Aloha Trout Unlimited members
I wanted to share with you an email that I received from my good friend Maurice over in New Zealand and some picture I have of Maurice.
Hi Dean;
Yes, you have done the right thing in cancelling the trip to New Zealand for February this year. Hopefully we will meet again in a year or two I think once the vaccination has been done and the COVID is mostly eliminated.
Here in NZ, the general public support the government stance to “eliminate” the virus with controlled checks at the border. The accommodation provided is with meals included in a four or five star hotel accommodation. We call these places “managed isolation and quarantine” . “There are 32 facilities spread out across Auckland (18), Hamilton (3), Rotorua (3), Wellington (2) and Christchurch (6).”
“There are five different five-star hotels being used as managed isolation facilities around the country. Four of these are in Auckland; Grand Mercure, Pullman, SO/Auckland and Stamford Plaza. The fifth five-star hotel is the Grand Mercure in Wellington.
Grand Mercure Auckland has an 8.6/ 10 rating on Booking.com, and a 4.3/5 on its website” Have a look at this weblink https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/123442948/covid19-returning-to-nz-heres-a-look-at-the-fivestar-managed-isolation-hotels-you-wish-you-were-staying-in
Currently returning NZ’ers have preference as do “essential workers”. Much of our fruit pickers and fishing companies usually employ casual workers from overseas and yes, these industries are struggling. New Zealanders are travelling around New Zealand and viewing New Zealand places in lieu of travelling overseas. It is looking likely we will ban “not self-contained freedom camper-vans”. So what are we doing with some unemployed – not many retail or cafe-type workers would suit working outside. But we are making an increased effort to clean our rivers and environment. The good news is that as New Zealand only has 60 cases of COVID and all in isolation, the rest of our citizens can travel domestically and act as normal. We are encouraged to scan, with the help of a mobile phone, scan any businesses we enter into or any facility. No masks, just people using sanitizer wherever they go. Much more freedom than many other countries as we choose to “eliminate” the virus.
Now onto fishing.
Yes, I have fished, I think, was Pine Creek on our first trip to Canada, where we also met up with my wife’s friends when she was in Canada; these people now live in Penna. I have attached a few photos – back in 2003. (When I was better looking and younger, then). I fished around a pool called “fisherman’s pool” which I recall is behind a Fire Station not far from where we ate the largest breakfast I have ever had in my life.
If your NZ friends want any local information I am willing to help if they find they are getting nowhere in trying to come to NZ.
This Thursday I am off for a day trip to the Rangitikei River – same place as on my web pages. About 2 1/4 hours away and hopefully better than the last time I fished there with a fellow angler – blank!
At month end I will revisit Manganui O Te O River, where I went in October last year – about 4 hours from my home at Paraparaumu (five bedroom house with bedding and towels supplied). Just one hour walk to the river but this one hour is up a STEEP winding path.
I have added some informatio about my fishing (onto my website) in Taranaki – near New Plymouth these were mainly small brownies, but good fighting fish.
Keep Safe Keep fishing.
Maurice
Deane Gonzalez — Treasurer Trout Unlimited chapter 403
