Values NZ history

James Robinson, 54, regional archaeologist working for Heritage New Zealand, father of two. Lives in Kerikeri.

What do you like about the Far North?

It’s a beautiful part of the country. It was the cradle for both Maori and European settlement and contains well preserved and impressive heritage landscapes.

How long have you lived here and where are you originally from?

My formative years were in the south island but my archaeological career has been based in Northland since 1990.

What do you like least and how can we fix it?

Northland’s history is not well represented in the school curriculum. There’s enough books around that well document NZ history. There are things like the northern wars which are dramatic...when you get kids on site they’re really impressed.

What’s your favourite eatery?

Calypso Fish and Chips Kerikeri; they have the most wonderful kids packs and they’re cheap and fresh and taste divine.

Your highlight of the week?

Meeting local people and recording their heritage knowledge.

Who is the Kiwi you most admire?

Master carver Te Warihi Hetaraka. He’s one of those lovely people who quietly and with great mana does so much good for a lot of Northlanders. He’s well connected and well respected.

The spot in Northland I’d recommend is… Mimiwhangata, near Helena Bay. It’s a Department of Conservation coastal park. I’ve been going camping with the family on and off for

‘‘The northern wars are dramatic...when you get kids on site they're really impressed.’’

20 years. Apart from being exquisitely beautiful, everything you want to take in you’ve got to carry in. It’s just camping and fishing and kids running around.

If I were the Far North mayor I’d...

Develop heritage tourism by pushing the history and archaeology of the Far North.

When I’ve got a few free hours I like to... Get out on the water in the Bay of Islands.