New Zealand Images

Why a New Zealand Photo Gallery?

Just as the early explorers in the Great Lakes came looking for less than they ultimately found, our initial travels throughout the Great Lakes for lighthouse photos quickly became a powerful introduction to an interconnected ecosystem of inland freshwater seas unique in all the world. But the world seems to be getting smaller all the time, as all of us face global changes needing global solutions. Our travels to New Zealand began as a trip to see a daughter now living there. Love is a valid enough motivation to travel across the globe, but again we ultimately found even more than we first went looking for. Here in a stunningly dramatic landscape are unique flora and fauna, and people who are charming, considerate, and gracious.

On these islands so far from the Great Lakes, the separation did not seem so far as we found the same issues threatening the landscape and residents: exotic species have wreaked havoc on native species, ancient trees require protection, and glaciers are melting as the climate warms. Just as on the Great Lakes, lighthouses guide ships past dangerous reefs and into safe harbor, gales pound the rocky coastline, kayakers glide into sea caves, and sand dunes border vast sand beaches. But in contrast to the Great Lakes there are seals, dolphins, whales, and flightless birds; volcanoes and towering snow-capped Alps; and a chorus of enchanting yet unfamiliar bird songs that remind us we are immersed in an ecosystem full of plants and birds we have never seen before. There are tides, hot springs . . . and earthquakes.

We could feel the power in the land, and were captivated by the unique plants, animals, and people! And so we celebrate the uniqueness of this nation that is isolated by the ocean that surrounds and so heavily influences it — and we celebrate the similarities and common challenges that we all share. Our interconnections reach far beyond the boundaries of a country or a continent.

Ann & John Mahan