NZ SYMPOSIUM

Exploring New Zealand: USk Symposium Auckland, 19-22 April 2023

ERIC NGAN Our Auckland Symposium work is gathering pace and we’re delighted to see so many of you have registered for this exciting event – the first in too long! We’re beyond excited about our lineup of workshop instructors. Many of you are making a long-haul trip to Aotearoa New Zealand and have asked about what else to do while you’re here in our fabulous country, so we’ve collected our top tips for you here, plus my ideas for uniquely NZ experiences. Don’t forget to check out the USk Travel Hub for more great advice and suggestions.

Te Ika-a-Māui • North Island

Named for the gigantic fish pulled up by mythical hero Māui, at the centre is New Zealand’s largest lake – Lake Taupō – formed by a volcano and known as the eye of Māui’s fish. The head of the fish is Wellington, the capital city, also known as Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui.

Wellington is the seat of government as well as the selfdescribed ‘coffee and creative capital’. You can easily traverse the city on foot, enjoying the spectacular waterfront. Bush walks and beaches are within easy reach of the CBD. Connect with USk Wellington. SKETCH BY DAVE BLACK f

ERIC’S TIPS: TREAT YOURSELF TO SOME PINEAPPLE LUMPS WHILE SKETCHING THE ‘BEEHIVE’ IN WELLINGTON (ABOVE). USE SOME PURE LAKE TAUPŌ WATER FOR YOUR WATERCOLOURS.

AUCKLAND

TARANAKI BAY OF ISLANDS

COROMANDEL

TAUPO

NAPIER

WELLINGTON NZ is blessed with stunning beaches, and the Bay of Islands and Coromandel Peninsula are both a manageable drive from Auckland. Waitangi is where NZ’s founding Treaty was signed between Māori and Europeans. MURRAY

DEWHURST

A massive earthquake in 1931 meant that much of Napier was rebuilt in the Art Deco style. The silver lining was that the city became one of NZ’s top architectural and cutlural gems. It’s also home to award-winning vineyards and wineries. SKETCH BY MURRAY DEWHURST Taupō is at the heart of the country’s geothermal region, with nearby Rotorua a traditional centre of excellence in Māori traditional carving and other arts. Tongariro National Park is a scenic wonderland all year round. Connect with USk Taupo via Facebook. f

The imposing conical Mt Taranaki presides over this region of farms, bush and beaches. It’s home to Surf Highway 45, and a place steeped in Māori heritage, art and culture, including its own group of local sketchers! SKETCH BY

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE NZ SYMPOSIUM

Wherever you are in NZ, you’ll probably find a ‘dairy’, selling icecreams and the national staple: mince pies. Also look out for Fish and Chip shops. Eat your takeaways straight out of the paper, by the beach.

SKETCH BY BRIAN GYNP

ERIC’S TIPS: MANY TOWNS HAVE THEIR OWN GIANT ICONS IN THE MAIN STREET – LIKE THE BIG BOTTLE OF L & P SOFTDRINK IN PAEROA, AND THE CARROT AT OHAKUNE. TAKE A ROAD TRIP & SKETCH THEM!

Te Waipounamu • South Island

This name translates to ‘waters of greenstone’, referring to the prized stone found only in the South Island’s rivers and streams. Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island, and is named Ōtautahi after the Māori village on the banks of the Avon River, near where European settlers first unloaded goods from their vessels.

The spectacular mountain scenery of Queenstown, Wanaka and Milford Sound have attracted tourists for well over 100 years, and the region is considered a must-see for travellers.

SKETCH BY DAVE BLACK

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AUCKLAND

GREYMOUTH

QUEENSTOWN

WANAKA MILFORD SOUND COOK STRAIT

CHRISTCHURCH Interisland ferries (above) run between Wellington and Picton, which is the gateway to the spectacular Marlborough Sounds with its hundreds of quiet bays and native bush down to the water’s edge. This is one of New Zealand’s Great Journeys, along with the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth on the West Coast.

SKETCH BY ANDREW JAMES

Travelling alone? You don’t need to be...the Symposium team has set up the Usk Travel Hub Facebook page to give you lots of info for the big trip and help you connect with other sketchers.

Colonial styles are still to be seen throughout Christchurch, also known as the ‘Garden City’. The catastrophic earthquake of 2011 razed much of the central city but the rebuild, which is still ongoing, has injected a new sense of vitality and innovation to this formerly conservative city. (LEFT)

SHARON ALDERSON & (RIGHT) ANNE TAYLOR