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Sunrise in Tauranga looking up the channel we have just sailed though to the dock. Mount Maunganui (Ma un ga nu ee). The townspeople lined the beach and climbed the mountain for both our arrival and departure. We departed after dark and the mountain was covered with "fire flies" of camera flashes. Cruise ships stopping here are not common so the locals come to watch. Our tour, arranged by Peter, was with Classic tours which had this license plate meaning - "For You, Tender Loving Care". A field of deer raised for food. In the Maori language, every vowel is pronounced separately - try saying this three times! Model of traditional Maori sleeping house. The hostess for our visit to the Paparoa Marae. She explained the ritual we were to observe . Prior to starting she mentioned to our guide Diane that she felt a black aura around her. But the end of the show, she was contacted that her cousin had died. The chief and others come out to greet us. He does several different steps in approaching us to determine if we are friendly. He has determined we are friendly and we can now move into the building., There were both men and women participating in the various dances and songs. This dance used the short sticks to illustrate and punctuate the music and dance. This song was a hauntingly beautiful love song about lovers separated. Although I didn't understand the words, it gave me goose bumbs listening. The chief making a point!

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