I like the punga – the tree fern – that lives on the no-man’s land between us and our neighbour. It could be growing on our land, or theirs, or maybe – in fact, probably – is growing on its own land. Punga are one of those essential New Zealand icons. Probably every homesick expat has an image of a punga and a bright blue sky stored somewhere in their memory, even if they don’t have any real memory of a punga. The image is part of the collective consciousness.

What I like about ‘our’ punga is that it defiantly leans into the prevailing (and powerful) westerly gales. This fern – the soft, delicate fern – points its head into the wind. Sure, the fronds are not as perfectly symmetrical as those effete pungas that live in the shelter of the Botanical Gardens; but here is a punga that not only takes on life head on, it thrusts its head right into the full force of the gale.

What confidence! What an inspiration.

Manifesto
26. Every day take action. Every small step counts.
27. Every day pain is a sign of growing.
48. Every day there are things you can’t change. You can change the way you think about them and deal with them.