A year ago, my partner and I picked up a hitchhiker at the end of the Kepler Track. Having recently walked the loop track ourselves, we knew about the 12-kilometre trudge back to Te Anau after leaving the bush and thought we’d spare him the effort. However, this was no ordinary backpacker. On approaching Te Anau, he asked to be dropped off at the airfield on the outskirts of town.

Intrigued as to why, we starting asking a few questions while he was a captive audience. It turned out that he was British and leading an enviable life by anyone’s standards. For one thing, he owned a Cessna, which awaited him at the airfield. From his Rangiora home, he had flown to Te Anau for a spot of tramping. Next he was heading to check out Stewart Island, while the sun shone, before returning to work in Christchurch. It wood be too costly to have a Cessna back in Britain, he said.

Later, during the lulls of our seven-hour drive home, we talked about Mr Biggles, his roving lifestyle, and how much easier the journey would be by air. The chance encounter was the germ of this month’s cover story on Brits doing a reverse OE to New Zealand.

They have earned the name ‘Ping-Pong-Poms’ because some return to the United Kingdom disillusioned or to be closer to relatives, with travel costs rising. But a good number do stay here and import the extended family to reduce the need for long-haul flights. Canterbury has been attracting large numbers of Brits for years, but, according to Bayleys – the real estate agency actively courting their business – it is now their top New Zealand destination.

With his lust for South Island tramping, and packing such a lot into a short break, we had presumed Mr Biggles was a recent arrival. But when Avenues tracked him down for our story, we were proven wrong.

He actually arrived in New Zealand as an eight-year-old in 1965, completed his medical training here and now runs a general practice. So, in fact, he has been here longer than I’ve been on the planet.

Speaking of Earth, the judge has spoken on that vexed debate of global warming. Is it the single biggest threat to the future of humankind, as we’ve been led to believe, or the most elaborate hoax in history? Since February, Avenues has been running a debate involving an eminent scientist from each camp. Both argued their corners so ably that we called in retired High Court Judge, Justice John Hansen, to adjudicate for us. Justice Hansen has been travelling within the United States – with limited access to a computer. However, he managed to handwrite his 3000-word judgement and fax it to his personal assistant who deciphered it in time for our August deadline. His much-anticipated decision, and astringent comments about how emotive this debate has become, will surprise many. We are grateful for the time and effort he has put into dispelling some of the murk surrounding climate change.

We’ve enjoyed some great feedback about Avenues in the past month. Readers have told us they like the layout and the feel of the magazine, and its range of features. As always, there have been one or two notable exceptions. One reader said the magazine had become a fun-free zone, without Fendalcia Purr and a cartoon to spice up the pages. Another wrote pointing out that there were no fewer than four photographs of Helen Clark “crowding” July’s edition. “I hope this is not an indication of your political views. I will not be renewing my subscription if it is,” they said. Which all goes to show that just like Mr Biggles and I, it’s dangerous to jump to conclusions. We do welcome feedback, though, and will be printing some of these letters to the editor in future.

Enjoy your August Avenues

Yvonne Martin