This morning I was delayed walking to work around Wellington waterfront at the bridge by the Boatshed.

A small seal was lazily barrel-rolling its way under the bridge into the lagoon. A couple of families watched entranced, and one young Chinese tourist asked me if it was an eel.

A hundred yards further on, the tuis now living in Frank Kitts park were singing their usual choking song. They’re just opposite the rocks where the little blue penguins come ashore to screech and scrap unseen as I walk home the other way after dusk.

They’re also only 50m from the Len Lye water whirler fountain, around which a stingray can be seen cruising some evenings and mornings (though come to think of it, I have not seen him/her since I saw one being hauled in on a hand line a month or so ago).

Whatever else has happened to the environment, Wellington harbour is cleaner and more beautiful and apparently full of life than at any time since I arrived here nearly 40 years ago.