Skip to content

Letter to a friend (Orakei, Auckland) Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

TheCoddiwompler: I am regretfully archiving this cache since there's been no response from nor action by the cache owner within the time frame requested in the last reviewer note.

More
Hidden : 4/17/2014
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

BRING YOUR OWN PEN In the log please write your initial response to the poem!
Jacqueline Carter's poem Letter to a friend is thought poem about Rautara Street which covers a Ngāti Whātua cemetery. A small section of the cemetery still exists further down the street if you are curious. Letter to a friend has been reproduced here:

Letter to a friend

Dear X,

I was reading about Ōrākei today

and you’ll never guess

what in the midst of everything

Hugh Kawharu said

about our beloved Rautara St …

 

Yip, you guessed it

 

It seems that in the 1930s

the Crown put a road through

one of Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrākei

only two cemeteries

and that, my dear, was Rautara St …

 

We used to joke

 

As to whether it was rau tara

or whether it was rau tāra

and I won’t explain the difference

for people who don’t speak Māori

 

But now what I think

and I’m finding this more and more

and it won’t be the last time

I say this I’m sure

 

We have no idea

What was before our homes

Our backyards could all be

Full of bones

 

And all the Queen’s horses

And all the Queen’s men

Will never put any of it

Together again!

 

The cache is an eclipse tin with a log book. It is close to the road - for an easy driveby and is on a quiet street so not a huge risk of encountering muggles.

 

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zntargvp.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)