Farewell Spit - Winter Learning Journey: Huriata

Farewell Spit

Farewell Spit has been in the news recently as a number of whales accidentally swam into the spit and became stuck on the beach. They were unable to swim back to the ocean because the water was too shallow. Many local people tried to save the ‘beached’ whales. Please follow this Farewell Spit link to learn more about what happened. On your blog, describe what the local people did to try and save the beached whales.

It's name was haunting enough, known for many of the whales that have died there. 

The most recent was one a women documented, telling her experience while leading people to help get the whales back in the water. She and her group helped the whales by treating them with needed attention. She made sure that they were treated equally so that everything was at a regular pace. By making sure they stayed cool they covered a whale with a wet towel while diggin beneath it so it has more space to breathe. They did this to each whale - by the next day they were all lucky safe and in the ocean once again. 

Here are some pictures and videos

Vid 1

Vid 2

Three tips to help stranded whales:

Keep them wet! - get a bucket, or something that can hold water.

Cover them! - Wet a towel, shirt, anything that can shelter them from the sun. And change it once it's hot.

Keep the blowholes clear - This is so they can expel air from their blowhole to breathe. 

Warning: Keep away from the tail, to avoid injury.  

Reflection: Huriata

Reflection

Today I just wanted to sleep in - which is what I did. I found out something too, when I woke up I though that my cousin had gotten up to go in the lounge since his bed was empty - but then I kept hearing him "Don't touch that, Karma" or "Give me that" and the funny thing was that karma was in MY room, so I was clearly confused. I looked around my room again. His bed is still empty, he's not under the desk... He's not anywhere. Until, I saw the tiniest movement of the blanket that was on the bed. But the blanket is literally flat and his blanket was left messy till... POP. I had realised that my cousin is so SKINNY that he can mould himself into object and be completely invisible, He was in the blanket that covered 1/4 of his entire bed. 

Oh, and I'm doing Moa hunting tomorrow.

Possums In NZ - Winter Learning Journey: Huriata

On your blog, tell us whether you agree that New Zealand should be predator free. In your opinion, is it right to kill all of the predators (eg. possums) or should we just leave them alone? On your blog tell us what you think and give us, at least, three reasons why you think this way.

I think it's fine, my reasons are -

Native Wildlife

The native well known creature named the Kiwi is in danger - from it predator, possums and stoats. I don't think it's wrong at all to kill them off if it's for the sake of our native animals. Possums are also not rare, nor are they native - they are literally in other countries, a bigger population than in NZ. For the sake of our endangered species I will agree to this system.

Native Plants/ Trees

The reason for this is because possums eat's native trees, little ones. But it interferes with the tree planting because they like to eat small saplings, which concludes in no trees.

Road Kill

Most of them die on the road too, where they rot and create more flies, the things that carry bacteria. It's overall disgusting.

Tautara Note Taking - Winter Learning Journey: Huriata

Day #3: Wild Eyes

Curious Kiwi, a native New Zealand bird, is your tour guide for today. He is going to take you to visit the Otorohanga Kiwi House and Native Bird Park where many of his aunties and uncles currently live. The bird park is a five hour drive from Dargaville so you hit the road right after breakfast and arrive in Otorohanga at lunch time. As you walk through the birdhouse you learn about the work being done to conserve and protect the native birds of New Zealand. You decide to help out by ‘adopting’ a native animal. Visit the ‘Adopt a Critter page’ on the Otorohanga bird house website to choose one animal to adopt. On your blog, tell us the name of the animal that you chose and a little bit about them. What kind of animal are they? What do they eat? Where do they normally live? You can use Google to help you with your research.

Colomfur is the name I gave it (Pronounced Column-Fur) Reason I named it that was because it's known translation means "Spiny back" so I used Column which is a synonym for spine, the 'fur' represents how i'm allergic to pet dander - so giving it to a reptile is funny.  

Rubbish: Huriata

Why not talk about the rubbish system in New Zealand?

We are like most countries, containing rubbish around big areas in Auckland or water ways lead to rubbish being taken to 'Land fill'. If you don't know what land fill is it's a large island made from litter all the way in the middle of the ocean. This affects our sea, the animals and the environment - spreading pollution all over the world.
We have three bins the trucks come to collect, the red bin, blue/yellow bin and green bin. These bins get taken to specific places - but specific items go in each. The red bin get filled with things that can be taken to 'Land fill' (Even the government and companies agree with it) Things like food and unusable things. The blue/ yellow bin is for things that'll be recycled - such as plastic, glass and cardboard/ paper. And the Green bin is for things like wood, plants and weed.



