https://patricklam.ca/tags/nz/ Recent content in Nz on Patrick Lam Hugo en-us Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20260406-glacier-renaming/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20260406-glacier-renaming/ Of all the reasons to not correct historical misspellings… https://patricklam.ca/post/20260331-trip-report-cascade-saddle/ Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20260331-trip-report-cascade-saddle/ Everything came together for us on this Cascade Saddle walk, on the last possible day. The saddle was a spectacular 11-hour day. https://patricklam.ca/post/20260311-wellington-bike-lanes/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20260311-wellington-bike-lanes/ There’s talk of pausing new bicycle infrastructure in Wellington to save rates increases. That would be a terrible idea. https://patricklam.ca/post/20251214-trip-report-angelus-peak/ Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20251214-trip-report-angelus-peak/ I lost my phone near the summit of Angelus Peak, but recovered it on the second try (oof). https://patricklam.ca/post/20251116-submission-fast-track-amendment-bill/ Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20251116-submission-fast-track-amendment-bill/ Back to the negative submissions about NZ legislation, this time about an underhanded attempt to modify the Fast-Track Amendment Bill by claiming it’s about supermarkets. https://patricklam.ca/post/20250108-submission-regulatory-standards-bill/ Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20250108-submission-regulatory-standards-bill/ Here we go again. The NZ ACT Party also has an under-the-radar Regulatory Standards Bill which is perhaps as bad as the Treaty Principles Bill but much more technocratic. https://patricklam.ca/post/20241206-submission-principles-treaty-of-waitangi/ Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20241206-submission-principles-treaty-of-waitangi/ The libertarian minor party, ACT, has introduced a divisive ‘Treaty Principles Bill’ which threatens to undermine the NZ constitutional order (founded on the Treaty of Waitangi). I submitted to the select committee against this bill. https://patricklam.ca/post/20241205-gisborne/ Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20241205-gisborne/ Three days in Gisborne, with cycling to wineries, stingrays, and walking at Cook’s Cove. https://patricklam.ca/post/20241121-hikoi/ Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20241121-hikoi/ This last Tuesday, the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti arrived in Pōneke/Wellington after setting off eight days ago from Te Rerenga Wairua / Cape Reinga (as well as on the South Island). Crowd size estimates for Parliament ranged from 42,000 to 55,000, undoubtedly the largest ever for this country. I’d characterize the mood of the hīkoi as ‘determined’. We wanted to send a strong statement that the Treaty Principles Bill should not be further considered. I should hope that the politicians are listening. https://patricklam.ca/post/20241112-rotorua-nz-natls/ Tue, 12 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20241112-rotorua-nz-natls/ Appended to the Flagstaff trip, a visit to Rotorua for the NZ Judo Nationals. https://patricklam.ca/post/20241015-takahe-bird-of-dreams/ Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20241015-takahe-bird-of-dreams/ Stories about takahē: re-discovery, conservation, and their habits. https://patricklam.ca/post/20240920-old-ghost-road-versus-paparoa-tracks/ Fri, 20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20240920-old-ghost-road-versus-paparoa-tracks/ The Old Ghost Road and the Paparoa Great Walk cross similar terrain on the West Coast in New Zealand. But the Old Ghost Road was led by a nonprofit, while the Paparoa was the product of the Department of Conservation. Let’s compare them. https://patricklam.ca/post/20240607-chc-queenstown-doubtful-sound/ Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20240607-chc-queenstown-doubtful-sound/ Not the Cascade Saddle, take 2. Canterbury Open (judo), Queenstown hikes (Ben Lomond, Welcome Rock) and bike trips (Gibbston), and Doubtful Sound for 2 nights. https://patricklam.ca/post/20240408-whanganui-journey/ Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20240408-whanganui-journey/ Great Walk #9: not a walk at all, but a 145km canoe trip down the Whanganui River, with gentle rapids. We got there using public transit. https://patricklam.ca/post/20231114-last-front-line-review/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20231114-last-front-line-review/ How the sausage is made: Brendan O’Dwyer writes about building the Paparoa Great Walk on NZ’s West Coast. https://patricklam.ca/post/20231011-mount-hopeless-trip-report/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20231011-mount-hopeless-trip-report/ We carried mountaineering gear 50km on a long weekend and had a nice walk in the fluffy snow, but no