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New Zealand: Otorohanga – Otorohanga New Zealand
You cannot pass thru Otorohanga, NZ without stopping for a photo op of their fun corrugated iron sculptures which cover the town. They’re on buildings, on lampposts and sitting as giant sculptures. There’s main street murals too. Here’s a building entirely designed as a wolf.
New Zealand: Hamilton Gardens – Traditional Maori Garden in New Zealand
In the Te Parapara Garden in Hamilton Gardens, NZ, traditional (to Maori) rare kuumara (sweet potato) varieties are planted on puke (mounds) in the summer and then harvested. 
New Zealand: Hamilton Gardens – Maori Garden
Here is the traditional entrance to the Te Parapara Garden in Hamilton Gardens, NZ. Notice the carved face sticking out his tongue. This is a gesture you would see in Maori dancing and is a method of intimidating invaders.
New Zealand: Hamilton Gardens – New Zealand’s Famous Writer
Katherine Mansfield may not be a name you know, but everyone in New Zealand knows her. Her famous short story, “The Garden Party” is depicted in a garden in Hamilton Gardens. She is by the way, often considered one of the founders of modern literature.
New Zealand: Hamilton Gardens – Alice in Wonderland in New Zealand
You never know when you might bump into Alice and Wonderland depictions as you travel around the world. This one was in the Hamilton Gardens in New Zealand. It is truly amazing that this story from centuries ago, has resonated so far and wide. 
New Zealand: Hamilton Gardens – Wooden Mural
This depiction of real life and imagined life in Hamilton Gardens was an unpaid labor of love for carvers Derek Kerwood and Meghan Godfrey. For this unbelievably intricate carving, the wood came from a single camphor laurel tree which grew on the nearby Waikato river bank.
New Zealand: Gordonton – Dancing with Captain James Cook in Zealong Sculpture Garden
Captain James Cook (1778-1729) was a British adventurer who explored New Zealand. The indigenous Maori introduced him to the manuka plant as a medicinal tea. It reminded him of home.
New Zealand: Gordonton – One Dragon Teapot in Gordonton, NZ
In Asia dragons and teapots are very popular for centuries. At the Zealong Tea Estate sculpture garden you learn about oolong teas and teas around the world.
New Zealand: Gordonton – Tea Pots Dragon at Zealong Tea Estate, New Zealand
A favorite sculpture in the Zealong Tea Estate sculpture garden was this long tea pot dragon with the estate building in the rear.
New Zealand: Gordonton – Sculpture of Famous Tea sage in Gordonton, NZ
It was a surprise to us to learn that there were tea sages. Here’s a sculpture of Lu Yu who performed this work way back in 733-804. Since he lived to 71, unusual back in those days, perhaps the tea is anti-aging?
