The Pit of Pat

As I’m now preparing to leave NZ, I thought I’d answer the questions I’ve received. So here goes.

Mary: Kiwis generally care very little about their own political climate, short of ridiculing their politicians in a This Hour Has 22 Minutes kind of way. They know Canada isn’t America, and have a vague idea that our political system is like theirs. I think the politically conscious were sad to see yet another English-speaking country with a right-leaning leader.

Ash: It appears by my humble calculations that most tracks are walked by Kiwis, probably a good 60%-80% (depending on the tramp) of the people you meet are from NZ. It’s good to see. I think the other big numbers are Germans, UKers, Scandinavians and Asians, followed by NAs.

Marla: I am no longer very happy with you, young lady. I have now become hopelessly addicted to TimTams after you got me interested. I am going to have to have a word with you when I see you next, preferably over some deluxe caramel TimTams.

Matt: It wasn’t really a question, but the Kiwi accent is one of the most interesting things around. There’s no other group on earth that can make the word “no” at least four syllables long, going through half a dozen vowel sounds. I have found it varies quite a bit from person to person, based on class and origin, much like in England I would think. The Maori have a very ‘kiwi’ accent as well, slightly unique to their group. After the NZ accent I find my heart starts pitterpattering after raw Scottish accents, Welsh accents and the occasional raunchy Englander. Haven’t met many Irish. It’s weird though, I now look up when I hear a ‘Canadian’ accent and see who’s making it. Also: the Kiwis use “eh” as much if not more than we do!

Kelly: After losing my own flip-flops on the Wangapeka I know how you feel. Unfortunately I didn’t do the Copland, so I can’t check for yours. Fortunately, a nice family from Christchurch found mine, and it is now fully recovered for Tasmania craziness.

Andy: One of the things I’m working on is a list of all my gear, including my pants. Unfortunately my shorts are all too big for me now, so I have to use my emergency shoestring as a belt. I am perhaps the most unstylish person I know; not a single piece of my clothing is regular old cotton. It’s all polypro, nylon, or hemp/cotton mix. I feel bad when I’m surrounded by people who can express themselves through their clothing, knowing I just look like a big old dork with my giant hat and not-so-stylish MEC clothes.

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