Got a surprise in the mail. Thanks Kees. I didn't have a pair of pants like Spanners so I didn't put it on for a picture.

Now you all have a map when your wondering where are friends in New Zealand are.

Thanks Kees. It's heading out now to get some warm(finally) North American air blown across it.

 

Took me a little but its New Sealand, cool.

 

Nice shirt...... did he also send any help with the pronunciations?

 

Lesson 101:

Maori vowels are pronounced as if they rhyme with certain numbers or words...like this:

A = Are
E = There
I = Three
O = Or
U = Two


Or phonetically "Are, Air, Ee, Ore, Oo"

Then "Wh" = "F"

Put it together and "Whangaparaoa" is pronounced "Fharn-gar-par-oo-are"

"Whanga" = Bay, "Paraoa" = Whale....Whangaparaoa is "Whale Bay".

A Maori "R" however is more like a tap with the tongue to the roof of the mouth...similar to a D.

I live in Kaukapakapa (Swims with much splashing) and you pronounce it "Caw-Copper-Copper" in Maori but most white folks (Pakeha) pronounce it "Cow-Copper-Copper" Locally (and I know you gonna love this) its referred to as "KKK"

Kees lives in Beachlands which oddly enough is pronounced "Beachlands"

Go here for more interesting stuff about NZ place names http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/...ri-place-names

 

I really hope there isn't a test later because I will fail miserably!!!!

 

Hey PMD.. thanks for the help for getting the parts for my rebuild....the T Shirt should start a few conversations I reckon Cheers again...

 

Hey THC...did your T shirt get to you ???

 

Spanners said that he told you it did. ( I thought he sent it).
Thanks for the shirt.
I appreciate it.

 

man and they say us rednecks talk funny!! i be to old to be learnin some new fangled talk.

 

Thats awesome, great expanation!

Beachlands must be where they bottle the seafoam.