Speech Competition

Last night on the 18th of October Kahu, Grace and I met up at Taumarunui High-school for the Inter-School Speech Competition. The speech competition was held in the A-V room like it has been for many years.

I had been preparing for this moment for almost 4 weeks. practicing over and over again, changing and adding things to make my speech more powerful. I had chosen the topic of Kiwiana a surprisingly funny and exciting topic.

My parents drove me into the high school. Quickly racing down the hall I left  my parents far behind. I swiftly swung a left into the A-V room. As I stepped into the A-V room I could feel the familiar sensation of nerves and excitement coursing through my body. My friends were waving from the middle row of seats so I wondered over to join them.

Once I sat down my nerves subsided. Unlike my two friends beside me I had done this before. The Speeches started very quickly,luckily. The first of the competition was a speech about Maori Battalion. Next was my friend Grace this was her first time  and sadly her nerves took over causing her forget some of her speech. Now it was my time to shine. Since I had this before I was as cool as a cucumber. I stood there tall and proud staring into the eyes of my judges. I finally started. .. "Kiwis love..."  I stood there and rattled off everything to a tee. Every move, every sentence was presented and pronounced perfectly. After a couple more speeches it was my friend Kahu's turn. He did his very well only forgetting the tiniest piece of his speech. 

Next was impromptu speeches... Luckily we had been doing heaps of a practice for them. So I wouldn't muck up like last year. We had all been herded into the class room next door. After my friend Grace went in it was my turn... Your impromptu speech topic is... What you do in your lunch hour! "What I do in my lunch hour, what I do in my lunch hour...hmm." I absolutely killed it well.. I thought I did anyway. After a few more impromptu speeches it was finished and time for the placings!

The impromptu speech placings were the first to be presented but there was only a first and it didn't got to me.Oh well next came the prepared speech placings.3rd goes to... Jindh!   2nd goes to... Ben! and 1st place goes to... Sammie Bean! 

"Yay!!" my friends and family cheered. I was the FIRST person  ever to win the inter-school speech competition... Twice!! After all the photos and riff raff of it all, we drove home very, very happily!

Speech Night was amazing! I would gladly do it again. Hopefully next year at high-school there will be a speech competition I can enter.

Sammie

My Holiday

On the first Sunday of the holidays my family and I packed to go to Napier. The only reason we  went was because Mum was working. The hospital she was working for really needed some more doctors so they paid Mum $1000 a day and they paid for our motel.

During our time in Napier we decided to have some fun instead of wasting our time waiting for Mum to come home, so we went to the aquarium. As we were making our way there, a big white ball of foam zoomed past our car. As I searched for where it had come from, Toa shouted excitedly “look at that water fountain, it's filled with bubbles!!!” My eyes dashed to the direction that he was pointing in. Excitement spread throughout my body making my heart beat faster and faster. I had to say something “Dad, please! Please! Please! Can we go and play there!?” I begged. Dad sighed and parked the car. We all raced to get there first. There were so so many bubbles. It was awesome! But sadly we couldn't stay for long. Dad just wanted to get to the aquarium, so we got back on our way.

We finally arrived at the aquarium, all of a sudden I was excited again with butterflies in my tummy. Once we had paid we went straight in and Dad took some photos of us in a shark jaw. It's teeth were so big, and as sharp as a knife. After all the photos, we went up stairs. There were so many fish. There were clownfish, the fish that look like dory, there were  even hundreds of little turtles. Maybe even thousands! There were crocodiles too. As I kept on walking I took photos of just about everything, but a little fish tank caught my eye. I looked very closely but I just couldn't see anything. I looked again. Something moved. Hiding behind the seaweed there was a tiny little seahorse gliding gracefully in the water. Then I saw some more. And some more. I could see about ten little seahorses hiding among the seaweed. I took some photos and moved on. All of a sudden Toa came rushing up to me “Grace! Grace! Come and see the kiwis!” He said smiling. I followed him into the kiwi house. It's strange having a kiwi house in an aquarium I thought to myself. In the end we saw about five fluffy little kiwis wandering in the darkness. Then Toa rushed me to another place. I couldn't believe it. There were lots of little penguins!!! The rest of my time at the aquarium I played with the penguins. Sadly it had to end, but I went toned that night excited for the next adventure;the hot pools.

I woke up happy and ready for another day of excitement. Finally Dad announced “today, we are going to the hot pools” as I got my togs and towel together I wondered, what will it be like? I hope there is a hydro slide, or maybe just a normal slide. I couldn't wait to go. When we arrived I looked around. Where was the hydro slide? Was there any slide? All I could see was a hot pool. It was kind of a disappointment, but it was better than nothing… Until Tama started embarrassing us by shouting a random people, but other then that it was very relaxing.

