Week One : Day One : Activities 1, 2 + Bonus Activity

Monday-18th-December-2017

Day 1: Arriving in New Zealand…

Activities 1, 2 and Bonus Activities

Activity 1: The First Settlers

It is widely believed that the first people to arrive in New Zealand
came from Polynesia.
Most historians believe that they landed in New Zealand over 700
years ago.
Although they were originally from many different countries, these
settlers learned to live together and, eventually, formed their own
distinct culture known as ‘Māori.’  Māori have their own language,
traditions, and culture.

Follow this link to read a short story about a famous man in Māori
mythology – Maui. On your blog, post three facts that you learned
about this interesting man.

What other stories have you heard about Maui?

Three Facts About Maui;

> Since Maui was the youngest out of all his brothers he did not get

to go out and fish with them because they would make excuses and
put them before him so that he would not come.

> Maui gathered all his anger each time his brothers left him behind
because he had believed that he was capable of fishing with them.

> Maui tricked his brothers and proved them wrong so they could
see, and finally, know that he was able to fish and catch at least
something from the deep ocean sea of Tangaroa.

Ko Maui Me Te Ra - Maui and the Sun;

Maui and the Sun is the story of the time when Maui slowed down
the Sun because all days were short and all nights were long. This
stopped Maui and his brothers from being able to do daily things
like; hunting, fishing, and plantations. So one day Maui decided to
make the sun become slower, but he also wanted to do it together
with his brothers which they did not agree to do until, he convinced
them with his many reasons. On that afternoon they began to work,
gathering flax to make strong ropes that would hold the sun. And
on the night they journeyed far, arriving at Te Rua-o-te-Ra
( Cave of the Sun ). As the Sun, Te Ra arose from his cave ropes
of flax flew both ways so that everything would hold him tightly.
From then on Maui made an agreement with him and the Sun finally
agreed to slow down each day.
That was the story of Maui and the Sun.

Activity 2: Setting Sail

The first settlers to come to New Zealand must have been really
brave! They had to leave their original homes and sail thousands
of miles across the ocean on a special boat called a ‘waka’ to
reach New Zealand.

Imagine that you were on board one of the wakas. On your blog,
write a short letter to a friend telling them about your voyage to
New Zealand. In the letter be sure to tell them how you feel about
moving to a new country. If it was me, I would have felt really
nervous…

Letter to Caroline Pome’e;

Hi Laine!

I just arrived in New Zealand and the voyage was very rocky
because each time a gust of wind came along it blew the Waka
this way then that way and it was just so disturbing, especially to
my stomach. I felt so sick that I just wanted to barf right into the
ocean sea, my face turned blue as soon as the wind hit us. It was
the most “moving” ride ever! Anyways I felt so sad when I found out
that I was going to leave my home Country because it was a time
where I was going to leave my close family, friends but also you.
Despite feeling sad from my moving, I was very nervous to be
travelling on a Waka so narrow that I’d almost think I’m falling to one
side of it. Last of all, Good Luck for next year and I hope to see you
sometime soon.  

Sincerely, Mikaela.

Bonus Activity: Waka Ama

To this day, the people of New Zealand still use waka. Instead of
using their waka to transport them from one place to another, they
sometimes use waka in special events and in sporting competitions
such as Waka Ama. Both boys and girls compete in Waka Ama boat
races.

Watch this short video of a Waka Ama race. On your blog tell us
whether you
would like to be in a Waka Ama race one day. Why or why not?

In My Opinion:

I would like to be in a Waka Ama race because I am the type of person
that very much like to participate in sports and even though this sport
takes part in the water I would still like to join the sport. It also takes a lot
of strength and power to be apart of this sport because it involves paddling
and teamwork altogether.

BONUS POINTS: 10