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<< Our Photo Pages >> Stonehenge Aotearoa - Modern Stone Circle etc in New Zealand

Submitted by Klingon on Thursday, 28 April 2005  Page Views: 21558

Modern SitesSite Name: Stonehenge Aotearoa Alternative Name: New Zealand Stonehenge Replica, New Zealands Stonehenge
Country: New Zealand Type: Modern Stone Circle etc
Nearest Town: Carterton  Nearest Village: Ponatahi
Latitude: 41.09945S  Longitude: 175.578060E
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
no data Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
no data Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
no data Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
no data
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PAB visited on 25th Nov 2011 - their rating: Amb: 4 Access: 5

Stonehenge Aotearoa
Stonehenge Aotearoa submitted by pab : November 2011 This is the 'Avenue' entrance to the main circle, with my 5ft marker (aka Mrs PAB) standing at the entrance for scale. There is plenty of information about the purpose and layout - but basically the various monoliths are markers of the limits of events such as the solstice or equinox. It is definitely worth visiting the website to understand the location more fully. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Modern Stone Circle in New Zealand

More information on this page: New Zealand Reveals Stonehenge Replica
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Stonehenge Aotearoa
Stonehenge Aotearoa submitted by pab : November 2011 Within the information cabin, there are many posters etc explaining different aspects of the structure, including this poster of the main sun & moon rise & set alignments. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stonehenge Aotearoa
Stonehenge Aotearoa submitted by pab : Bluestone slabs were too heavy to include in our hand luggage, so we took a small Welsh flag with us instead. It seemed entirely fitting to place something from west Wales randomly within the circle.....we didn't have enough to form a complete ring though. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stonehenge Aotearoa
Stonehenge Aotearoa submitted by pab : November 2011 It takes a significant switch of thinking for someone used to the north hemisphere sun & moon to realise that, although they still rise and set from east to west, they do it in the 'wrong' way! The shadow cast by the obelisk will therefore be moving from left to right. Obvious and not worth mentioning perhaps to members down under...but for us.....an unexpected additional ... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stonehenge Aotearoa
Stonehenge Aotearoa submitted by pab : November 2011 The obelisk has a hole cut at the appropriate angle for capturing the sun at (if I remember correctly) at summer solstice. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stonehenge Aotearoa
Stonehenge Aotearoa submitted by pab : November 2011 One fascinating feature is the 5m obelisk which is used to 'map' out the sun's movements. This is linked to the zodiac and constellations - which have to be thought of very differently compared to those visible from the northern hemisphere. It was wonderful to recognise Orion, but initially you don't notice that it is 'upside down', with his sword pointing upwards. ... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Stonehenge Aotearoa
Stonehenge Aotearoa submitted by pab : This site is fascinating - it is most definitely not an attempt to build a duplicate 'Stonehenge'. It certainly draws on the assumptions about possible purposes and uses of the Stonehenge in England, but it is mainly set up to explore and demonstrate the interaction of sun, moon, planets and stars with the earth. Worth a visit - but don't expect to come away scoffing at a poor copy of St...

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 27.3km NNE 17° Wairarapa Stone Circle Modern Stone Circle etc
 201.3km NNW 327° Tawhiti Museum* Museum
 202.2km NNW 327° Te Uma a Tongahake Pa* Hillfort
 202.4km NNW 327° Turuturu Mokai Pa* Hillfort
 237.4km W 276° Te Waikoropupu Springs* Holy Well or Sacred Spring
 259.8km NNW 329° Whakawhitiwhiti Pā* Hillfort
 260.8km NNW 330° Te Punga a Matori* Sculptured Stone
 291.1km W 271° Whakapoāi* Ancient Village or Settlement
 302.2km N 7° Pohaturoa* Hillfort
 357.3km SW 215° Okains Bay Maori and Colonial Museum* Museum
 361.7km N 349° Ruapuke Pa* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 363.2km SW 221° Canterbury Museum* Museum
 364.3km SW 219° Ōhinehou* Ancient Village or Settlement
 401.6km WSW 245° Taramakau Pa* Ancient Village or Settlement
 459.2km N 356° Tapapakanga Park* Ancient Village or Settlement
 466.5km N 351° Mangere Mountain Pa* Hillfort
 467.8km N 352° Otahuhu Pa* Hillfort
 471.2km N 351° Puketapapa Pa* Hillfort
 472.0km N 351° Maungakiekie Pa* Hillfort
 472.1km N 352° Maungarei Pa* Hillfort
 472.2km N 352° Maungarei Stonefields* Ancient Village or Settlement
 472.2km N 351° Cornwall Park Rongo Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 473.6km N 3° Hereheretaura Pā Hillfort
 473.8km N 353° Tahuna Torea* Ancient Village or Settlement
 473.8km N 351° Te Kopuke Pa* Hillfort
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"Stonehenge Aotearoa" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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Pink Floyd tribute band Eclipse play at Stonehenge Aotearoa by Andy B on Wednesday, 24 February 2016
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Stonehenge Aotearoa in Carterton was the place to be for Pink Floyd fans last Saturday evening with tribute band Eclipse paying homage to the musical legends.

