On my return to Rotorua I decided a nice relaxing mud bath was in order. I checked myself in and was shown to the room and left to savour half an hour of a thermal water mud mix! It was very pleasurable (if a little too hot!) I then caught up with Ra, Kath and their son Woody. Ra first gave me a drive around the neighbourhood detailing the Aunt, Uncle, cousin, niece, nephew or some other relation that lived there. It really is a family community. I guess that's is what happens when you have a family with 9 children (Kath has 8 sisters and 2 brothers). Jeff had said to me if they kick me out just go to the next house - I realised this wasn't a joke anymore! We proceeded to have a few warm up beers before heading to the local rugby club to continue the evening. I was the only non-Maori in the club and was made to feel thoroughly welcome and part of family - not sure this would be true in all cultures including my own! We continued into town where the memory gets a little blurry!! We were definitely in an Irish bar or at least one with Irish people in it! Was a good night anyway! I managed to drag myself out of bed the following day around lunch time and enjoyed the cooked breakfast even if it was a little cold! I then headed out with Ra's mum for a tour of Whaka and Te Puia. Whaka is a local Maori village which the family are associated with and it was a real pleasure to get a knowledgeable tour by a local who was really enthusiastic about the Maori culture. We then went to Te Puia which is an artists workshop for many different traditional weavers and carvers. We also received a traditional welcome to the meeting house along with a concert - a really educational day and thoroughly enjoyable. In the evening I caught up with another NZ passion with the Super 14 rugby semi finals! Sunday was pig hunting day! We set off around 8:30 once we had all the gear and dogs loaded. I went with Robin, Ra, Lawrence and one of Robin's grandsons. We set off into the "bush" with 4 dogs and 2 guns. Despite hearing a number of pigs unfortunately we didn't manage to get close enough to any for a successful hunt. It was nice to be outside though and with hunting folk! When we finished for the day (after a short kip for Ra whilst we were rounding up the dogs) we headed to a shooting club who were having a weigh-in. This allowed all the sucessful hunters of the weekend to bring along their pigs hoping for a prize. It was a fun event with pig catching for the children along with tug of war and "collect the sweets we are throwing around"! It finished with a Hangi, a Maori feast cooked up by placing the food underground heated by thermal steam. When we got back Ra asked if I would like to go to Whaka for a bath. On my tour there I knew there were some pools supplied by the main water source through an intricate run of channels. I also had no idea of the etiquette as there were just a line of 4 outdoor pools. However I felt it was an opportunity not to be missed so replied with a wholehearted yes!I then asked what i needed to talk and was told just a change of clothes and your birthday suit! On the way Ra explained the practice was to discretely cover yourself and not to watch people getting in and out! All pretty straight forward. This was definitely something you couldn't do as a tourist! It was all pretty dark when we got there and also busy. The entire village use these pools and therefore have no washing facilities in their houses. Ra and I got into one of the pools and it was nice to have a bath under the stars with the steamy mist adding to the atmosphere. The 25th May was the 30 year anniversary of the protesters at Bastion Point being evicted by the crown - an historic event in the relationship between the Maori's and Europeans. Watching the footage was more valuable history. After a restful sleep in the morning it was time to leave the family and head up to Auckland. When I started to pack away my clothes I emptied the bag I had brought home my dirty clothes in from the Whaka bath. To my horror I realised I had inadvertently brought home a bra along with my clothes. My only defence is that is was very dark and someone must have put the bra on top of my clothes when I was in the bath! Ra thought I should keep it but I persuaded him to try and return it! With a Hongi to say good-bye (nose press) I set off North for Auckland feeling very happy with my genuine Maori experience.