Check out my other Wellington pics (click on the Wellington label on this post or in the labels section on the right of this page).

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Winding Road

Here's my first post for Scenic Sunday.

Not sure if the picture does the scenery justice.

The road caught my eye more than anything else.

click on pic to enlarge

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