When I was four years old I went to the Christchurch zoo with my mum and my dad and my sister. It was a scary day.
It all happened in the middle of the zoo. We had been looking around for a while and I wanted an iceblock. There was an ice-cream truck but it was closed so I went to watch the tigers. There was a man chucking food to the tigers and I had my hands on the bars. While I was watching them I saw another guy wearing blue clothes walk to the ice-cream truck and I thought he was an ice-cream man so I watched him. I wasn’t watching the tigers but I still had my hands on the bars. Suddenly a tiger scratched my arm and it started to bleed. It felt painful and I cried when my dad was cleaning it. That day I learnt not to touch the bars and I still have the scars to remind me.
By C.H
Wednesday was the most enjoyable day of my life. She was gone, my sister was finally gone for 3 whole days!
I was exploding with happiness inside! I was so relieved I could hardly wait for 2 nights of no fighting and sleeping alone. But time went by quickly and she soon came back. I was watching t.v when I heard mum’s car pulling itself up the driveway. I quickly ran out of the house to greet her when I found myself looking at the horrible sight that was my sister. She was standing in front of me looking like a raging bull. I wasn’t scared, I was used to her angus face. “Back already?” I said with a moan. “Just be quiet” she replied. I turned away leaving the door open as I went and sat in the living room hoping she wouldn’t join me, and she didn’t. She just stomped into our room. Meanwhile, mom came in looking angry and tired at the same time. I knew she was dealing with a lot with her around.
On Sunday we watched t.v for hours. A programme was coming on that was my dad’s favourite, “Star voice of India”. But this time he was more excited than usual because his favourite Bollywood actor was the special guest. We watched a few more serials but my attention was not on them it was on the swimming sports in two days time!
If someone asked me a question I would answer in a moan. My attention was completely diverted to the swimming. I couldn’t dream about anything else except coming first second or third in swimming. Suddenly a thought struck me, what if the people I’m racing shoot ahead of me? What if I come last place and what if I make a horrible dive into the pool and all the water rushes into my mouth? What if??? Nervousness swept over me like I was being swept over by a tsunami. I talked to my dad about it but he would only say “try your best” and “it won’t matter what place you come”. That didn’t make me feel any better. I was depressed, I was nervous and whatever I was, I was definitely not confident. I just wanted to come home with a certificate saying first, second or third place.
I didn’t. It was always the same, 4th place. 4th place in freestyle, 4th place in breaststroke and 4th place in relays. That was sad but I do have a good plan to make my sister jealous! “Mohahaha!”
By S.S
Photo By Poppyseed Bandits
Here I am… At Blood River, where the Evil Deadmarsh lurks in his cave waiting for something to walk in. He’s hungry, I know it. I can hear his stomach rumbling. There’s one thing he wants, everyone to learn mathematics. I jump on a rock and over to the other side of Blood River. I get closer, closer, closer to the cave until now I’m in the mouth of the cave, standing exactly where the Evil Deadmarsh ate an elephant about twenty minutes ago. I’m walking further into the cave while loading my crossbow. He’s moving… rapidlly… getting closer until… ”ROAR, Have you learnt your bedmas yet?” “You will never get me alive.” “POW!” I shoot with my crossbow. “Bang, ahh” he hits me with his fists of fury. I fly out the cave and over Blood River, he follows. He gets out a plus sword and goes for a a gash tomy leg and I quickly dodge and get out my book grenada. “Get a touch of reading!” I yell. “Bang” The book grenade explodes with a burst of abc. I remember… he’s scared of water because he’s allergic, I get out my water bottle and spray him and he instantly melts into a bubbly liquid. Now I must go to Live Forest and defeat Marnol, but until then the story is…
To Be Continued…
By LM
Over the last 5 weeks we have been learning about the Treaty of Waitangi. We learnt about some of the people who were involved in the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. We also learnt why the Treaty was created.
Photo by Andrew & Suzanne
Who?
Taraia Ngakuti Te Tumuhuia was a man who chose not to sign the Treaty. He was a leader in the Thames area. He didn’t want to sign the Treaty because he didn’t agree with everything that was in it.
Tamati Waka Nene was a chief who agreed to sign the Treaty of Waitangi. He supported the idea and convinced other Maori leaders to sign the Treaty.
Rangi Topeora was a Mãori woman. She was one of 12 women to sign the Treaty of Waitangi.
Henry Williams was an important man who had help from his 21-year-old son to translate the English words from the treaty into Maori.
William Hobson was sent to New Zealand to persuade Maori to make a treaty with the British.
James Busby was sent to New Zealand to stop some British settlers who weren’t obeying the rules. He arrived in New Zealand in May 1833. He built a house where the Treaty was signed and made sure the Treaty was fair for Maori.
The Problem
The problem with the Treaty was that when Henry Williams and his son translated it from English to Maori they translated some important words wrong. This meant Maori and British signed two different things. The English version said the British got sovereignty of New Zealand, which meant that the Queen of Britain was now the Queen of New Zealand. However, the Maori signed a Treaty that gave Britain “kawanatanga” which meant “governorship”, not sovereignty.
By J.N
This term we have been learning about the Treaty of Waitangi. We learned about the what, the who and the where.
What?
The treaty of Waitangi was a treaty between Maori and British. There were 3 parts:
1. Government- The British Crown was to have governship over Aotearoa.
2. Land – Maori still owned their land, forests and fisheries and if they wanted to sell they could sell it to the British Crown who would then sell it to settlers.
3. Protection – The Treaty said that the British Crown would protect Settlers and Maori and give them the same rights as a British citizen.
Where?
The Treaty was first signed in Waitangi by over 40 chiefs. It was then sent all around New Zealand.
Photo by Peppery
When?
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in Waitangi on 6 February 1840 and months later signatures where still being collected.
By J.M
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