Thanksgiving

It is always around this time of year I find my thoughts drifting back to the place I originally placed my feet (Turangawaewae). It is Thanksgiving season in the states, a signalling of many significant aspects to the year. Time to reflect on the year rapidly passing, the final throes of Autumn finally relenting to the onset of winter, time to gather family and friends close to us, and of course, as a child, the countdown to Christmas begins. Even as a kid growing up in Wisconsin it was always my favourite holiday, somewhat for the reason written above, but even then I seemed to have some innate understanding of the importance and temporal nature of these gatherings. That somehow contained in all this chaos of cooking, drinking, eating, not getting our good clothes dirty, and finally at some stage, my Swedish grandfather commanding the stage and telling us stories while wildly waving his hands about, that this was a moment of perfection in an otherwise very imperfect family. Now, I have become my grandfather.

We do not celebrate Thanksgiving in New Zealand, hence the reason for my drifting thoughts and melancholic meanderings. We have had a few, including a huge gathering one year when my mom came over, but moving into summer here they always seem to take on more of a Kiwi barbecue atmosphere, with the real meaning of the experience somehow being removed from the day. So eventually we just drifted away from recognizing the day, aside from perhaps me settling on the couch listening to music, looking at old photos, and having a quiet drink and toasting my far away loved ones.

I do not have a lot of photos of those times, but I have a treasure trove of memories in my heart.

That's me in the middle, and in the back my beautiful older sister Kathy, brother Steve, cousin Roger, my Great Aunt Ruth holding my still gorgeous baby sister Trish, and my Great Uncle Harry holding my cousin Nancy. My great aunt and uncle never had kids of their own so we always loved each others company. They lived in downtown Chicago in an upper of a huge old brown stone, full of nooks and crannies to play and hide amongst. Harry loved his drink, and would take us boys to the local taverns which was always an interesting adventure in the big city. They were both lovely and I miss them dearly. Harry taught me how to fish and shoot a rifle, he left me his Johnson outboard 18 horse power 1959 motor. I still have it, and it still runs perfect in the care of my great friend Carl back in Green Bay. One day I will give it to Taylor. I wonder if he will understand the significance of such an item.

An even earlier photo of Thanksgiving with my Grandpa Ivar holding me as a baby on his lap, Ruth, Nancy, my Great Grandmother, Steve, my Aunt Jean holding baby Roger, Kathy, and my Grandma Grace. Ivar came over from Sweden on the Lusitania, which on the return journey to Europe in 1915 was sunk by a German u-boat. He met my Irish grandmother and caused a near scandal amongst the very ethnic oriented communities of Chicago by falling in love with her. They were married for over 60 years. When she was dying in Florida, ravaged by dementia, he and I stood outside her hospital room and looked in at her lying there. She was smiling and he said to me, "look at her smile, she always had the most beautiful smile in the world. She is the only girl I ever kissed". Even writing that now still brings tears to my eyes. I miss them both dearly.

My dad in front holding Roger, Ruth, Nancy and Kathy, and in back my mom holding Trish, Ivar, Grace, Uncle Harry, and my Aunt Jean and my Uncle Roger, the neatest aunt and uncle a kid could have. Only my mom and Aunt Jean remain amongst the adults in this photo, and brother Steve is gone as well. My mom and my Aunt Jean are still living life to the fullest, and two of the most stunning women I know. The four men in this photo were the greatest male influences in my life, which most of the time is a hugely positive thing. They were wonderful men, beautiful and flawed in their own ways, and I loved each one dearly. How I would love for them to meet my sons Taylor and Charlie.




Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents in Chicago, little kids had to sit at the card table which would have meant Roger, Trish, and I. We still had fun. I can close my eyes and smell the turkey, hear the laughter, I can walk through each room of that house with unerring direction even though I have not been there for over thirty five years.





Being allowed my first crack at carving the turkey, a passing of the torch. The first left handed turkey carver in the family!




