Do you like....
your hair in dreadlocks
your food meatless
your boobs braless
your feet shoeless
your ankles with bells on
your trousers balloonish and of many colours?
Do you like to hang out on village greens and sell bead necklaces and then walk though the town playing a Ukelalee?
if a man do you occasionally like to wear a skirt?

If yes then you will love Takaka. We've been here less than a week but have settled in really well. We've moved house twice, emma and matthew have started school, Mick and I have been to a flax weaving class and Matthew and Emma are part of the Wantangai Day parade through town this evening.
Our first house was in a beautiful location but more 'bush' indoors than we were prepared for and after having set the rat traps indoors we spent one night there and resolved to find somewhere better. We were very lucky to find a prefect place 5 mins walk to Takaka and 8 minutes walk to school. Matthew and Emma have both settled into Takaka Primary really well and describe it as being more like a summer camp than school. They have a swimming lesson every day and often swim at lunch to cool off too. The beaches are beautiful around here so we've been driving down after school to do some snorkeling. Downside is phone and internet connection. Vodaphone have almost no connection here so I can't go online unless I'm in the library.