Today, Thurs.6.2.14, is New Zealand's national day: Waitangi Day, the anniversary of the signing of Treaty of Waitangi, making NZ a British Colony.
Waitangi House, Pahia (Bay of Islands, North Island) is where the treaty was signed.  Today, it is NZ's most-visited historic building.  Most kiwis celebrate around the nation (some protest); the top-level celebration is held here.  This is the day when the display canoes are put into the water to perform ceremonially.
Enclosed: one of the canoes at Waitangi House.  Mone.17.5.10.  (Roderick Smith)
See:
<www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/treaty/waitangi-day/the-treaty-house>
<www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/treaty/waitangi-day/21st-century-waitangi-day>
<www.paihia.co.nz/Waitangi.cfm>
<http://publicholiday.org/calendar/waitangi-day>
and lots more by googling.

There is lots available on NZ paddleboats, use the search window.
Here is just one thread, with lots of photos.  PS Waimarie:
<www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2249.0>

NZ's sail-training ship R Tucker Thompson is also based in the area; I have been on a day sail from Paihia to Russell.  Although it is small, that was one of the participants in the 1988 First Fleet reenactment, sailing from London via Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town and Perth to Sydney.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Happy Waitangi Day...to our cousins across the ditch.......... .....only joking....our greatest respect!......... .....Derek