Many folk would say there’s no such thing as cold weather, it’s case of making sure you’re wearing the right clothes. Ordinarily we whole heartedly agree. Stand by the side of Lake Tasman, a stone throw away from the icebergs and it’s pretty difficult to be wearing the right clothes. It redefines cold.

With that cold air comes clarity. Add in a New Moon phase giving rise to some truly dark skies and before you know it, the cold is soon forgotten as your eyes bathe in the true beauty of our Galaxy - Te Ikaroa.

The Galactic Kiwi as its often known is seen as we look right into the heart of The Milky Way, and the beak of the Kiwi points directly towards Rehua, the Ariki (chief) of the night sky. During the summer months he is seen to rise in the East just before dawn looking down over us during the daylight hours.

In the winter, he traverses the heavens during the night offering one of the easiest to find navigational aids in the Southern skies.

Some say he is the first born of Ranginui and Papatūānuku and is associated with kindness, enjoyment and entertainment, others say his name is Antares, the Greek god of war. Regardless of where you view him from and what he represents to you, his presence is a powerful one and one that can easily stop you in your tracks.

Printed on Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl - 310gsm - 543 x 413mm