We really enjoyed Napier. The buildings are amazing. The majority in the centre of the city are Art Deco. The reason there are so many is because most of the buildings were destroyed in the enormous earthquake of 1931 & they had the foresight to really plan the new city in a definite style. We spent nearly all of one day walking the city & looking at the wonderful designs - interspersed with copious cups of coffee of course! And I simply had to buy myself an Art Deco brooch! We arrived in Taupo yesterday & went to see the Huka Falls - a beautiful blue - really brought home how powerful water is - these falls alone provide NZ with 15% of it's electricity. Today we've been to Rotorua & spent the morning looking at enormous volcanic craters caused by a series of eruptions over the years. We saw geysers, bubbling mud, boiling water & steamy ground & were surrounded by an all pervasive smell of sulphur - yuk! Those of you who've said you're planning a trip here in future - go for it as it's really worth it! We are still having wonderful weather - really warm & sunny.

PS Jane & John - I've kept some leaflets about NZ for you