My mom and I in New Zealand , Thanksgiving 1998. The last time I celebrated Thanksgiving. I think perhaps I will organize a small gathering of family and a few friends here in New Zealand. My boys deserve to connect with, or at least be exposed to some of their culture and heritage. And even in a year such as this, with doom and gloom on every seeming horizon, there is still so much that I really need to recognize and Be Thankful for ..........


My family here in New Zealand. Tara's parents, Tony and Val, whom have taken me in without question as part of the family, and loved my children unconditionally and completely. Tara's sister Karley, another little sister in every way. Tara for simply being who she is and our journeys, together and apart. Taylor, my oldest son, the catalyst of so much in my life, a challenge and sometimes a complete joy in listening to his questioning of what is around him. And Charlie, an unexpected gift, keeping the eyes of a child upon me.

To the friendships I have grown here in Aotearoa. Nigel, John, Chris, and Erika. I find it harder as I get older to cultivate friendships, yet I have been blessed here to include a few people whom I consider family as well.

To the people who read here and share this place, and allow me to share theirs. To have connected, literally, with a small group of people from all over the world in this way has been such a joy. Each of you has taught me so much, and I am honoured to have you here. I thank you all.

And, of course, I am Thankful for Wild Places. In particular the Ruahine ranges. I still relive the feeling of awe and wonderment I experienced with Nigel and John the very first interaction I had with them in 1994 on Gold Crown ridge. Almost in the same way I recall my grandparent's house. I just close my eyes and I am there. Each time I return to the ranges I am overwhelmed with a feeling of Being Home. I am blessed by this place and what it has brought to my life. May we all find such a place. Happy Thanksgiving!

Aroha,

Robb

Indications

Sitting outside Rangiwahia hut in the late afternoon after returning over the windy and clagged in Whanahuia's, I was enjoying a cup of tea and when I looked to the north east saw this cloud formation above me. The lenticular layer is called a hog's back formation, a harbinger of bad weather usually in the form of northwest high winds and a storm to come. Indeed it began to rain and gust heavily later that evening, and as I walked down in the misty grey dawn it was both windy and pouring rain.



It seems as if in a way here in Aotearoa we have our own hogs back cloud hovering over the islands. Our election here outed the Labour government to install a National one, or basically exchanging a left for right on the political spectrum. Made more threatening by the fact that under our MMP system that National in order to form a government has to go into coalition with a party called ACT. So for the next three years we have a conservative right majority being supported by a radically far right minority. This bodes well for the rich white fat cat developers, for the concepts of big business and progress, power companies, and generally the well to do. It does not bode well for the poor, or even middle class, for the Resource Management Act, for any state owned enterprise, and certainly not for any of our wild areas. There is a feeling of people rubbing their hands together in glee. The wrong people.


As a country the mood was to vote for "change". I was somewhat flabbergasted to talk to so many people who believed that Barack Obama was the catalyst for change here, almost a mandate to vote for a different government. Yet the change in the states was a vast swing to the left, to potential equality, possibility, and hope. To change to the right here simply for the sake of change rather astounds me, and people seemed unable to make that connection to what Obama is, and what John Key will never be. There will be little change to the make up of a National led cabinet to what it would have been 3 years, even 6 years ago. The same faces, the same agendas, made worse by the inclusion of ACT, whose simplistic "policies" I consider just left of Fascism.

Yet democracy has spoken, and we deserve the government we ask for. We seem unable to accept that in some ways, many ways, we have to change the way we live, our very systems of progress, to leave a better world for future generations. I suspect the fight for our wild places has only just begun.




On the other hand, to witness, and participate, in the election of Barack Obama was perhaps my proudest moment as an American. I hold no illusions that racism and poverty have ended, and that Obama and America do not face monumental challenges. The issue, for instance, of Indigenous Americans, seems to have greatly been overlooked and there is much healing and acknowledgement to be done there as well before we have real conversations about equality and opportunity for all races. And of course the economic issues facing not only the states but the world. I am inspired by the Possibility that we have a man inside the system who can bring the first steps of real change to that system be a reality. At some stage we have to stop stealing from our children. I can only write that it was a day we will all remember, a day of history and hope, a day America took a step towards being for all what it was supposed to be at it's inception.


