Jim Eagles: Kiwis spread wings ... and bread

What do New Zealanders most miss when they go overseas? Beaches? Bushclad hills? Rolling green farms? Sunshine? Pohutukawa blossoms at Christmas?

No. If the views of Travel readers are anything to go by, what we most miss is the food. In particular, we hanker after Vegemite or Marmite spread on a slice of Vogel's bread.

Readers wanting to go in a draw for one of 10 autographed copies of The Big OE Companion, by Bronwyn Sell (Random House, $24.95), had to say what they would most miss if they went overseas on their big OE or RT (retirement trip).

Overwhelmingly that turns out to be things to eat.

Top of the list, it seems, is Vogel's. Lots of people agree with John Roberts of Taupo who wrote, "One thing I would most miss about New Zealand while on my RT would be Vogel's bread."

(A tip for homesick Kiwis: Vogel's is actually an international brand from Switzerland. Goodman Fielder has the rights to manufacture and market it in New Zealand, and you'll find the original version in European supermarkets.)

Close behind were Vegemite and Marmite. Glenys Lusty of Whakatane said the thing she would miss most was "definitely Marmite" and several others felt the same way.

But an equal number backed Judith Draper of Albany who wrote, "I would miss Vegemite." R. P. Loveridge of Napier would miss "Vegemite and parents".

There's almost as much nostalgia about pies. For instance, Alison Matthews of Glendowie said she would hanker after "a delicious Kiwi meat pie."

Jennie Parker, from Balmoral, was more specific, saying, "The thing I would miss most, apart from my mum, is mince and cheese pies from a BP station."

A different culinary perspective came from Kristie Pittman of Tauranga who said, "I would most miss Mummy - otherwise spaghetti on toast."

And, just to prove that New Zealanders have disparate tastes, Jill and Paul Shephard from Papamoa would find it hardest to do without "Watties' tinned beetroot sandwiches".

There are plenty of sweet-toothed Kiwis, too.

Jaffas got the most mentions. O. Porter of Remuera was one of many who would want to take a supply overseas while Karen McCarthy-Murrough went further and opted for "Jaffas and Cadbury chocolate".

Then there's our icecream. Carol Budge of New Windsor is among those who would sorely miss hokey pokey icecream. Rosemary Williams of New Lynn would crave both "hokey pokey icecream and pineapple lumps."

Some of New Zealand's special drinks also have a loyal following. S. MacGregor of Pakuranga is one of a small band who would find it hard to do without Kiwi milkshakes. And Glenn Leach of Whitianga is worried about the lack of L&P overseas.

Still on the theme of food, but at a more practical level, Kylee Nolan of Maungatapu would miss "being able to drink tap water", and Gillian Simpson of West Harbour doesn't want to say goodbye to "cheap eating - our NZ$ doesn't go far".

Perhaps, the most thoroughly Kiwi response came from Helena Thompson of Avondale who would miss "watching Shortland Street with a Milky Bar, and Sunday lunch with the family".

Still, not all New Zealand travellers are hungry for food. Some think they would pine after our landscapes.

Rebecca Herrick of Beach Haven wrote: "The thing I would most miss is my parents' Coromandel bach"; N. Weal of Waihi Beach said if she was overseas she would wish for "my family and the beach at Waihi"; while Meryl Marks of Morrinsville spoke for many when she said she would miss "close proximity to travel to beaches".

E. Toth of Three Kings would find it hard to do without "the clean unpolluted New Zealand air and fresh ocean breezes", Pam Goulter of Reporoa would miss "the green open spaces in New Zealand", and K. M. and V. E. Keane of Papakura would pine after "summer scenes of sky, sea and gorgeous flowering pohutukawa".

Amanda Henry of Dargaville painted a gloriously evocative picture with her response, "Sitting in the shade of a gnarly old pohutukawa on a sandy northern beach in the summer listening to cicadas".

A more bucolic view came from Carol Sanford of Papakura who would find it hard to do without "the daily sight - and smell - of farm animals, sheep, cows, horses and goats".

Judith McFetridge, of Tauranga, was the only person to mention cityscapes. She would miss "nice rustic weatherboard houses".

Perhaps the most poignant note was struck by J. Best of Te Kuiti who wants a copy of The Big OE Companion "for my grandson ... so I'll miss him". And, as luck would have it, that letter was the first one picked out in the draw for copies of the book.

* Publishers Random House will be sending autographed copies to: J Best, Te Kuiti; Shannon Nichols, Ponsonby; B. Aymes, Tirau; Scott Kendall, Hamilton; Linda Crosbie, Cockle Bay; Di Monkley, Ohaupo; Sally Curtis, Drury; Rebecca Herrick, Beach Haven; Simon Angelo, Royal Oak; Rennie Leach, Whitianga.