Disney on Ice:

It was a cold winter morning when I arrived at school early at about 9:00 am.
It was a few hours before everyone was due to meet, so I watched the girls in my
class play netball. Come watch they said it would be fun they said as I failed to
understand any of the game or what was going on.

I bought a hot chocolate with marshmallows for Eddie and I. Our hot chocolates
warmed our hands. We were still wondering who would win the netball, but in the
end, my classmate, Ani, her team was victorious.

Ani’s mum drove us to New World so Ngarama and Ani could get some snacks for
the trip ahead. When we returned, the others were already in the van waiting
impatiently for us.

By the time we got to Arthurs pass, everyone was so flabbergasted about the snow
but I was not even interested as they were throwing balls of snow at each other
like idiots. Even though it looked fun but that wasn’t the case 

I had 7 episodes until I finally reach my goal of season 2 to play.

When we pulled up at Springfield, whaea C said I was allowed to go to the gas
station and buy some food and next we went to Sheffield’s pie shop but I waited
in the van watching my programs. It took about 3-4 hours to get to Christchurch.
We finally arrived at our destination at Te Pihopatanga the red and black glow of
the wall and the nostalgic mattress of a marae 

We got ready to go to Garden City Restaurant. Natal and I schemed a plan to get
our 30 dollars worth but Natal kinda gave up on our plan. It was don't drink water
until we were fulled up. It was like a party in my mouth there were so many flavors.
After Natal and I were full we needed somewhere to go for a rest after everyone was
finished we headed out to the vans as I walked out the restaurant doors the cold
breeze of the night made me shake so I ran to the vans as if the night's king was
hunting me from GOT (Game of Thrones)

The next day, we were ready to head off [again] and went to Margaret Mahy park,
then to the basketball courts.  

Not long after, it was finally time to go to Disney on ice it was hosted at the
Horncastle arena they did a count down to the time the show would start 

5 minutes pass it started off with mickey mouse then princesses and Moana
long after it was over and it was like a 5-year-olds dream of Disney.
If I was younger I would have liked it even more. Thank you to our
tuakana for keeping us all safe.  All up it was an amazing time in Christchurch

Te hui Ahurei o Te Tai o Poutini 2019

Te Hui Ahurei o Te Tai o Poutini 2019

On Monday, 23 September I woke up feeling scared and afraid knowing that the Westland
Kapa Haka group that I was apart of would perform at Te Hui Ahurei o Te Tai o Poutini Kapa Haka
Festival today.

I showered, brushed my teeth and made myself breakfast. I then got ready to leave for 
Te Hui Ahurei being held at the Greymouth Regent Theatre this year.

My heart was racing as I was picked up by my cousin Tiare and his mother aunty Nelly.

Not long after we arrived at the Greymouth Regent Theatre most of us went on to the stage
to prepare for the pōwhiri. Following the pōwhiri, the festival began. It was nice to see the elderly
people watch the next generation perform. I did notice that there were not many Māori children
performing in the teams.
I was happy to see non-Māori kids were embracing our culture. First to perform on the day was
Grey main 1. Westland High School was one of the last teams to perform that day so we were
able to watch most of the primary schools and area schools perform. 

That afternoon our kapa haka team went to the changing room to change and run through our
bracket. The time went extremely fast, as it was our turn to perform. I was excited, but anxious
at the same time. Our performance seemed to drag on forever. I was slightly scared at first but
then started to feel comfortable under the bright shiny lights. It was a knee nibbling time as Natal
would usually say. 

Finally, it ended. All that practice and never-ending run-throughs had all been worth it. We exited
the stage, I was pleased with our performance. We entered the seating area of the theatre and sat
down to watch the final group of the day Greymouth High School. Following their performance, we
returned to the changing room to change back into our school uniform. 

A free sausage sizzle was set up outside the theatre and Whaea C helped to run the waffle and
snow cone stand. Zion bought me a waffle with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
At the prize-giving, Westland High School were announced as the overall winners for the
secondary section of the festival for 2019. Following the prize-giving, we went to McDonald’s
before traveling home to Hokitika. I arrived home exhausted but happy and proud.

-Jett

- edited by Anika 

Te Hui Ahurei o Te Tai o Poutini 2019

On Monday, 23 September I woke up feeling scared and afraid knowing that the Westland Kapa Haka group that I was apart of would perform at Te Hui Ahurei o Te Tai o Poutini Kapa Haka Festival today. I showered, brushed my teeth and made myself breakfast. I then got ready to leave for  Te Hui Ahurei being held at the Greymouth Regent Theatre this year. My heart was racing as I was picked up by my cousin Tiare and his mother aunty Nelly. 

Not long after we arrived at the Greymouth Regent Theatre most of us went on to the stage to prepare for the pōwhiri. Following the pōwhiri, the festival began. It was nice to see the elderly people watch the next generation perform. I did notice that there were not many Māori children performing in the teams. I was happy to see non-Māori kids were embracing our culture. First to perform on the day was Grey main 1. Westland High School was one of the last teams to perform that day so we were able to watch most of the primary schools and area schools perform. 

That afternoon our kapa haka team went to the changing room to change and run through our bracket. The time went extremely fast, as it was our turn to perform. I was excited, but anxious at the same time. Our performance seemed to drag on forever. I was slightly scared at first but then started to feel comfortable under the bright shiny lights. It was a knee nibbling time as Natal would usually say. 

Finally, it ended. All that practice and never-ending run-throughs had all been worth it. We exited the stage, I was pleased with our performance. We entered the seating area of the theatre and sat down to watch the final group of the day Greymouth High School. Following their performance, we returned to the changing room to change back into our school uniform. 

A free sausage sizzle was set up outside the theatre and Whaea C helped to run the waffle and snow cone stand. Zion bought me a waffle with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. At the prize-giving, Westland High School were announced as the overall winners for the secondary section of the festival for 2019. Following the prize-giving, we went to McDonald’s before traveling home to Hokitika. I arrived home exhausted but happy and proud.

-Jett

- edited by Anika 

     


        ko te Mahi o te hui Ahurei tenei.
        kei miharo a kapa haka.

JHT Whakatauki

Kei ako au ki te embedding. aku Mahi