Easter weekend

The last large Summer event of the year has just passed, the (usually) annual Waiheke Jazz Festival, which is a multi-day event over Easter weekend. It's not something I attend as it is largely aimed at visitors and I also work one day of the weekend.
The venue was mercifully close to the ferry terminal so there was no need for large hordes of drunk jazz fans to roam the island in search of their favourite sounds and drinks. The event took place in a large circus tent next to the ferry car parking (pictured left).
Maybe they should keep the tent for circus events like the new Matiatia design competition, Council-trained monkeys and all.

Ewen had an invite to visit Rakino Island for a small jazz session there.
It's the smallest inhabited Gulf island (pictured right), about 20 minutes by (occasionally running) ferry from Waiheke. It has about 35 permanent residents on an area of about 165 hectares. Our friend Paul has a section there on which he has plonked a caravan, with a nice view back to the northern part of Auckland. Ewen hitched a ride back on a yacht, which by all accounts was very civilised and exhilarating. I did eff-all over the weekend instead.