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At light I ventured down the mountain to rescue my
car. Just as I came around the last traitorous curve, I
saw the frightening tattooed man with three other men
at my car. I didn’t know what to think, but went
running towards them shouting in a crackling voice,
“That’s my car.”
It was then that I found out that the man with the
tattooed scrolls on his face that I had seen at the
restaurant was caretaker of the property that I had been
trespassing on.

He introduced himself as Tama, then explained to
me that yes, there had been a Havenlee youth hostel in
the nearby town of Bennydale, but it had closed down
about 6 months prior.
He was quite surprised that I had found a flyer
about it. The road I had entered was rarely travelled
and the only reason he discovered my car was because
of the tracks I left in the mud.

Tama graciously got one of his helpers, Richard to
take me to his house and introduce me to his wife,
Rangi. After a nice hot shower, I felt renewed and
content. We had a great conversation while sipping tea.

I was the first American they had encountered and
they were my first real introduction into the vibrant
Maori culture.

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