Here are two more of these endearing diving ducks.
We hired a kayak from the charming Richard, Edwina and (six year old) Monty and had a splendid morning paddling up the river and through the creeks and streams that feed the lagoon. Once out of the main stream, it was beautifully calm and still, the peace disturbed only by cicadas, tui and our own splashes.
It was not entirely without adventure; the dropping tide meant we had to get out and pull the kayak a couple of times. Excellent experience.
The woods around here are an important kiwi reserve, one of their few remaining breeding grounds. It was very distressing to read in the paper, a couple of days later, that someone had deliberately set fires in their habitat. According to one of the local guides (who we had met), none of the kiwi were killed, but it is tragic assault nonetheless. With so little habitat left, any more loss is significant risk.