Finally it was the weekends and Mum had a couple of days off work. Since mum was home and it was our last day at the motel (because we would soon be staying in Hastings with a friend) we decided to go to the park. It was really fun. There was a big obstacle course and it was a little bit hard because you couldn't touch the ground. It was very funny though because after I went across my Mum tried to. She failed. Of course there was always Tama to keep happy so we went with him to find somewhere he was happy to play. Mum was being funny, she got me to go on the see-saw with her. But it was fun. We did it while standing up but as soon as we tried it with our eyes closed it started to shake. Mum fell off.

On Sunday we left the motel to go and stay in Hastings with Mum’s friend Moira and all of her boys. During the day, while the Mums were at work, I was the only girl out of 13 boys! Imagine that.

Over all I had a really good time and I can't wait to go again.

Grace Teata

My Holiday

My Holiday

On Friday the 7th of October Erica and I were packing our bags so we were ready to go to Tauranga with my big sister Teri and her boyfriend Terence. We put our best clothes into our bags. After that we waited on the step with excitement. At quarter past two a flash car rolled into the driveway. Teri and Terence have arrived. We said goodbye as we pulled out of the driveway and headed to Tauranga.

It was a long but eventful drive to Tauranga. Our first stop was Te Kuiti. In Te Kuiti We got a snack and went to the Toilet. After that we continued or journey. We went through Kihikihi, Otorohanga and Te Po then we finally got to the Kaimai range. We drove up and up and up until we came to a halt. I gazed out the window and saw a long string of cars stretching across the land. As the line started to move we saw why we stopped. Bright red metal scattered across the road. Broken glass shined before our eyes as a red car lay on the side of the messy road with a tarpaulin over it. R.I.P whoever was in that car. As the car climbed down the steep hill the lights of Tauranga sparkled brightly. Calling us forward.

Finally we arrived at Tauranga. The water of the bay glistened as the car crawled across the long bridge. Seagulls waved hello as we drove along the side of the yellow beach. When we got to Terence's home we had to meet his family. We met his mum Karen, his sister Tia and his other sister Sapphire. After the introductions it was time to go to bed.

The next day, after a relaxing morning at home we went to enjoy the city. The first thing we did was get lunch at Dominos. Then we went to the Memorial Park. When we got there we sat on a hill and there it was, melted cheese dripping off every slice and the baked to perfection crust shined in the sun. The pizza was delicious. After that we went to a indoor pool called Baywave with his little sister Sapphire. We slipped into our togs and went straight to the wave pool. When the waves came I swam in fear, trying to escape the powerful waves but I was to slow. The waves slammed me against the wall as I tried to escape. After Baywave we went home.

The next day we had to leave Tauranga. We packed bags and put them in the car. We said goodbye as we pulled out of the driveway and began our trip back to Ongarue.

It was really fun in Tauranga and we really enjoyed it.

Kahu Oliphant

Gabriel's birthday

I leaped out of bed trying to be quiet because that sleepyhead Georgia Was still asleep! In the kitchen my family was all at the table eating breakfast.

As we sat at the table,I was welcomed by the familiar chatter of my family,my cousins were so noisy and my Aunt Peggy had to calm them down by telling them of! I shook my head in frustration, my cousins were always loud! Just then Georgia walked into the room rubbing her eyes and saying, “Why do you always have to be so loud?” she muttered under her breath that she wanted more sleep.

“That was it!”, I thought, “I am going to see Aroha and I’m going to tell her that she needs to find me!” We had been playing hide and seek and I was was hiding behind a door. Just at that moment my Aunty Peggy found me and asked me if I wanted to help with Gabrielle's birthday. “Of course!” I said. We walked into the kitchen and helped do the orange jelly sail boats and the dip for the chips that my aunty had brought and finally the cake that was decorated with maltesers and very little M and M’s finally we were ready!

Well we were ready but we had a problem, my nana wasn't here! We waited with a bated breath just then aunty said “you may begin!”we all tucked in and my mum told us that we couldn't get anything from the movies I decided that I didn't want to go, just then the cake appeared on the table and nana appeared at the door the cake was a double tier chocolate cake with a huge eight formed by maltesers and M and Ms on top. Gabrielle placed eight long, thin, sparkly candles on the cake, Four for each side, that dripped wax onto the soft chocolate icing. Gabrielle blew out the candles. “Hooray!” We all shouted. But suddenly one of the candles twitched, then sparkled then came back on again. Gabrielle blew them out for the ninth time and they finally blew out and we had the cake. After that it was time to go to the movies

Because I didn't want to go to the movies, I stayed home with my Aunty Diana and my cute, chubby and strong baby cousin called Max but I call him maxxy-waxxie or just Maxxy. Max kept screaming and it nearly blew my ear drums! I played on my Aunty’s tablet.