Organiser Mark Rogers said it was an excellent night for all involved. Mr Rogers said Stonehenge was "packed out" with fans of the psychedelic rock band

He said people had travelled from all over New Zealand to see the performance, as well as from Australia and America.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11593505

http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2016/eclipse-pink-floyd-tribute/carterton

Clips from their last performance there in 2014 are at the bottom of the thread here

http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Forum&file=viewtopic&topic=5154&forum=2&start=100
[ Reply to This ]

A look at New Zealand's Stonehenge by Andy B on Monday, 09 July 2012
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Paul Rush writes: I have come to the Wairarapa to see the remarkable Stonehenge-Aotearoa, a practical open-sky observatory built on a similar scale to the famous Stonehenge in England.

It is not a replica of the ancient monument but a modern interpretation that incorporates ancient Egyptian, Celtic, Aztec and Polynesian astronomy, including Maori star lore based on Matariki.

Looking up at a cloudless Wairarapa sky just before dawn, I'm delighted to see that it is peppered with needle- sharp stars. One cluster stands out just above the northeast horizon. It is Matariki (the Pleiades), in the constellation of Taurus. I can make out seven bright stars, the "seven sisters" - named for the daughters of Atlas and Pleione in Greek mythology - an eye-watering 400 light years away.

Maori tohunga understood that the nga whetu (eternal shining ones) followed a seasonal cycle like the Earth itself. They knew that the rising and setting of the stars marked the progression of seasons, and certain stars, such as Matariki, signalled seasonal foods.

Tohunga looked for the rising of Matariki just before sunrise somewhere between late May and mid-June. This marked the beginning of the Maori New Year (Te Tau Hou), a time of light, life, wellbeing and good harvests. The New Year celebration is enjoying a revival, and from June 21 to July 21, hundreds of Matariki Festival activities are being held to celebrate the rich blessings we enjoy in our land.

Stonehenge-Aotearoa was built in prefabricated carbon- fibre concrete by 150 volunteers under the auspices of the Phoenix Astronomical Society. I meet project manager Richard Hall, an energetic man with the serious mien of a scientist.

Read more at
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/culture/7238120/A-look-at-New-Zealands-Stonehenge

With thanks to Angie Lake for the link
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...and someone from NZ visits the real thing by Andy B on Friday, 23 March 2007
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When I applied to English Heritage for special early morning access to the stone circle at Stonehenge the application form asked: "Please give full details of ceremony proposed and equipment to be used."

I thought of replying, "I was hoping to sacrifice a virgin. Can you help me find one?" But they might not have found that amusing so I just explained that I had no plans for a ceremony.

More:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/7/story.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10426923
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Phillip Carr-Gomm visits the antipodean Aotearoa by Andy B on Friday, 23 March 2007
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As the sun set last night at the Kiwi-style Stonehenge, built on a hill east of Carterton, druids from across New Zealand - along with Britain's Chief Druid, Phillip Carr-Gomm - gathered to be part of the ancient ceremony of Alban Elfed, the autumn equinox.

"I have never been to Stonehenge Aotearoa and I am very excited at the prospect and, of course, to participate in the spiritually significant autumn equinox ceremony with so many druids of Aotearoa," Mr Carr-Gomm said before the gathering.

More:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/4000938a11.html
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Re: Stonehenge Aotearoa by Andy B on Wednesday, 25 October 2006
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Unable to visit the iconic Stonehenge in the UK, members of the Porirua and Petone Historical Society have joined together for a trip to the next best thing – the Wairarapa’s Stonehenge Aotearoa (se picture at link below).

According to Porirua Historical Society member Brian Mosen, while it would obviously be wonderful to visit the actual Stonehenge, the trip to the increasingly popular New Zealand version will be just as exciting. “It’s going to be a fun trip and there are still a number of seats available,” Mr Mosen said. “Anyone who’s interested in coming along should contact the Porirua Historical Society.”

The brainchild of astronomer Richard Hall and members of the Phoenix Astronomical Society, Stonehenge Aotearoa was established in February 2005. Located in Carterton, the monument – specifically designed for the Southern Hemisphere – combines modern scientific knowledge with Celtic and Babylonian astronomy, Polynesian navigation and Maori star lore.

More: NZ Northern Courier
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