#942 ... Hole in a mountain

Going through the Homer Tunnel on the road to Milford Sound.

The Homer Tunnel is a road tunnel in the Fiordland region of the South Island of New Zealand, opened in 1954. It links Milford Sound to Te Anau and Queenstown, by piercing the Main Divide at the Homer Saddle. It connects between the valley of the Eglinton and Hollyford Rivers to the east and that of the Cleddau to the west.

The tunnel is straight, and was originally single-lane and gravel-surfaced. The tunnel walls remain unlined granite. The east portal end is at 945 m elevation; the tunnel runs 1270 m at approximately a 1:10 gradient down to the western portal. Until it was sealed and enlarged it was the longest gravel-surfaced tunnel in the world

History

William H. Homer and George Barber discovered the Homer Saddle on January 27, 1889. Homer suggested that a tunnel through the saddle would provide access to the Milford area.

Government workers began the tunnel in 1935 after lobbying by J. Cockburn of the Southland Progress League. The tunnel and the associated Milford Road were built by relief workers during the Depression, initially just starting with five men using picks and wheelbarrows. The men had to live in tents in a mountainous area where there might be no direct sunlight for half of the year. At least three were killed by avalanches over the coming decades.

Progress was slow, with difficult conditions including fractures in the rock bringing snow flows into the tunnel. Compressors and a powerhouse in the nearby river were eventually built to pump out 40,000 litres of water per hour. Work was also interrupted by World War II (though the actual piercing of the mountain had successfully been achieved in 1940), and an avalanche in 1945 which destroyed the eastern tunnel portal. These problems delayed the tunnel's completion and opening until 1954.

A great historical photo of the tunnel entrance

#941 ... More Boys !!

A mooring bouy ... Milford Sound

#940 ... Moody sky

A moody sky over Queenstown ... and the Remarkable Range

#939 ... A Grape View

Mother and daughter cleaning the windows of "Wine Tastes" the central Otago wine experience in Queenstown ... a must visit if your in Queenstown ... a great way to sample a range of local and other wines before you buy ... and at least go for the Felton Road Pinot Noir ... stunning, multi dimensional wine !!!

#938 ... Sunset

The wharf at Queenstown ... looking south into the setting sun ... superb evening ... the magic of just enjoying the day

#937 ... Queenstown Sojurn

Flying into Queenstown this morning ... looking north into the sun ... it was an awesome flight .. thank you AirNZ .. and YES there will be some more non-Wellington images over the next week ... as we have ventured south for a short break ... and awesome summers day today in Queenstown.

#936 ... Our Place

Christmas lunch at our place ... 2009

#935 ... last minute calls

The Santa Christmas telephone box beside the Telecom xmas tree in Frank Kitt's Park ... hope these last calls, last night brought success today ... MERRY CHRISTMAS

#934 ... 'twas the day before Christmas

Christmas is sooooooooooo exhausting!!

#933 ... Work Christmas Lunch

Relaxed summer lunch on the waterfront .. a work do with a difference .. fish & chips

#932 ... Who is Xmas?

A mime on the waterfront amusing the lunchtime suits ... including me .. mirrored in the frame ... note the day ... awesome Wellington summer ... gentle salty sea breeze ... MAGIC

#931 ... Climate Protest

About 30 to 40 people took part in the noisy, colourful protest, in an attempt to disrupt "the root causes of climate change". The protests came on the last day of a week-long camping conference on climate change, held in the Hutt Valley. Two groups presenting their views marched up either side of the main streets in the CBD ...monitored by a long line of "blue" ... NZ Police.

Mr Darroch said all of the actions had been discussed, supported and decided upon by consensus.

"It was a really positive experience, to see alternative systems of reaching decisions work so effectively," he said.

The activists were heading back out to their campsite for a big party to celebrate the day's action and conclude the week of workshops, networking and discussion, he said.

#930 ... Endangered Species

Another endangered species... collecting on the streets of Wellington

#929 ... Costume Cruelty

A young lady collecting donations for the campaign against animal cruelty .. dressed as a dragon on a hot summers day ... cruel ...!!!

#928 ... History

Two actors out on the streets of Wellington promoting the "Discover what life was like in Pompeii" before rock and ash from Mt Vesuvius engulfed the bustling Roman city. A Day in Pompeii features more than 250 priceless artefacts. View these and experience the cataclysmic eruption of Vesuvius in a spectacular immersive 3D theatre.
Don’t miss this opportunity to step back in time to ancient Pompeii.

#927 ... Party Party

These two delightful ladies were on their way to the AMP Call Centre christmas party ... even adults can have fun ...YEAH RIGHT

#926 ... Tired

40 winks on the bench, in the sun at Midland Park ... oblivious to the two young ladies, on the corner promoting Vodafone deals.

#925 ... NZ Christmas Tree

The NZ Christmas tree ... the Pohutukawa is coming out in delightful red flowers ... these trees are spotted all over the city ... and it looks great ... these ones in Featherston St.

#924 ... Graduation Parade

Victoria University graduates parade down Lambton Quay .. part of the celebrations going on this week .. and it was a glorious hot day to wear black heavy capes !!!

#923 ... Brass Carols

Members of the Wellington Brass Band send the sound of christmas carols around the streets of Ngaio .. an annual fundraiser .. and the sound is much more delightful that the cyclical repeats at the local shopping malls !!!