summit. https://patricklam.ca/post/20230904-flight-of-the-huia-review/ Mon, 04 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20230904-flight-of-the-huia-review/ A review of a 2004 book about NZ ecology, ecosystems, and species endemic to NZ. https://patricklam.ca/post/20230628-atene-skyline/ Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20230628-atene-skyline/ Atene Skyline day hike in Whanganui National Park. A bit faster than predicted time. Well-formed if somewhat steep track. Excellent undercast views. Also, Bushy Park near Whanganui. https://patricklam.ca/post/20221231-leaving-wanaka/ Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20221231-leaving-wanaka/ A day in the life. Making and executing last-minute travel plans to get back to Wellington from the South Island. https://patricklam.ca/post/20221114-christchurch/ Mon, 14 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20221114-christchurch/ Finally, I make it to NZ judo nationals, taking 3rd. Designer Cottage was a great place to stay. Plus, Christchurch Tram. https://patricklam.ca/post/20221111-queen-charlotte-track/ Fri, 11 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20221111-queen-charlotte-track/ Post-punted-paper-deadline trip to Queen Charlotte, plus a stay in Anakiwa. Occasional good views, a bit on the long side. https://patricklam.ca/post/20221102-banks/ Wed, 02 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20221102-banks/ Back at Akaroa for the Banks Peninsula Track with great views of the hilly coast. https://patricklam.ca/post/20220123-nz-restaurants/ Mon, 24 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20220123-nz-restaurants/ I looked up two years’ of dining history and collected all the New Zealand restaurants I thought were worth mentioning. https://patricklam.ca/post/20211228-urban-living-part-iii-wellington/ Tue, 28 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20211228-urban-living-part-iii-wellington/ Part III: What about Wellington? An unexpected 2 years less a month in Wellington, NZ. https://patricklam.ca/post/20211224-eggs/ Fri, 24 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20211224-eggs/ Christmas Eve content you wanted: egg sizes in NZ, Canada and the US. https://patricklam.ca/post/20211209-leaving-nz-ii/ Fri, 10 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20211209-leaving-nz-ii/ Part II: from Auckland to Montreal (and Kitchener). Plus, how did we get here? Looking back at 2019. https://patricklam.ca/post/20211208-leaving-nz/ Tue, 07 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20211208-leaving-nz/ Ma te wa—see you later, New Zealand. First half of my trip from Wellington to Montreal, covering travel from Wellington to Auckland and onto the plane to Los Angeles. https://patricklam.ca/post/20211114-401-vs-sh1/ Fri, 19 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20211114-401-vs-sh1/ Thoughts about how people get around in Canada and New Zealand. https://patricklam.ca/post/20210628-back-from-arthurs-pass/ Mon, 28 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20210628-back-from-arthurs-pass/ Cliffhanger resolved. We get back to Christchurch (a bit poorer) and thence back to Wellington. https://patricklam.ca/post/20210625-self-isolation/ Fri, 25 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20210625-self-isolation/ NZ remains COVID-free, barely. https://patricklam.ca/post/20210624-mount-french/ Thu, 24 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20210624-mount-french/ I suspected that the Mount French route would be slightly marginal for daylight, since it was posted at 6-7 hours and sunset is currently at 17:15. But I thought we could do it quickly enough. The weather forecast was excellent and there were only a couple of fluffy white clouds in the sky. https://patricklam.ca/post/20210620-to-west-coast/ Sat, 19 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20210620-to-west-coast/ Fought in the Canterbury Open, and then an action-packed day north of Greymouth. https://patricklam.ca/post/20210612-chc/ Sat, 12 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20210612-chc/ Last year Elliott and I went to the West Coast for the Queen’s Birthday weekend. Victoria Day is a bit earlier but the Canterbury Open was basically on the Victoria Day long weekend (not a holiday in NZ!) and I figured it would be a good chance to get out to the West Coast again, though coming from Christchurch rather than Wellington, and a bit further south than last time. https://patricklam.ca/post/20210515-holidays/ Sat, 15 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20210515-holidays/ I know what’s when in Canada, but things are completely different here. Let’s try to figure it out. https://patricklam.ca/post/20210505-seasons/ Wed, 05 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://patricklam.ca/post/20210505-seasons/ We’ve been in Wellington for the past year and a half (!). It’s never really cold or hot here. How does that compare to Canada?