I urge all who read at my place here to check out http://www.cassandrapages.com/ and read a post called The Rewrite, by Teju Cole. Actually all of Beth's writings are of interest, but this one for me really captured this moment of change in America.

Another place I would like to recommend is at http://russelltom.blogspot.com and a post named One More American Moment by Tom Russell. Not only is Tom one of America's most talented and under rated song writers, but also someone who is on par with Abbey, Bukowski, and Hunter S. Thompson as an observer of the real under belly of America.



"Man is not built to vegetate or stagnate - we like to progress - zero growth environmental policies fly in the face of human nature".
Gerald Ford, former Republican president, 1974.

Tell that to these guys Gerald.

Charlie holding my new niece, Hazel Rose.

Aroha

Alone not Lonely

A foreboding feeling of trepidation accompanies me as of late. Collapsing financial markets and economic doom being shouted at us constantly, the rhetoric of elections, and even danger to the mountains I love so much. It seems everyone I know has some sort of nagging uncertainty in their lives, as if we are reaching some sort of turning point from that which we know.

It all mirrors how I feel shouldering my new pack for a 4 day solo journey in the Ruahines. I always feel a bit uncertain or nervous when undertaking a mountain trip, and more so when by myself. Everything is heightened when I take to the mountains on my own, the emotional and physical connection,which is good thing, and also the heightened insecurities of something going wrong, the weather, getting ill, or having an accident, which is not a good thing. Yet I can no more not pursue my love for these mountains as I could not breathe and still be alive. It is within me, and nagging feeling or no, off I head up to Rangiwahia hut late on a lovely Sunday afternoon in the Ruahine ranges.

19 October 2008
6:40pm
Rangiwahia hut


It has been 4 years since I last interacted with this part of the Ruahines, the Whanahuias. Too long, and it is good to be back here, good to simply be in the mountains. A late afternoon walk up here. That detour around the slip is a real bruiser with a laden pack, and I knew it would be. Tick one nervous point off the list. I am in store for a sensational Ruahine sunset from up here at 1200 plus metres, and will be the only one in the world who will see it from here.

Except for the spirits I carry within me, in particular on this trip those of Ophelia and Robin, two lovely souls whom I have never met in person, yet have developed a deep and lasting bond with through their unseen love for these very mountains. Also Paterika, D'Arcy, and Vegetable Japan for their participation and encouragement, and Bob McKerrow for his inspiration and love of mountains every where. I raise my tin cup and toast you all with a fine wee dram. Do your spirits dance on the evening mountain breeze?

In the morning I will head over the Whanahuia's and then down into the head waters of the Oroua river and valley. It will be my 8th visit there, but my first since 2004 with John. It is a lovely spot. The sky is filled with stars, but the forecast is for a northerly to blow in sometime Monday, so I will start as soon as I can possibly see in the dawns light. The nature of these ranges is how the wind funnels through the steep valleys on either side of these very geologically young and unstable ranges, which can make a sudden turn in direction a real battle against wind that mere seconds ago was an ally, and though I know the route well, it is 3 hours of exposure I would rather not do in a gale.










20 October 3:25pm
Triangle hut



On the porch at Triangle hut, barefoot and in only shorts as the sun beats down. It was a very windy, cold, and sleet filled walk down so I am happy for the warmth. I can see the northerly still whipping over. I left Rangiwahia at 6:30am. I heard the wind come up and the rain on the tin roof during the night, so I was feeling quite anxious to get underway. It was not a day to linger and take photos, I just kept my head down and kept going. Every once in awhile you feel that wind gust get through and chill you, watch the dark clouds swirling and rolling and obscuring the route ahead , and though it is a sight I love, it keeps my feet moving. Even in the forest I encountered a lot of wind fall on the steep drop to the river, so was glad to finally hear the river muttering below me and see the little red roof come into view.

