A later start than usual. I had sat on my glasses earlier in week and went looking for an optician who would fix them. Spec savers came up trumps.
We wanted to take the cable car up to the Botanic Gardens but there was a long queue so we decided to visit Te Papa Tongarewa the museum of New Zealand. It was quite a walk so was coffee time by the time we arrived. After coffee we were blown away by this stunning modern museum. It claims to be one of the world' s top 50 museums. I have not been to one better. The architecture was magnificent. The museum celebrates NZ history and all cultures in NZ. A magnificent Maori meeting house was of particular interest.
Brilliant display techniques show off NZ's unique fauna and flora as well as its geology.
A brilliant 2+ hours. A highlight so far.
We next made our way to the cable car and after a short wait rose above the Wellington Central Business District. We had a quick lunch overlooking Wellington harbour then a walk around the Botanic Gardens. The gardens also house the national observatory and planetarium. Whilst Chris and Dave walked down, Mary and I took the cable car back into the city.
Mary returned to hotel whilst I went to the parliament buildings and took the official tour. The new buildings, the beehive and old were interesting. NZ's parliament was based upon the Westminster model but they have abolished the upper house and have gone over to PR. This has resulted in a much more democratic process. The public get an opportunity to directly have their say on proposed bills. Usually members of the public are invited to express their opinions at select committees meetings before the Bill becomes law.
In the evening we went back to the harbourfront for a meal in an Italian Restaurant.