Tasmania sounds great. Priscillaville even better. If there are any royalists or monarchists left in Oz, you could even have a Camillaville. But you’re right – van Diemen’s land would have been better still.

It’s nice to see Poneke back, as he’s a proper journalist, and therefore a big fish in our pond, unlike us who of course are just little Fish.

Maui’s fish, of course, had its head closest to the big waka of Te Wai Pounamu, as that is the way you catch a fish – with a hook in its mouth. So its no wonder that the head is here (and yes, Dr Walker was post-rationalising it, something we do every day as architects after all), and the fins / wings (eurocentric nomenclature, in a post-colonial paraeidolia kind of way again – fish call them their hands) are the extremities to the east and west. (thanks, Jason and LAS).

Of course, that leaves Stewart Island as the Anchor Stone i believe, which seems highly appropriate.

It would only take a traveller with knowledge of the names and a good sense of direction to form a map in his head, and to then tell the story to everyone he met. If this were the case, I don’t think it would necessarily have to be well perceived in his head. Walking down the Ngauranga Gorge (with Rongotai still underwater) you get a good impression of a mouth.

Standing at height you could probably perceive Northland to be tail-like. Same goes for the Hawke Bay/Jawbone comparison. Standing on Ruapehu you can see almost coast to coast, as well.

It’s probably just a case of post-colonial paraeidolia. Like clouds, islands can be perceived as many different objects. I’m a cynical bastard and I can see the stingray shape, so it wouldn’t take much to spread around once the Brits arrived and surveyed the place.

It isn’t the first case of Maori appropriating post-colonial views for their own agenda though. I recall something about some Maori priests adapting Old Testament beliefs to give them status, though that is as detailed as my recollection gets, so this could be completely wrong and ignorant!

I really enjoy saying ‘post-colonial paraeidolia’.

Speaking of which, does anyone else find the TV show Carter’s Gone Fishing to be a horrific and nasty affair? All that slaughter on the water….

“with the head of the fish in Wellington, which is appropriate because that’s where Government is, and the wings being Cape Egmont and the East Cape, and the tail being Northland,”

Wings…??? Sounds a bit fishy to me. Maximus, do I need a lesson in fish anatomy before I start to consider matters of geography?

Sorry, must go. Off to the supermarket to buy some fish fingers…

However, the prospect of Wellingtonians standing at the edge of the harbour and proclaiming loudly is such a good idea that I do thoroughly recommend that you try it. There’s a guy been standing there for quite a while now, solid looking chap called Solace, who seems as though he’s on the verge of saying something – but nada, zip, nothing. Not a peep. Dull bloke. Nice colour. Anyway, so: shout away !

Anyway I’ve been away from a computer for a week and was wanting to forward on some documents I received re: sports centre. You have my email address because I just entered it in this form!