I arrived here at 10:30am and I just sat on the hut porch in the sun feeling rather done in and empty. As if these past months have simply drained me and I felt nothing except relief at being here. Exhausted. I simply lie down in the sun, wet sweaty gear still on, muddy boots and gaiters wet from the river still on, and promptly fell fast asleep.
I awoke a few hours later, hot and sweaty in the sun, and for a moment not quite knowing where I was. When I looked around at this amazing spot, the river chorous welcoming me the emotions welled up inside me. I felt recharged and filled with spirit. As if the Ruahines held me in Her bosom and refilled my soul, my spirit, my need to be here in the Ruahines, to cherish them, and be a voice for them.

What better way to wash away the taste of sleep, grime, and sweat than to be embraced by the cold mountain river? My joyous screams echoed off the steep valley walls. Fresh gear, a cup of tea, and full of vigour I headed up river to the beautiful stone gorge and in hopes of seeing Whio, then down river on the same unfruitful search. This river has changed much in 4 years since I was last here. Then again, so have I.

The view from the porch at Triangle hut and the Oroua river.




Stone gorge just up river from Triangle hut. In 2004 John and I were standing here and a Whio landed 10 metres away from us. Just magic.












"Promise"


A starry night filled with Promise
Yet the dawn brings grey mist
and the hurried gusts of wind
The way is known to me
still Trepidation taps my shoulder
I carry on
regardless
Steep muddy and wet
the cold chilling breath of the mountains
a constant reminder of all possibilities
footsteps unsure through the deep
and rutted tussock
down through the shimmering forest
to the rivers Embrace
Promise fulfilled






Triangle hut 7:15 pm
20 October


I sit quietly by the river, wee dram in hand, doing nothing more than to see if a Whio might fly by and simply enjoying this moment by a mountain river. The Whio is, for me, the heart and soul of the Ruahines, their eloquent beauty, their unerring flight, their harmony with this environment, the Ruahines. I have not seen one for over a year now and I miss them.





Photo of Whio family kindly given to me, and taken by Pohangina Pete and used with his permission.

21 October 9:00am

A morning coffee on the porch, a gentle yet persistent rain beats on the tin roof, contrasted by the symphony of the river. Very much like a steady saxophone riff by Stan Getz bouncing off an equally absorbing fault filled haunting trumpet solo by Chet Baker. The two very different, even clashing, yet the sound of both together both entrances and yet signals an unsettled beautiful truce amongst opposing forms of grace. But I have enjoyed a lovely sleep in till just a wee bit ago, and to be here right now, with absolutely nothing at all on my agenda today but the very moment in front of me, let the rain fall, let the river roll on.

It has well and truly packed in on the tops high above me now. Here in the mountains at 802 meters on the river my world is reduced to the steep valley forested spurs in their green symmetrical beauty. It has been raining steadily now for hours, which made it made very easy to roll over in the early dawn and snuggle deep inside my warm down sleeping bag.

There has been no one here, at least by the hut book, in almost 5 months. It moves me deeply to be in such a place of solitude. This hut book goes back to 2004, John and I are the second visit written in it, and it is only a third filled after 4 years. These are places we must relish, protect, and fight for. Too many are becoming disconnected from any sense of Nature, thus places only visited by very few people become superfluous, or in the way of progress. This is what I must fight against.

I have been here with Taylor, Gustav, Nigel, John, and Steve. I share this place today with those memories. And the hut book carries names I know as well. Tom S., to you brother! I know you love these ranges. And Pohangina Pete, here in 2005, and whom I first met down river at Iron Gates back in 2001, I am glad his spirit is here as well.

