Tag Archives: New Zealand

Everyone Must Go

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

New Zealand’s tourism board might have been hoping to inspire a rush of visitors, but its latest slogan has inspired more groans than getaways. The campaign, titled Everyone Must Go, was launched with a budget of NZ$500,000 (US$285,000) aiming to draw … Continue reading →

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First there is a mountain…

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is Taranaki Maunga, or Mount Taranaki, has peaked to sentience—at least in a legal sense. … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Tourism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Airport Affairs

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

As international airports go, New Zealand’s Dunedin International is a very small affair. I felt quite foolish showing up two hours ahead of time for my flight from Dunedin to Auckland since there was just one other flight that morning … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Below down under

Posted on September 29, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve been pondering a trip to Antarctica ever since I sat by a beach near the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island and saw a sign that pointed south reading “South Pole 4897 km”. Now, 4897 km is no short … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Photography, Tourism | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Bookshops come in all sizes

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

A few years ago I posted a story about the smallest indie bookshop in New Zealand, which is most definitely the littlest bookstore that I’ve ever found. You can revisit The Twizel Bookshop right here. But ‘The Exceedingly Tiny Bookshop’ featured in … Continue reading →

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What’s In A Name

Posted on June 3, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

The longest place name in Europe, and the second longest in the world, is  Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch . The town is located on the picturesque island of Anglesey in Wales. Its extravagent place name means Parish of Saint Mary in the Valley of the … Continue reading →

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bureaucrats who have no imagination

Posted on October 16, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I am a big fan of New Zealand and of its most resilient city Christchurch. However, I was disappointed to learn this week that the Christchurch city council has eliminated the job of official Wizard and axed the legendary Ian … Continue reading →

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Song of the Open Road

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Feeling wistful and nostalgic these days for the open road. What better poet to capture the way of the road than Walt Whitman. Song of the Open Road, 4 The earth expanding right hand and left hand, The picture alive, … Continue reading →

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We Are Here

Posted on June 7, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

In case it may have slipped your notice, I have a bit of a thing for New Zealand, or Aotearoa as the Māori  people call it. I recently stumbled upon We Are Here which is an atlas of Aotearoa – … Continue reading →

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Stop Dreaming About New Zealand

Posted on May 13, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Those of you who stop by TBTP on a regular basis know that I am inordinately interested in clever travel and tourism promotional campaigns. So of course I fell for this new video from Tourism New Zealand (below). While New … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Tourism | Tagged , , | 3 Comments