I purchased a small bare block of land a short drive from Kawakawa, on 27 May 2021. I moved my wee campervan on site immediately, which is when the homesteading adventures began! Temporarily dubbed 'Te Whare o Kōtare' courtesy of Steph (due to the abundance of kingfisher), the land will receive it's forever name when it's blessed by the local kaumātua sometime in the future. In casual conversation its referred to as 'on the hill'.

First job is to site the 25,000L water tank. Living on top of a hill, exposed to winds from every direction, weighing the tank down quickly was a priority. Warren Gabb (Gabb Drainage) brought his wee digger up and created a level platform for the tank and spread crusher dust. I ordered water to be trucked in so the tank (when it arrives) doesn't blow away! Now the waiting game, timing water delivery shortly after tank delivery. Of course, nothing goes to plan. Tank doesn't arrive on due date and water delivery has to be postponed. The water delivery decide to communicate directly with the tank delivery. What could possibly go wrong?

Many stress filled days later, the tank arrives. A decidedly unhelpful delivery driver makes no attempt to drop the tank (which is gigantic) anywhere near the waiting pad! When asked to throw a strop around it and drag it into place, he wordlessly climbed back into his cab and drove away.

With water truck arrival imminent, a tearful phone call to a neighbouring farmer heralded the arrival of Alex on his trusty tractor, strops in hand, to save the day. And, of course, the water tanker doesn't arrive! There ensued a sleepless night, tank blocked in by cars on 2 sides, campervan on one and a berm on the other. That tank wasn't going to go far despite the winds (fingers crossed). The water (10,000L) arrived the following day and all is well.