So while I am relishing my solitude I have never felt alone. My heart and spirit are filled by the mountains, by the pristine clear waters, by the call of the Whio, and by the people I love. Just Listen!







The porch on a rainy day, if you look to left side of the roof rain drops are dripping down.

7:30 pm Triangle hut

The rain is still falling, a persistent yet soothing serenade this day. The river has held well but is now losing the battle and slowly losing its clarity while gaining depth. My biggest problem in the morning will most likely be crossing the river. Oh well. I can think of worse places to NOT cross a river if it comes to that.

The hut is warmed by the stove for which I have chopped a huge pile of wood on this rainy day. My tea simmers on the stove, and I have had a wonderful hut day here at Triangle. You might wonder how you will fill the rainy day, and suddenly the day is gone. So I have have honestly enjoyed each second of this interaction, wandering around this area in the rain, sitting on the porch just pondering this place, firing up the billy, babbling away to myself and many others, waiting for a Whio to fly by. It has been a complete day. I would not change a thing.

"Triangle Hut Day"

I have used this hut day
to my fullest ability
Have run out through the rain
to use the facility
Except in the course of that little caper
I forgot to bring the toilet paper
I've chopped wood, sawed it, and stacked it quite high
more than enough for the next man by
Sat on this porch just sitting here thinking
I wonder how many cups of tea I've been drinking
Rivulets of water run off the roof
offering me total, complete, and final proof
That a day spent here all toasty and warm
beats the hell out of being cold and wet
out there in that storm.

The Ororua in flood and as it looked as I crossed early in the afternoon of the 22nd. Conditions up on the tops were not much different. Ah, the solo journey eh! During the night I could hear the river roaring with a markedly increased intensity, and at mornings light there was not a possibility of crossing the torrent. I simply had to wait it out until it stopped raining long enough for it to drop to a reasonably cross able level. Ruahine rivers are not to be trifled with. So I was not able to leave Triangle until early afternoon, and did so before the rain began again, which it did not long after I started climbing in the forest. And once again emerged onto the open tops to find wet, windy and white out conditions. A different world than the one I left below in the valley.

Clagged in tops of the Whanahuia's looking east down into the headwaters of the Oroua river and valley.

Looking north towards Mangamahue, which on a clear day would be easily visible. A mountain snow tarn in which I have often slaked my thirst.

22 October 7:00pm
Rangiwahia hut

Still here in the Ruahines, and spending an extra night as I did not arrive here until very late in the afternoon. I could easily walk the two hours down to my car but after ringing Tara she suggested I stay another night. Perhaps she knew better than I that the Ruahine wanderlust is still upon me, battles with raging rivers, and forcing routes across cloud obscured wind swept ridges still within me. At least I like to think she thought that. In any measure I have spent the afternoon just roaming the immediate area here on the lower Whanahuias, and it is indeed a lovely place. I look upon the plains below, the world I live in, but I keep one foot and a part of my soul firmly planted here in these mountains.

The view from just above Rangi hut looking south. Notice the stream in the lower left hand corner. This is where the leatherwood peters out to the open tussock tops, 1100 meters or so.

"Both Ways"

