So we've been looking at scripts to perform for Drama...

and we've been looking around and narrowed it down to these -

• God, I hate Shakespeare - By Something Rotten. This is probably what we are going to do at this rate.
• A Shakespeare script that Miss will give us. She said she would look around for something that would suit the number of people we have.
• We looked at doing something from Wicked. But, it seemed the notes were too high for us.

What are Dictators actually like?

They screwed up.

So we're doing a post about dictators and what they're like. So we basically write down what characteristics we think dictators have.

• Ambitious
• They're a liar
• Resourceful
• Insensitive
• Intelligent
• Self-absorbed
• Confident
• Corrupt
• Hateful
• Deep down, anxious
• Intimidating
• Rude
• Demanding
• Controlling
• Bold
• Sadistic
• Jealous
• Power-hungry
• Manipulative

Etc.

More things about the Government

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. This means that our head of state is a sovereign, currently, the sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen is represented in NZ by the Governor-General, Dame Patsy Reddy. Our Government is made up of a democratically elected House of Representatives. The Government advises our head of State. MMP is our current voting system to select our Parliament. In this system, each voter gets two votes, the first is for the party you prefer. This is the vote that mainly decides how many seats each party, out of the 120 seats in parliament, gets. The second vote is for which person you want to represent your electorate. New Zealand is currently divided into 71 electorates. Whoever gets the most votes will win and become your local Member of Parliament and they will have a seat in Parliament. To get any seats in Parliament a party must have at least 5% of the votes or have an electorate seat. Let's say a party got 40% of votes, these are first filled with the won electorate seats and then other members of the party. If a party got 4% percent of the votes they are not entitled to any seats, but if they won an electorate they would be entitled to 4 more seats in Parliament.

Sites I used for Information:
https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/government-in-new-zealand/
https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/our-system-of-government/
http://www.elections.org.nz/voting-system/mmp-voting-system

For social studies we are learning about government and monarchies and we had to write ten facts about what we learned from this video called 'Why Do We Still Have Monarchies?'

Maori Music Task and other tasks

Maori Music Task

This is a version of pop music by Stan Walker and featuring Ria Hall, Troy Kingi and Maisey Rika, I believe maori language week is what inspired them to perform this song. I liked how catchy the song was and how they used part of the national anthem in the song. How with progress everything came along and together.

I found a translation of a few lyrics:

Nō tawhiti, nō tata                                 No matter if you're near or far

nō te whenua o te Atua tātou              We come from the land of God

ahakoa nō hea mai koe                       No matter where you Belong

ka whawhai tonu mātou mōu              We'll fight for your freedom

Maori Matariki Story Task

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN-OluHpI6I

It is a traditional story from long ago, it was written for people to pass from generation to generation. The main story idea was for the legend to be told how the author perceived it.

DEVISIN' STUF ABOUT WAR AND BLOOD

On Friday we played games like Sneak Up Granny, Tequila and somehow Duck Duck Goose to practice our skills.

Okay, so for drama we are devising ideas for a play of some sort about ANZAC day and Gallipoli. We were thinking we could show a New Zealander and Turk fighting then they kill each other and maybe the mans wife receiving the news of his death. Personally, I think that instead of war we maybe settle our differences like civilized humans instead of being like animals fighting over our territory.

Matariki or is it Mataariki?

What is Matariki?

Matariki is a celebration of the new year, harvest of crops, new life and remembering the dead. Although it is also the maori name for a cluster of stars also known as Pleiades. Matariki has two common meanings, ‘the eyes of god’ (mata ariki) or ‘little eyes’ (mata riki). According to legend, when Ranginui, the sky lord and father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother, were parted by their confined children, the god of the winds, Tāwhirimātea, became so angry that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.

Why do people celebrate Matariki?

It is usually celebrated after a harvest of crops and it means a maori new year.

Who celebrates Matariki?

The people of New Zealand, even some people refer to it as the New Zealand Thanksgiving.

When is Matariki celebrated?

It comes in mid-winter, after the harvest.

Where is Matariki celebrated?

Matariki is celebrated in New Zealand.

How is Matariki celebrated?

Matariki was commonly celebrated long ago, and many still do now, by offering gifts to the Earth Mother, planting new trees, and gathering their family together. Now a lot is celebrated with music, dance, food and family.