Matt & Sarah's Big Trip: A day at the office...

As if 5 days a week (plus the odd evening) isn't enough, I had the inspirational idea that our Sunday this week should be spent in the Kaipatiki Local Board area of Auckland. Since April, I have been Senior Advisor to this particular Local Board, one of 21 across the Auckland region, which together with a central 'Governing Body' forms the largest Local Authority in the Southern Hemisphere. Exciting stuff (some of you) might say with a hint of sarcasm. Well yes, working in local government has never been the sexiest of professions, but in Auckland - local government (and the Local Boards in particular) really are making a difference for their local communities. Mine being the best in this regard obviously.

The Kaipatiki area is on Auckland's North Shore only about 15 minutes by car from our flat (sadly it's a bit longer to get to work during the week by bus) and includes a number of suburban areas, some inner harbour beaches and most importantly lots and lots of native NZ bush in the form of numerous parks and reserves dotted about the place.

Matt and I decided the best way to get my research done would be to run as many of these as possible. So we set off from under the Harbour Bridge at Stokes Point/Onewa Pa, and headed up through Little Shoal Bay Reserve, Le Roys Bush, Birkenhead War Memorial Park, Eskdale Reserve, Kauri Park, Kauri Point Centennial Park and Chatswood Reserve, Chelsea Heritage Park and back to Little Shoal Bay Reserve and the Harbour Bridge (with a wee stop for roast beef and all the trimmings (inc. beer) at the Northcote Tavern!) About 25km in total and two and a half hours of running and scrambling up and down paths, through lush forest, along beaches (and a little bit of road to connect it altogether!). Absolutely beautiful and fully illustrated to me why (a) there have been a few complaints recently about signs pointing the wrong way in the reserves and (b) what a cool city we live in to have all this just on our doorstep.