It is nice to recall in retrospect

the golden hues of the open tussock tops

on a sunny wind free day

the shimmering play of light in the high forest

pulsating with its own Soul

or the delights of exploring each new bend

of a mountain river

to listen to its unique song

and the wonderful sensation of wholeness

genuine interaction with the Ruahines

all recalled with such clarity

at home

in front of my fire

wee dram in hand

Much dimmer and less prominent

are the moments of doubt

even fear

the tough choices which must be made

of flooded rivers to cross or not

a route perhaps beyond me

the sound of gusting wind in the upper forest

knowing what awaits up top on a stormy day

the feeling of being tired and cold

with the hut a long ways off

Yet these memories are just as much part

of the mountain experience

maybe more so

For out of doubt and fear

and the action of moving beyond them

emerges clarity and knowledge

to appreciate the Journey

and now truly see

the view

Aroha

This is Why

It was a lovely day here in the Lower North Island, blue sky, a warm westerly breeze, hints of summer abound. I took a 20 minute drive from our house up into the foot hills of the Tararua ranges, which lie directly south of the Ruahines, separated only by the Manawatu river. I intended on going to a relatively new track, the Sledge track, which ambles along a lovely stream as it climbs into the Tararuas. I had with me Charlie, and my nephew Mac. The plan was to walk up the track an hour or so, and have a wee picnic by the stream at a cool spot I know. As sometimes typical on New Zealand twisty and unsealed mountain roads, we found it closed before the parking area due to slips. Having to walk another 20 minutes up the road before we got to the trail head, I decided we would just have a walk along the track for a bit then head back to the car for our picnic by the stream. Walking along a muddy road with two boys is very interesting, stopping at every mud puddle to test its depth, and there are many!, finding the waterfalls which course down from the steep spur above the river, finding cool sticks, getting them over thoughts of sore legs and being tired, and the thoughts of chocolate biscuits not far away.




I tried to put myself in their world, something I have gotten better at doing in my time with Charlie than I was with Taylor. To find a really excellent stick, to watch water spill off a cliff, chuck hunks of wood into the pool and watch them be taken down stream, and of course, just throw rocks into the water and see the splashes. It seems a hard place to get to sometimes these days, seeing through the eyes of a child, with economic melt downs, job losses, and greedy power companies rubbing their hands together coveting these places. Not to mention all the issues that existed prior to that, world hunger, racism, pollution of our world. Yet looking at these boys running free, free of computers and television, free to let their imaginations run wild, free to discover the joys of a river. So I allowed myself to be free, to just be in this moment, in this place, with these boys, and relish it completely. It was a pretty huge realization, maybe I am finally understanding what Abbey meant by keeping half of ourselves back to enjoy Nature. As I lie in the sun by the river bank, I became very in tune with the river's song, the hills and scrub shimmered in their green hues, and I could hear the voices of the boys clearly. I don't know how long I lie there, and it didn't matter, in these moments time means something very different.



As the boys and I drove away Charlie asked me to play him a song on the cd player. Charlie, in my opinion, is something of an old soul, and his taste in music is different from most 5 year olds I have come across. The song he asked for was by Ben Weaver, and called "Voice in the Wilderness", very much a cross between Johnny Cash, Kris Kristopherson, and John Prine. Part of the lyrics are as follows:

I'm not gonna give what you want to hear
I'm not gonna be with you in the end
It's as cold as the stars down inside of me
Hear the Voice that stands on the edge of the wilderness
Crying my god what'll I do with all this mess

Unless you aim right for my heart
you will always miss
You can hold a match to my love
it will always burn
In her arms I can make any two words rhyme
My god this a strange place
and these are strange times

words by Ben Weaver

I looked at Charlie singing along to these words, maybe not even understanding them, he just likes the song. These boys are living in strange times, and all the more reason to get them into Nature, and to fight to ensure that wild places remain for them to roam.

After all. little boys grow up fast.

Aroha

Rautupu - Fight Back

Just a note of thanks, kia ora, to all of those who might read this for your support and for your taking the time to consider the Ruahines, and indeed other ranges here and all over the world. This has been an interesting experience, a fairly draining one to be honest as I have many other aspects happening in my life. My new friend Robin warned me privately to beware of taking this on, and at the time I didn't quite grasp what she meant. I do now Robin, and your wise words held me in good stead.

I am not sure what we have accomplished, probably not a whole lot. I can't imagine the Tararua Local District Council quaking in their boots when I present them with a petition signed by 120 people from around the world. And I suspect a few sly grins and eye rolls from suited corporate lawyers all too familiar with the likes of me. I hope the passion and determination I carry in my voice with your spirits behind me make them LISTEN!!

