We just managed to beat the bad weather out of Lake Taupo and arrived in Wellington.  While we had to dodge land slides and waterfalls on the highway, we made it.  Two hours after we crossed the passes, the roads were all closed (for 3 days).  Nobody could get to the north part of the island. Wellington however was a beautiful city.  This famous "floating ball of silver ferns" hangs in the middle of the civic square.  The fern is the other symbol of New Zealand.