Winter 2022 in Pukenui – FAQs
What is happening? What is going on? Here, in the style of the much-loved Dunc’s Big Bike Ride FAQs, are my FAQs for winter 2022.
In the bizarre, colourful and adventurous year that is my 2022, it’s no wonder there are a lot of questions. What is happening? What is going on? Just what? So, here, in the style of the much-loved Dunc’s Big Bike Ride FAQs, are my FAQs for winter 2022. I hope this is helpful.
Where are you?
I’m in Pukenui, next to Houhora Harbour on Te Aupōuri Peninsula, that very slender, sticky-out bit on the far north end of the New Zealand North Island. Those who’ve been to Cape Reinga before, will know it as “that place with the most northerly Four Square in the country”. In a strange twist-of-fate, this is the exact spot where I “quit” my Waka & Waewae Journey after four days back in January. That adventure is now back on and I have a gap to fill, so I’ll continue from here come Spring. Meant to be!
Why are you there?
I answered a job ad from Australasia’s largest avocado orchard, looking for seasonal pickers to come and work on their harvest team. They pay an hourly rate and accommodation at a local holiday park. Yes, the same holiday park where I decided to “quit” Waka & Waewae. Funny times!
Are you living in a tent?
Of course! I love camping! This is a paid-for chance to live in a tent fulltime, in a sub-tropical climate no less. My neighbours in the next paddock over are a pair of Shetland ponies and a pig. I won’t be able to sleep in a tent someday, so I’m taking that chance while I can. Take all chances while you can!
What is the work like?
The job is on the harvesting team, so it’s meant to be dashing down the rows with a bin strapped to my front, snipping fruit off the trees and placing them in larger forklift bins on the back of the tractor. However, the season’s been delayed and delayed by bad weather. Too much rain means it gets soaked up into the fruit and it can’t be harvested for a day or so. To make up the time, we’ve been carrying out general orchard tasks from the following: frost-bagging young trees and ripping down wind breaks by established trees. I even got to unblock a culvert clogged with pine trees the other day! Life goals.
Bad weather? In the ‘winterless North’?
Yeah, I know. Shocking, isn’t it? Who’d have thought that living on a peninsula less than 10 kilometres wide would result in periods of unsettled weather? I’ve been here five weeks and have seen days of torrential rain, strong gales (one broke my tent!), sideways showers, surprise 3am squalls and baking hot, sunny days. It’s like living at sea, without the constant rocking.
Adventures, tho?
Ovo1! So far, I’ve been out on an extended hike of Te Paki giant sand dunes, explored south of Tāputaputa Beach, been to the disappointing summit of Te Paki and a quick loop of Arethusa Reserve, Forest and Bird’s most northerly land pad. I’ve also been for beach runs on Te Rarawa, Ōtaipango/Henderson Bay and a couple on Te-Oneroa-a-Tōhē/Ninety Mile Beach. I don’t think I can/should go to Te Rerenga Wairua/Cape Reinga, as that’s where my epic journey began and it could jinx it. Or just feel weird. I’m not really superstitious, but I am anti-feeling weird.
Are you going to climb Tohoraha/Mt Camel?
Heck yeah! This is all on. The first time we get a good weather day off and the crew are all in, we are doing a picnic at the summit of that little Rangitoto look-a-like! Thanks Larissa for the pics and inspiration!
What are the other seasonal workers like?
Thanks largely to Covid, the other seasonals are a bunch of Kiwis. There’s a girl in her early-20s who grew up on a Waikato farm, a couple in their 40s who have left “settled life” for “van life” and a slightly older couple from Mosgiel in a luxury van. They have two TVs in it. There have also been two people start and leave from our camp: one Australian-American girl on a bike went back to Cali and one 40-something woman went home to Wellington. We call this reality show ‘Avo Island’ and the promo voiceover begins by asking: “Hass they guac what it takes? Will they smash their way to the top, or will they bruise and bail? (Are they ripe for the picking? - Ed) Who will be next to slip off Avo Island? Find out Thursday!” Yes, Thursday because we work a 4-day week, Monday to Thursday.
How long are you there for?
I’ve said I’ll pick up The Waka and Waewae Journey from early October, after giving Spring a month to bed in. I understand the harvesting is set to carry on into December, though. Maybe I’ll stay forever?
Do you have your phone with you?
I do! Amazingly, thanks to me opting for OnePlus 9 Pro handset (needed to be waterproof, great camera and not a Samsung) I can’t get onto the Spark 4G antenna in this town, so am running on H+. It’s just like 2015 all over again, Steve.
There are ten FAQs answered. I hope you found them enlightening and enjoyable. Will there be a part two? What would you like to know? Fire away!
Obviously, obviously!