Yet at least the echoes of our voices will carry. This tiny ripple on the Ocean of Life has possibility. I have found a voice through this process and I will carry on the rautupu, fight back, as best I can. I hope most of that simply involves roaming the Ruahines and sharing those experiences with those whom enjoy stopping by my place here. Probably not, yet as my friend from Bloggenplucky, linked at bottom below page, so wisely pointed out from Ed Abbey himself writing of how we need to be radical and fanatic, but only half so. The other half we need to devote ourselves to actually enjoying it, Life, Nature, Music, Poetry, Art, Family, Friends.

"Climb those mountains, run those rivers, explore those forests, investigate those deserts, love the sun and moon and the stars and we will outlive our enemies, we will piss on their graves, and we will love and nurture, and who knows? - even marry their children. Who's in charge here? We're all in charge, every man has his own guru, every woman has her own gurette..... Down with the Empire! Up with Spring! We stand For what we stand On! I thank you, partners."

I have only lived in here in Aotearoa for a short time, 16 plus years now. I am a relative waewae tapu, newcomer, to this beautiful, yet under threat, land. Though when I am in the Ruahines I feel a deep and ancient connection I cannot explain, I can only share. So kia ora for reading, and more so for participating in trying to help them. We will create Awareness, one way or the other.

A special kia ora, and with much aroha to Ophelia Rising and Robin Easton. You two brought so much passion, caring, and inspiration to this, and even more importantly, to me. My voice is tired, yet I carried on thinking of you both. Kia kaha! Also to a few lovely people whom plugged this project on their blogs. Paterika, your beautiful rendition of the poem I still have not figured out how to get on "live", but I will! VJ, aroha and thank you for caring, and for writing one of my favourite blogs. D'Arcy, you rock! You are all amazing. I will never forget. All these lovely people are linked below.

Kia ora my friends! My next offering will be from the Ruahines, and I need to Connect. They are not going anywhere soon! Aroha.

Stop the Madness

For those whom have read my prior post there is a link here to a petition to register protest against changing the wording of the Environmental Heritage Policy of the Tararua District Council proposed by the four power companies which would allow unhindered implementation of wind turbines and wind farms as discussed in the prior post. Please follow the link to the petition and register should you agree this wanton abuse of our natural world needs to cease, or at least opened to reasoned debate and not under handed bully boy tactics used by power companies for pure money and tax benefit generation at the expense of our environment. Objections to the submissions need to be registered by 3 October, not much time, so please act now.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ruahines-threatened-stop-the-destruction

I would like to acknowledge and thank from the deepest depths of my heart and soul Robin Easton and Ophelia Rising for their time, effort, patience, and love, in putting this all together and inspiring me to action. What ever happens will happen, but the kindred spirit I have found with these beautiful people has been one the finest experiences of my life. You have helped me find new depths to my Mana heke Iho, and I treasure you both. Kia kaha!

Rangimarie,

Robb

Storm Clouds Gathering

Excerpt from the Manawatu Evening Standard, 5 September, 2008

Article entitled: Push to end protection of ranges.

" Energy companies are pushing the Tararua District Council to loosen the rules on wind farm consents, making it easier to build on the ranges.

Genesis Energy, Trustpower, Meridian Energy, and Might River Power have all made separate submissions to the Tararua council, currently up for review. They are campaigning for new policies to make wind farms a priority in the district, and pushing for a slackening of the present guidelines. In the current policy on environmental heritage, the skyline of the ranges in the district is considered a protected natural feature. Trustpower wants this wording cut, with references to the protection of the "skyline of Tararua Ranges, Ruahine Ranges, Puketoi Ranges, and the Manawatu Gorge", deleted from the plan entirely. Genesis wants the council to recognize the importance of developing the wind resource in the district. It also wants a new policy allowing for coastal wind farms. And the Energy Efficient and Conservation Authority, an independent government advisory body, is lobbying for council to accept the necessity of wind farms in rural areas". "Tararua mayor Maureen Reynolds said wind energy has become a big issue in the Tararua since the last district plan review, 10 years ago. The district plan, a blue print for the district's future, is reviewed only once every 10 years. Summaries of the plan submissions can be viewed online at http://www.tararuadc.govt.nz/. Objections to any submissions can be made until 3 October".

