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Postcards from New Zealand from Sheldon and Grant Auckland [Pictures] Greetings from Auckland! The pictures are of Auckland's SkyTower - a huge communications and tourism structure which literally "towers" over the rest of the relatively low-rise buildings. The tower can be seen from anywhere in the city and is certainly useful if you're a tourist as it acts as a beacon to the centre of downtown. Ordinarily eerily illuminated at night and looming like a "Trek-esque" special effects overlay, currently the New Zealand power "crisis" has rendered it dark during our visit. Tauranga [Pictures] G'day from Tauranga - most noted for being Grant's home town! Here we are staying on Grant's family farm where hydroponic veggies are grown [and yummily home cooked] in amazing quantities! Despite being the middle of winter, everything here is green and growing. We have had a couple of smashing warm days - and I even managed to catch a bit of the sun. This is also "Kiwi Country" where most of the world's Kiwi fruits are grown and packed ... as the giant kiwi stands testament to .... Rotorua [Pictures] Kia ora - Rotorua greets you! We're here to see all the spectacular volcanic marvels and take in some native culture too. Much of our time is spent at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where traditional Maori ceremonies are performed for the likes of me [uninitiated tourist!], and at The Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve grounds which cover some of the most amazing mudpools, geysers and bush - all kept nice and warm by being sited on one of the thinnest parts of the earth's crust! Pictures:Auckland A gathering of friends to celebrate Grant's brief visit home ... Pictures:Tauranga Tomatoes, anyone? Pictures:Rotorua Greeting dance at the Rotaowhio Marae Meeting house. The "Prince of Wales" Geyser [so named because of it's three eruptions which were thought to look like the feathers on the Prince of Wales' coat of arms] was constantly throwing up hot water our entire visit! Grant considering a lifestyle choice in a traditional Maori dwelling. \ Lying on one of the thinnest parts of the earths crust and feeling the warmth drift up. Yes, before anyone asks, I did doze off .... One of the steaming lakes ...