Rata & the Totara

Rata & the Totara

Rata’s Mother told him that she had seen a magnificent totara tree, Rata knew what this meant, he had to go to seek answers about his father's murder. Early in the morning Rata found the totara tree his mother had told him about. He forgot to ask permission ( Tikanga ) and picked up his stone adze and started to chop down the tree.  By the end of the day the tree was nearly down, with one last strike the tree came down. He was so tired he decided to leave for the day and do the carving tomorrow. As soon as Rata had left the birds and insects rushed to see the damage, they decided to put the tree back together, Several hours later the tree stood tall, with everything back in place. The tree shook i back in place. When Rata comes back the next day saw the tree standing tall again, he felt angry and again he began to chop down the tree. Again the birds and insects come out and fix it, this happens 1 more time. He was so furious he grabbed fantail and asked for an explanation, fantail explained that he forgot to ask for permission, Rata was instantly shamed he knew he was wrong and sorry.  The tree shook it was now giving Rata permission to use the tree, the birds told Rata to go home and they would finish the waka for him. This time when Rata returned the next day he found a beautifully carved waka. He gave  thanks to Tanemahuta again and set off on his quest.  

Flying Fox

I’ll never forget the time when I thought I was about to fall off the wooden platform because my legs were shaking so much. Suddenly the flying fox wasn’t tied to the platform anymore, it slowly went down the hill until I hit something I blinked and I was down in seconds. The wind was so strong that I could hardly walk up the hill let alone run. Finally after several times of me slipping I made it up. I thought I would never be able to do it and now I wanted to go down it 100 more times. I watched and waited as my friends had their turns some of them screamed and some laughed. After everyone had a turn we persuaded my teacher to go on, she shouted from the end “I did it.” She must of liked it because she went down again.

It got more boring every time we had another turn, soon after I stopped going down because my head was so dizzy, The cold air blew the trees which made the leaves blow into my face. It started pouring down and everyone ran to get their rain jackets I forgot mine I was soaked from head to toe, but then luckily someone had two. I put it on and it made me feel a lot warmer. I sprinted back to the camp and we all had a hot chocolate in front of the fire.

Haunted House

                               Haunted House

WALT: To use a variation of long and short sentences

The rickety chair sat alone on the dusty porch. Even in the daytime the house looked sinister. There wasn’t really a proper garden just a bunch of droopy roses struggling to grow, and an old swing covered in ivy. There was no door, only a slim gap in the middle of a wall, that I only just could squeeze through. I tiptoed in, the broken floorboards creaked and then one snapped. I screamed so loud I thought the house would break down. The noise echoed through the hallway and I swear I just saw a shadow of someone. I continued walking into the kitchen and in there was only one squeaky cupboard filled with nothing but cobwebs and a couple of mice nibbling on a mouldy piece of bread. The lounge wasn’t really a lounge, it had an ancient moth-eaten couch and an old-fashioned mat. I decided to look upstairs to see if that was any better. I stepped up to the unsturdy stairs they groaned every step I took, I wished I had a sweater. My fingers turned blue just looking at this place.  The state of the room upstairs made me shiver. The window was smashed and the tiny shards of glass that was still on the floor were needle like, I wouldn't want to walk in there with barefeet I thought aloud.

My heart was racing, I thought I was about to have a heart-attack. Someone was there, alive. I hid behind the door, I got to get out of here and fast. I couldn’t jump out the window, it was too high and I would probably break my neck or even die. There was no way I would be able to get down the stairs without them seeing me. Suddenly I felt a cold hand rest on my shoulder, I didn’t dare to turn around. The lights went out I also had a pain in my chest like never before.

Ko Wai te toa? - Who is the Winner?

Who is the Winner?

He pai ki au te tenehi

I like to play tennis.

He pai ki au te hoki

I like to play Hockey.

He pai ki au te poitarawhiti
I like to play Netball.