Farewell to New Zealand

The decision to leave New Zealand was a difficult one to make. In the end, after weighing everything out, we decided it was logical to travel home to Canada. The three (and a half for me) years we spent here were some of the greatest years, filled with lots of adventures and wonderful people. New Zealand itself is a natural playground, with excursions abound to satisfy most people. From a natural perspective, the wildlife were amazing and gave me a new perspective on the world. I am particularly biased in this area but the hiking, boating, snorkeling, diving, and ventures into the zoos and aquariums were a huge highlight for me. I will certainly miss the diving in high visibility, the numerous fish, the sound of birds wherever you go, and the iconic pohutukawa flower which was definitely my favourite.

Being able to complete my PhD here, working on new species and in the field of conservation in an applicable way was a rewarding experience. I hope that all my wonderful friends at the University and Revive our Gulf continue to expand upon the work I started and hopefully develop a best-practice method for the restoration of this highly important species/habitat.

And as if the wildlife was not enough, the country itself is beautiful, from the rolling green hills to the southern alps. The country is dotted with little wonders just waiting to be explored, be that the mysterious spherical Morekai boulders, the bubbling clay in areas of geothermal activity, or one of the numerous waterfalls that seem to be hiding around every corner. I will miss exploring the many back roads and trails that led to some of the most astounding sights.

Despite my distaste for large cities, I will even miss Auckland. It was our home for three years. It was here that Mary-Ellen got to work at a fantastic school with fantastic students and colleagues. It was here that our son was born. It was here that we met wonderful people who will hopefully always be part of our lives.

It was also from this city that we launched our first ventures into Australia. I was privileged to meet and learn from many of the scientists working in bivalve restoration there on several occasions. We got a taste of Australian wildlife and got to snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef, a definite bucket list check for me!

And of course, for myself, there is Leigh, the place I called home for seven months before Mary-Ellen's arrival. This is probably the place in New Zealand that will stick with me the most. I had so many wonderful adventures in the Marine Reserve, a lot of poker and cooking with my new friends, and a fantastic time with student and staff alike. As beautiful as the reserve is, it is equally the people that made this such a wonderful experience. You will all be missed, until the next time we meet.

We were also very fortunate to be able to host some of our family and friends in this beautiful country and share some adventures. We can not be grateful enough to have had you with us on this chapter of our life.

And of course I can not be thankful enough to have had my friend, my partner in crime, my wife with me to share these experiences with. We had a fantastic time and plenty of laughs. We met wonderful people who we will miss until we return some day to show Thomas this wondrous land he was born in. And of course, our door is always open, once we figure out where that door is. Thank you all for the memories.