Imagine the scene behind John in this photo, the steep and high peaks of the Mokai Patea , covered in windmills from end to end. This very well could be the reality of the Ruahine ranges and its future. I never set out or envisioned this blog to addressing issues such as religion or politics, or the environment, but the real truth is when we share ourselves in this format, when we really write from our hearts and souls, we do that anyway. If we are honest we expose who we really are in our beliefs and values.

I have been neither pro or anti wind generation. I have spent more time today reading up on the issue from all points of view and like anything there are pros and cons with issue of wind power in and of itself. What I am against is having big money energy companies ramming policy down the throats of citizens through fairly back door changes to policy regarding their implementation. A district that reviews its policy every 10 years and the citizenry is made aware of potential drastic changes to that policy and given less than 4 weeks to respond? How long ago have these monopolistic companies put forth these proposals and why separately? More chances to succeed I suppose. And just who is the Energy and Efficiency and Conservation Authority funded by? A very heady name for a "lobby" group wanting to deconstruct current policy CONSERVING the ranges.

This is more about money and economics than it is about altruistic reasoning for ad vocation of wind farms. Jobs are created to build the things, roads have to be built and supplied, land has to be leased, and our insatiable need for power grows and grows. This is just progress.

Yet wind power as an answer still falls short of supplying more and more power. The amount of wind mills needed, for instance, to supply power for 600 homes would equate to more than one wind mill per home! And there are issues with wind power as a truly reliable and efficient source of supply. " For starters, wind power is very unreliable. The turbines that produce the electricity work only when the wind is blowing within a specific, narrow range of speed. In its down time the system has to convert to conventional sources, and the switching between wind and conventional power requires an even greater output of energy just to make the conversion". Taken from the Heartland Institute article, Picken's Windy Scheme Will Leave Taxpayers Holding the Bag, written and published August 2008.

In addition are the vast amounts of land required not just for the wind turbine itself, but the grading necessary around each one to prepare for its installation, the roads required, vast power lines, substations, turbines and laydown areas. It simply is not the clean and green solution our friendly power companies would have us believe.

Let me write from my heart. I love the Ruahine ranges. The mere fact they are there makes my soul fill with joy. I wonder how many people actually drive down from Hawkes Bay to Palmerston North, or from Taupo down on the western side, and, on a fine day, really see them. Now as spring only begins to unfold, snow covered majestic and stunning, or more often far off blueish peaks rugged and sharp on and on into the distance. I wonder if the people of the Taraura, the farmers, the citizens of its lovely towns, those who live in back blocks, the truckers who drive the highways and back roads day after day, I wonder how often they might glance at the ranges, even if for a brief second, and appreciate the freedom and wildness and beauty before them. What price do we put on that view? When do we as people stop raping this planet and start actually asking how can we live with less? I know the absurdity of that question even as I write it.

As for me, I perhaps have finally found my cause, my fight, my reason to do what I can to preserve the Mana Heke Iho, Inherent Dignity, of the Ruahine Ranges. They have given me more than I can express in words, they have opened to me a World where my soul found peace, they have restored my own mana heke iho. Now they need me, they need my voice, and yours as well. I can no more turn my back upon them as I could my own child or friend in need.

I apologize in advance for taking this to a place I never intended, and I hope that you lovely people who normally visit here do not roll your eyes and disappear. I will be making an objection to these submissions and would appreciate any feed back or opinions you have in helping me write that objection.

" If wilderness is our true home, and if it is threatened with invasion, pillage, and destruction - as it certainly is - then we have a right to defend that home, as we would our private quarters, by whatever means necessary... Eco-defense means fighting back.....Spread the word". Edward Abbey.