Our friends in the North....

I suppose it's going to be a Topsy turvy trip for many reasons, it's the first time I will have crossed the equator. Which in itself Isn't a really big deal but just getting my head round the fact I will be on the underneath of a giant, red hot, fast moving, ball of rock is quite daunting. It's not that however that stirs me, Its also the furthest I will have headed south....and this is a big deal.
    
 I think Stuart Maconie made, or stole the idea, that being Northern is a state of mind, its quite a valid point. Many people who know me will know my somewhat passionate point of view and had it thrust upon them over a pint of good local ale...or as far as Tetleys goes soon to be not so local. I suppose its an idea of belonging, its not a choice you have much say in but an act you grow into and get particularly defensive about...but its for good reason. You can say to someone I'm from the North and they will have an instant idea of what you are about, it automatically places you, or you can say I'm from an alienated group of homogenised twenty to thirty somethings from a 'multicultural' area around the Thames, in short London. Nobody says I'm from the South, it doesn't stand for anything. From macams to scousers, smoggies to cod heads to mancs and loiners its who you are, and that crosses all boundaries and divides.

The point I'm probably trying to make here is that this question is not about Geography, when I arrive in New Zealand I will be Immediately heading North, the divide couldn't be greater over there, I'm going to the Northern part of the North Island. Over here I live smack bang in the centre of Great Britain 200m from London and a similar amount from Edinburgh yet apparently I'm a quintessential Northerner. I'll be interested to find out whether being above an invisible, unidentifiable line in another country, will carry such a tribal stigma as it does over here. The place where I am headed, Hokianga, is a natural harbour, an area steeped in Maori tradition............ http://www.hokianga.co.nz/

It is said to be the birthplace of the Nation, The general area itself is known as Northland or the Winter less North and is only dissected to the south by New Zealand's mock capital and largest city Auckland. To the North there are no trains, public buses or traffic lights, just plenty of sheep a somewhat familiar (generalised) view of the 'North.' What I'm trying to get at is this, I'm going to an area that is more or less the top of the country, as the compass points, the true North, It has the the largest and 'apparently' most vibrant cities. The majority of the countries history, The most successful sports teams, its biggest stadium (Eden Park Auckland 48 000.) I'm sure you can see what parallels I'm trying to draw here, I just hope these Northerner's are as: passionate,dyed in the wool,companionable, droll and warm hearted as my own homeland brethren.