Values NZ history
James Robinson, 54, regional archaeologist working for Heritage New Zealand, father of two. Lives in Kerikeri.
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.
My formative years were in the south island but my archaeological career has been based in Northland since 1990.
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.
Calypso Fish and Chips Kerikeri; they have the most wonderful kids packs and they’re cheap and fresh and taste divine.
Meeting local people and recording their heritage knowledge.
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.
Mimiwhangata, near Helena Bay. It’s a Department of Conservation coastal park.
I’ve been going camping with the family on and off for 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.
Develop heritage tourism by pushing the history and archaeology of the Far North.
Get out on the water in the Bay of Islands.