The garbage truck comes every Wednesday to pick up the rubbish .

Heres: REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE

Heres: Landfill

Heres: Compost

For a better environment, use less plastic and replace it with a weaved baskets and or reuse the shopping bags instead of throwing them away, Make sure to sort your bins and reduce the amount of rubbish you get and throw away.

Reflection of Today: Huriata

Reflection of Today:

My thoughts for these holidays is that it is actually fun. Usually I get really bored - sleep through entire days and pop right back into school, but after joining the winter learning journey blogging I am actually keep myself productive and alive! Um, so this morning I woke up at 9am and chilled at Pipi's. Down stairs the adults were cooking Brunch (Breakfast-Lunch) and I got hungry sitting upstairs, smelling the food.
For brunch we had shredded tender lamb, bacon, crunchy cabbage and white sauce with mushrooms. It was so yum! Since everybody was amazing, guess who was on cleaning duties... ME! Today we are babysitting my cousin so his father can have his birthday (And right now he's sleeping on the bed inside my room that's actually Llama's, and he's 11 hahaha!)
We watched vine compilations and movies/ documentaries about aliens, paranormal activity and space. All was fun. When we left Pipi's we went out to get pizza, at home had Tawhiri's cake and played on the game for a while. We also had karma back from Aunty Nan and she is always the rambunctious kind.
The night ended with alot some blogging - very proud. If only I could do that in school too.

GOOD NIGHT WORLD

Five Fav Things 2-do Outdoors Interview - Winter Learning Journey: Huriata

Five Fav Things 2-do Outdoors

Mom:

Swim
Walk
climb trees
Biking
Barbecue

Ranga:

Diving
Gardening
Fishing
Barbecue
Waka Ama

Tawhiri:

Swim
Skate Board
Chill
Walk
Eat

Karma Llama:

Scream
Run
Play
Eat Rocks
Clean (Actually makes a mess)

Laura Dekker sailing trip interview - Winter Learning Journey: Huriata

Laura Dekker sailing trip interview:

Question 1) Is this the first time that you've travelled a long distance? If so, what was the distance before/ where did you go?

Question 2) How did you feel about leaving? What were the thoughts you had once you left your previous country?

Question 3) What did you have that lead you through to other countries? What did you use to locate yourself?

Question 4) How did you prepare yourself for the big trip? Who were you with at the time?

Question 5) What was the last country you went to, as it's said "Last for Best"

Travel Diary - Winter Learning Journey: Huriata

09/08 - Dargaville

Today was a long day, we went to Rangitoto, Waipoua forest (The Tane Mahuta Walk) and then finished the day at karekare Beach (Otherwise known as Black-Sand Beach).

FIVE NATIVE CREATURES TO NZ - Winter Learning Journey: Huriata

Five native creatures to nz

IALT: keep myself knowledgeable and productive about NZ!

KIWI BIRD

The flightless native birds of New Zealand, named the kiwi is one of the most well known animal to NZ. They have sensitive nostrils, long beaks and a fat round shape. The kiwi is used in a variety of ways to symbolise/ represent our country. These creatures eat small portions of seeds, grubs, and a hand full of worms. They can also eat fruit, small crayfish and eels. Fact: People who live in NZ are recognised as 'Kiwi's'. These birds are going through a hard time right now, as their population starts to decrease as more stoats devour them. The stoats are pesty buggers, a predator to the kiwis.  People have been working to ridding them (Stoats) as the situation starts to get worst. 

  

CHEVRON SKINK LIZARDS

The skink lizards are very small, quick creatures. You can usually find them in your backyard - which is where I usually find them. These small things are the colour of black, light brown or lighter, which makes them difficult to spot time-to-time. The Skink diet on insects, such as moths, crickets, earthworms, flies, grubs, caterpillars, grasshoppers, cockroaches and many more largish. These lizards can be found at Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier Island. (Chevron Type)

KEA PARROT

These are the only alpine parrots in the world and are commonly found in the 'Arthur’s Pass National Park' on the south island of New Zealand. These parrots get food from the trees (e.g: fruit, leaves, shoot, nectar and seeds) And get insects from within soil and rotten trees. These birds also have a cheeky/ annoying sense to dismantle car parts, so look out.   

