Mornay anyone?
August 5, 2010
Last weekend I had the opportunity to join the Parliamentary Rugby Team on a trip to the Chatham Islands. My wife thinks I’m crazy still playing rugby but that’s another story.
The game in the Chathams was played in wind that was more hurricane than Zephyr. It featured a guy (legend) who’d had his arm removed by one of the local White Pointers, and another who played the whole game in his gumboots. He could run bloody fast for a guy in gumboots. It was a tough affair with the local side coming out victors 17 to 15. The after match featured a hangi with Weka, Crayfish, Eel, Blue Cod and other delicacies. Following the game we held an auction which raised $7,000 for the sports club. It was a great day.
Eight MPs visited as part of the team and as a result we spent Saturday morning with the council being briefed on local issues. Locals face huge battles with transport and energy costs four times what we pay in the Bay. It’s great to see the Government coming to the party with funding for new energy generation from wave power. With wind turbines that will cut diesel use in half.
The Chathams is an amazing place and one which I’d recommend anyone to visit. The people are fantastic, the landscape beautiful, the seafood incredible.
Speaking of seafood I’ve caught a fair few crays in my time but nothing compares to the Chathams. Check out the monster given to John Carter. Mornay anyone?
All things considered a great weekend of rugby and an excellent way to get to know Chathams locals and their issues in another part of our amazing country.
Chris Tremain – MP for Napier
