Spirits Bay

Among the wonderful Spring photos we were sent after the last email, is this one now on our website. It is of Spirits Bay in the Far North of New Zealand. One of the many magnificent beaches, but one which is very topical as it was the bay in which 40 whales stranded themselves a few days ago.

The bay has a very steep beach which even makes swimming dangerous. In addition there was a 2 metre swell coming off the beach when the whales stranded. So refloating the whales there was impossible. Instead the Department of Conservation workers and local helpers loaded 24 whales on to trucks and transported them 50 kilometres to Rarawa Beach - no mean feat. 3 whales died en route and a further 7 re-stranded themselves but 14 of the huge, magnificent creatures were refloated and swam away.

Today the DoC workers (one of whom sent this photo) and the locals were still burying the whales which had died or had to be euthanased and were checking the area by boat and plane to make sure the pod of 14 hadn't restranded. So far so good.....

Spring photo wanted

It is meant to be Spring in New Zealand. Even if parts of Christchurch have been shaken to bits, we arent too warm, rain is forecast all week, there is heavy snow in the South, and the wind is blowing a gale.

So help cheer us all up. We need a good 'Spring' photo on the front cover of http://www.kiwigiftsonline.co.nz for the next few weeks.

If you have a good photo and are happy for us to 'borrow' it, send it and if we use it you will receive a voucher to use on kiwigiftsonline.co.nz. Either save the voucher to use on Christmas presents, or lash our on something for yourself. Lambs, blossom, flowers... come on, inspire us.

If there is an identifiable person in the photo, please give us a name and make sure they are happy to be on the website. Please email the photo, in as high a resolution as possible but in not too big a size.

Go for it......

Kind regards
Dione

Christchurch - we are thinking of you

Those at Kiwigiftsonline, like so many New Zealanders, have lots of friends and suppliers in the South Island and Christchurch. The devastation there after the huge earthquake on Saturday morning is enormous. Thank goodness no one was killed. When you see the damage to buildings, this really was a miracle.

After the initial cleanup and a great job by the Civil Defence, I am sure there are many who will be wondering how to deal with the material damage. We offer our sympathy to all those there who had such a terrifying ordeal.

We are thinking of you.