HECTOR’S DOLPHIN

Named after their founder Sir James hector, these dolphins are native to new Zealand. They are also the worlds smallest dolphin, 4.1 metres long. to be exact. These creatures can be found in the south island waters and you could even possibly swim with them if your interested. Their diet contains of squid, red cod, flatfish and yellow eyed mullet. 

FUR SEAL

These furry creatures are spotted at the bottom of the Harbour Bridge on a regular basis. These funny things are usually found in the waters - but it wouldn't be strange if you found one in your back yard, haha! They feed on fish, birds (including penguins) squid and krill.

Reflection - Huriata

Reflection -

Today it was my brothers birthday, Lucky old 18. I looked after Karma for the day whilst Tawhiri was doing his usual routine. We didn't do much, but we're doing something next week. For his 'cake' we had some donuts from 'dunk n donuts'and for lunch we had some noddles/ asian food.
Lately I've been doing some early research and trying to get my brain into work mode for tomorrow, as my cousin's coming over (And I usually have to spend time with him)

My goal for over the holidays is to keep my brain productive, so that next term I don't frail behind on work. That's why I took my learning goal to the next step, joining the "Winter learning Journey" project.
Right now I'm trying to make more tasks for myself - to research on and eventually blog.
WISH ME LUCK!!

About My Flag - Winter Learning Journey: Huriata

About My Flag.

The basic background represents the maori culture (White, black and red are common for maori colours) It's also is like the Maori flag - which was the concept I was going for. The native people of New Zealand is the Maori so I wanted something more along those lines. The fern forming a circle represents the 'whole' of our country and the bond we've made with those within it. Also to me this reminds me of aroha (love) and Whanau.
I am really happy about how this turned out in the end!

Five Things To Do In New Zealand - Winter Learning Journey: Huriata

It's really early in the morning and right now I'm in brain mode, it's 4:07am and my brothers BIRTHDAY!! YAAYYY! We are most probably gonna be having donuts. lol

Day 1: 100% PURE New Zealand : Facts About NZ - Winter Learning Journey: Huriata

Fun Fact's about NZ

If you were to look closely at our country, New Zealand kinda just looks like an upside down boot.


But then if you were to look at Japan - that country just looks like a bigger, backwards way New Zealand! Amirite (Yes, yes I am)


...


New Zealands different climate!
Well, nz has a very different climate during the years - December,January, February being the hottest times of the year and July being the coldest. Which might seem odd for other countries to hear 'Summer Christmas' The average temperature also starts to decrease as you move nearer down south too, going down to about 10°C (14°F) or lower.
Fun Fact: On July the 25th in 2011 there were snow storms occurring over a period of weeks (I remember a lot of hail back then in my old school - had a lot of ice fights/ snow ball fights. One dilemma was that no-body wore gloves so our hands got cold and we got sick)



...

New Zealand's population of who?

New Zealand homes around 4.4 million people, 69% have European ancestors, 14.6% are indigenous  Maori (Really? What about white Maori's, did they count that in as well?) 9.2% Asian and 6.9% Non Pacific Maori (Tongan, Samoan)

It is believed to be that the Maori were Polynesian voyagers that settled here in NZ/ Aoteroa. The native people of NZ (Maori) is the main core of how NZ is today - and that the maori share their land and their aroha towards others. But now it's different as children learn negative things from others words and actions...

New Zealand is best known for selling/ producing manuka honey, a health beneficial and delicious treat used by beaty companies and others. This honey is quite rare and expensive - and is shipped to other countries to sell. Not only that, but NZ is well known for their dairy products, cows and milk too.  

    

Huriata - Whakataukī o te wiki T2W10

WALT make personal connections to a given whakataukī

What the different used of honey: By Huriata and Rosemary!

Here is a presentation that me and Rosemary did for the 'Market Night'. Inside, it contains information about two types of honey - Raw honey and Manuka Honey. When it's talking about Manuka honey, it's the different uses of it. When it's talking about Raw honey (This kinda involves manuka too) it's explaining some of the health you benefit from it.
For more read the presentation - ENJOY!