Wellington

Jenny was asked to give some talks in Wellington, capital of NZ, and attend a ‘National Science Challenges Healthier Lives ‘ day. This coincided nicely with Purim as there is an orthodox shul there (but not in Dunedin). We flew up and stayed in a motel near the City centre. Much more noisy and lively than Dunedin, especially at night. I did lots of walking around. There is a nice harbour front, lots of cafes, great museums and cool shops. We went to the theatre and I did two bike rides outside the city. One on wooded hilly trails with great birdlife and scary cycling and one long distance ride along the river to outlying towns. I tried to find a disused railway, now a cycle track, but ran out of time. 

But I did see a pukeko.

At shul a good attendance in the evening for Purim (60-70, lots in proper fancy dress). Nice megillah followed by a big seudah and a really good magician. We both went for shacharit as well.

The shooting in Christchurch has really shocked people here. On the Shabbat the community were told the shul had to close so they davened in the rabbi’s house but couldn’t get a minyan and couldn’t leyen parshat Zachor, so the rabbi read it at Purim shacharit. All his sermons over Purim and the Shabbat following made reference to the event. He had gone to Christchurch to represent the Jewish community and then to Friday prayers at the Wellington mosque. We went to the Rabbi and Rebbetzen for dinner Friday night. Shabbat morning was very quiet: everyone had already been to shul once that week!  I did the haphtarah, chatted to people over Kiddush. Nice community, declining as you would expect, but younger than Northwood and with a kindergarten and shop.

We did a lot of walking around, good harbour front, lots of nice shops, good museum (Te Papa), and we went to see ‘Side by side by Sondheim’ at the theatre.