Wanganui

   At just two and one half hour's drive north of Wellington on the west coast, lies the provincial city of Wanganui, population of about forty three thousand. Once a Maori fiefdom, it has rich farming areas and the beautiful Whanganui River, the longest navigable river in the north island. With strong sporting and artistic culture, it unfortunately suffers presently from a large percentage of unemployed.

On Sunday I was happily driven up by an ECKist friend G who had a made a RV with others from W, in a spacious old building on the main street, to facilitate an  ECK Worship Service where I was to assist.  Well it was quite an enjoyable experience.

We arrived early to check out the room and then we descended to a nice cafe for lunch. At an outside street table we ordered a lovely light meal with good coffee, all perfect to energise us after the long drive.

Five people turned up, one of whom, an eighty year old ex farmer, was an ECKist. They were a varied bunch, three women and a male friend of the ECKist, also from out of town, and who was also a former farmer. They were extremely chatty and interested in talking about spiritual experiences. They actually seemed starved of that sort of conversation, not surprising given their background.

The hour's discussion passed in a flash and later, with a cuppa and biscuit, promises were made to meet again on December 15, same time, same place. It was fascinating to see salt of the earth Kiwi men discuss what their mates in earlier times would have considered kooky, and just 'not on'. I left Wanganui wanting to come back.

 Wanganui is essential Kiwi, a bit down on its luck, but creative and 'can-do'. Its geographic situation is also very attractive, being an hour or so drive to the biggest ski slopes in winter, and great trekking in other seasons. The top summer temperatures are low twenties, and in winter, down to only six to eight degrees centigrade. Sounds perfect to me, with a somewhat low earthquake risk although the wonderful Mt Tongariro is a still active volcano only an hour away. It also has New Zealand's only glass blowing school.

 I look forward to my next visit to their original timber-built Royal Opera House in December, to hear the great Kiwi pianist Michael Houstoun, play a concert of Beethoven. This is his last appearance for a year as he's taking a year off to record. It will doubtless be an exciting recital.