#922 ... Dusk Dramatics

The southern sky on dusk from the Plimmerton hill tops ... Wootton residence .. thanks for the hospitality !!

#921 ... The Real Spirit

The workers, volunteers, sponsors ... all do a great job for the Wellington City Mission .. with the annual Pack the Bus and now this Christmas Tree in Midland Park, Central Wellington ... donate and place a can on the tree .. a worthy cause.

#920 ... The Lovely Bones

Getting the red carpet treatment ... Monday 14 December 2009 ... Embassey Theatre, Wellington, New Zealand ... and then coming to a cinema near you ... dressing up the Mercedes cars for the event ...

#919 ... Devil in the Detail

Julian Knap loses himself in the detail of his world .. for upto two years!!!

"A Trek thru Wellington" is one of his well known creations that paints the many iconic images of Wellington onto one canvas.

Exhibition Galleries sponsored Julian as he spent 6 weeks in London getting all the source mateiral for his latest work which he expects to complete in 2011. A delightful artist who brings the magic of a city to life.

#918 ... High Noon Drama

Much of Wellington's central business district was been cordoned off and offices evacuated over a bomb scare this afternoon.
The emergency began after a teller at the National Bank on Featherston St was handed a note shortly before 3pm suggesting there was a bomb in the building, a central police communications spokesman told NZPA.

"We're using a police specialist search group to check the premises, and the building has been evacuated," he said.

This is at the eastern corner of the Intercontinenetal Hotel. The National Bank is the white building on the right corner of the next block... behind the Intercontinental Hotel. And as you can see "nothing stops you getting a cup of afternoon coffee !!"

UPDATE
A bomb scare at a Wellington bank that brought the central business district to a virtual standstill this afternoon appears to have been a hoax.

Cordons were put up around much of the CBD after a teller at the National Bank on Featherston St was handed a note shortly before 3pm suggesting there was bomb in the building that would go off at 3pm, central police communications team leader Chris Turner told NZPA.

The building was evacuated and surrounding streets cordoned off until shortly after 6.30pm, causing severe disruptions to traffic in the city.

Police said a search of the bank found no sign of a bomb, but the building remained cordoned off tonight as a scene examination was continued.

Police were still trying to identify the person who delivered the note, Mr Turner said.

#917 ... End of the Year

YES it's that time again ... the annual round of college prize giving ceremonies .. this one was for Wellington Girls College and was held in the Wellington Town Hall .. 3 hours of awards, performances, speeches and announcement of the new student leaders (prefects, Head Girl etc) for 2010.

This is Sitanun Taveebhol, an international student from Bangkok, Thailand receiving her achievement award ... WELL DONE

#916 ... Sunny Day

Hard working college students chilling out after the stress of the end of year examinations ... YEAH RIGHT

#915 .. The Big Cheese

95kg of cheese being prepared for cutin ad sampling. The Head Cheese man arfuly removig groove of wax coating in readiness for slicing of a quarter of the hes round. Moore Wilson's Fresh store, Tory Street

#914 ... National Jandal Day

This young surf lifesaver and her mum were collecting outside Arizona on Featherston Street. Note the Jandal uniform !!!

About National Jandal Day
Support your local Surf Lifeguards by wearing your jandals on Friday 4th December and pledge a donation to support safer summers on our beaches. Surf Lifeguards rescue 1,500 people each year and prevent a further 350,000 from getting into difficulty, but alarmingly New Zealand still has one of the worst rates of drowning in the developed world. They need your help! Surf Life Saving New Zealand is one of New Zealand’s most respected charities and this is reflected in their fundraising.

#913 ... Shave a lid

Getting a summer haircut will take on a whole new meaning this week

Some incredible brave people getting their hair all shaved off to raise funds for the Child Cancer Foundation .. this is an annual event and this Wellington contribution is in Midland Park, Lambton Quay

Funrazor, the Child Cancer Foundation’s nationwide fundraising event, encourages members of the public to shave their hair in support of brave kids with cancer.

For those not keen on a new hairdo, there will be a chance to get a photo with the actors and entertainment activities at the shave station. Money raised at the event will help provide emotional and practical support for children suffering from cancer and their families.

I am proud to have been a founding member of the Wellington Branch of CCF and was instrumental along with other fine people to getting it established in the Capital c 1985. It is pleasing to see the support of people from many walks of life ... helping out those families facing traumatic events dealing with children with cancer.

#912 ... The Station Bride

Wedding party photographs at the entrance to Wellington Railway Station ... seems to be the season for RED

#911 ... Bum Italian

A sexy piece of F430 Italian backside ... outside the Intercontinental Hotel.

#910 ... short & LONG

A chance meeting at the Wellington Railway Station allowed for a quick side by side comparison ... I know which car I would rather use around the city !!! ... "better red than limo long stop"

#909 ... Monday Muso

Keepa Tuirirangi ... "Burning Embers" ... out on the streets of Wellington selling his bands CDs to raise funds for the next one ... his old man, Kemp, was the owner of the Blerta bus ... a unique episode in New Zealand's music history ... obviously the great musical genes ( and jeans) were passed down thru some rocking DNA. Good Luck with the new album.