The Flying Tortoise landed here yesterday.Time isn't the only thing that flies when you're having fun.
The current easterly wind means an offshore wind on this western side of the top of New Zealand and so I've come to the beautiful little settlement of Ahipara for a couple of days.
Tomorrow it's further up the famous Ninety Mile Beach to Utea for some serious long line fishing.
But more about Ahipara.
The land was renowned as an area for the collection of Kauri Gum from the once numerous Kauri forests that covered the area.
And the name Ahipara means Sacred Fire or Ancient Fire.
Ahi means fire and parapara, a place where certain rites were performed.
And they were. You can brush up on some local history here...
