Bob's new office: Wanganui Hospital, Wanganui, NZ

Bob loves the multi-cultural environment at Wanganui Hospital, and is working with people from all over the world - South Africa, UK, Sweden, Canada, Saudi Arabia, India, Australia, Ireland and Scotland.  As a O & G Specialist and Consultant, Bob is called to perform the difficult deliveries or "Caesars" (C-Sections).  All non-complicated deliveries are done by Midwives.  Approximately 800 Babies are born at Wanganui Hospital "Maternity" (Labor and Delivery) each year, of which about 10% are water births.

Bob - getting ready for surgery in the "theatre" (operating roon) with his hospital-issued "gumboots" (Wellies).  The surgerical team also includes a "instrument sister" (scrub nurse) and a "house officer" (intern) and "registrar" (resident).  Bob performs a lot of surgery on "clients" (patients) that have waited for up to two years to be operated on. 

Exploring North Island Central Plateau

                                                       Mt. Ruapehu
                                             Tongariro National Park
a diverse landscape of volcanoes, mountains, desert, lakes, rivers and farmland

 

                                                       Lake Taupo
                                            New Zealand's largest lake

 

                                       Lake Taupo Maori Rock Carvings

 

                                            BOB - TROUT FISHING
                                                       LAKE TAUPO

                                 
                                  COLLEEN - LAVA GLASS SHOPPING
                                                            TAUPO

Travelling the North Island, NZ

Lambton Harbour, Wellington

                                 Flying from Wellington to Palmerston North

                                 Mission Estate Winery, Hawke's Bay

 Taumatawhakatangihangahoauauotamaeaturipukakapikimaungahouronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
                                     (place with world's longest name)

                                  Manawatu Wind Farm near Palmerston North

                                                Whanganui River

                                             Victoria Ave. Wanganui

                                   Castlecliff Beach, Wanganui, Kapiti Coast

                                             At home in Wanganui, NZ

Merry Christmas from NZ

Impressions of New Zealand

Our first impressions of New Zealand:

Friendly people
Green countryside
Sunny skies
Great food and wine
Lots of sheep!

We spent our first couple days in the capital of NZ Wellington where Bob received final credentials to practice medicine in NZ.  Wellington has everything - great shops, museums, cafes and is the gateway to the South Island.  Lucked out with gorgeous weather too.  Then we flew in a small plane to Palmerston North where Bob is completing the second of two weeks of orientation at the PN hospital.  This past weekend we drove to Hawkes Bay and the twin cities of Napier and Hastings.  Took a white-knuckle drive through a gorge with soaring cliffs and towering forests on to the east coast to Napier overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  We had a fairy tale lunch in one of the vineyards under a canopy of grapevines.  Took in a local farmers market and bought local fruits and vegetables (some unfamiliar varieties), wines and cheeses.  Later drove through the countryside to a town with the longest name in the hemisphere and meandered through several small towns in what we describe as driving through a picture postcard.  Tomorrow we plan to tour the huge wind farm around Palmerston North and after passing through the canyon have lunch at the "Cafe at the end of the Canyon"  Pictures to follow.....