Bonny and I are back from a trip to Cape Reinga and the far far north. Cape Reinga in soaking rain and howling wind absolutely superb as you might imagine.
On the way up there, we called in for coffee and a feed at the Gecko Cafe in Kaitaia, mid main street on the left as you head north and if you like superb coffee and cafe tucker, this is the best I have had in years. (more…)
With the trails explored, I began to walk a little further afield. This walk began at the South Gate, at the end of the sealed surface of Ihumatao Rd, and takes a little over half an hour, though you can extend it at your leisure.
http://wudhi.com/mrwalker/otuataua%20stonefields/otuataua%20volcano%2001.htm
Back in the 1990s, Monsanto cashed in on the accidental discovery that it was possible to genetically engineer certain crop plants so that they were resistant to the Monsanto weedkiller, Roundup. The seed for these crops, mainly soy, canola, corn, and cotton, was marketed by Monsanto as “Roundup Ready”
Roundup was the weedkiller of choice for a whole variety of reasons in any case. It killed a broad spectrum of weeds, was easy and safe to work with, and broke down quickly, reducing its environmental impact (which is not to say that it had zero impact!!)
Up till then, you couldn’t use it once your crops had been planted. You needed other, more expensive and labour intensive weed control methods. Now, you could plant your cash crop, and spray the whole paddock with Roundup as much as you wanted to clear the weeds, with no harm to your cash crop!
And so began the US love affair with Roundup and genetically engineered food. Monsanto made a killing with Roundup and it also made a killing with its genetically engineered Roundup Ready seeds, which had to be bought new each year, not saved from last year’s crop.
I have now posted the report on the Otuataua Geology trail, with embellishments to come as I assemble more information about the local volcanic field.
I just posted a report on the Otuataua Stonefields Botany Trail at
Had a ball on Saturday. Somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000 people, depending on who was counting, waving placards and generally making a noise. Highlights, “Lock up Brownlee and throw away the Key,” “I can’t fucking believe I’m still protesting this shit,” “No Daddy state either,” and a large poster of John Key, with a small Hitler mustache, saying “Mein”! Rather unkind in view of his ancestry, but still…
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