I fun at gabriel's birthday and I hope he did to.  

Briar Tatham

Going to Rotorua

Going to Rotorua

On Thursday the 29th of september,my grandparents and I went to Rotorua to get my cousin for the holidays.

I had to get up at 7.00am  so I could get ready and have breakfast.At 9.00 we had to leave to pick up my cousin because he was waiting for us to pick him up. We got there at about 11.00. After we picked we had a kai.

After we had a kai we went shopping and I got some clothes because I really needed some more clothes with the money I got from my mum for an early birthday present and I got some more clothes from my grandparents for another birthday present, my favorite shirt would be the white one with a black sleeve. My birthday was on the 6th of october on Thursday.

When we finished our shopping we went for a walk around to see if we needed and we got some groceries. We got a few other things too. The presents that I got from my grandparents was a black shirt with a pocket on it and some black Chinos for school.

After doing lot’s of things and travelling along way it finally came to an end and we finally went home. I wanted to go home because I had big day and was really tired.

Herewini Rata

My holidays in Rotorua

      My holidays in Rotorua

During the holidays me my uncle my aunty and my cousins Preston and Joseph went to Rotorua for Preston's birthday on Saturday the 8th of October .

in the morning we woke up very early got ready then we got in our seats I quickly got to my seat so nobody would take it. On the way to Rotorua everybody was talking and everybody was happy it wasn't a real long ride and since it was Preston's first time to Rotorua and he was filled with excitement.

In Rotorua we stopped at the city centre to have a look at all the fun things to do. We were going to go to zorb or segways but they were too expensive so we all  decided on adventure park and flip out.

On the way to the adventure park everybody was so excited. just as we entered the building all of our excitement disappeared as we stared at the very long line. Not so long after it came back as we were at the front of the line waiting for our turn on the gondola as we walked through the sliding doors we found ourselves at the back of another line. We looked and stared at the gondola finally it was our turn a lady took photos of us riding to the top of the hill we were almost there we were almost at the top. On the way up we could see the whole of Rotorua and we could see bikers going down their windy narrow trails.

At the top of the hill we quickly rushed off the gondola to see three big bins standing still with a sign that said HELMETS HERE!. In one there was nothing another there was two helmets and the third bin was filled with helmets so we strapped up and lined up and saw a boy with a broken leg going down the second time isle and ten minutes later it was our turn on the carts as we drove down to the scenic track stood a man that taught us how to brake and go.

Yes it was time to ride. On our way down Martin sped past and went down a hill then my cousin Joseph then Me and my uncle next was my cousin Preston and my aunty. Just coming down a hill Joseph got stuck right at the top so my uncle had to push him down and off we went but Joseph passed everybody even Martin but it was on a sharp corner next thing we heard was a crash then we saw Joseph almost flip his cart.

Right after that the luge ride ended and we had to drive down a very narrow road and at the end of the road we had to pull back the handle bars then push them forward to lock them in place. We dragged our carts onto a machine that hooks carts onto a chairlift and keeps going around. I went on the chairlift with my uncle and when I was just going to sit down it sped up forcing me down on the chair. On the way up we saw helmets in tree tops and in no time we were at the top we had one more ride and after that we left for lunch.

We were going to have McDonalds but we gave Wendy’s a try and everybody loved it. I got a burger, fries and a very very very tall drink. I went to get some sauce out of the sauce machine and everybody else did as well.

We left Wendy’s and registered everybody at Flip out. It only took five minutes and before we knew it we were bouncing on the tramps. There was a huge temple in the middle of the room. There was a playpen for kids under the age of eight. It was fun, but the tramps weren't bouncy. It felt like jumping on slow motion tramps. But we went to the foam pit and the tramps were super bouncy. It’s too bad that the real tramps weren't as bouncy. Preston went first and did a twist flip into the foam pit. Then Joseph went next then Martin then me, looking at the tramps they looked bouncy but bouncing on the tramps was a whole different thing they were bouncier than the bounciest tramp I have been on. I’d do a flip but I might not land feet first so I just bounced right out into the foam pit. Then I realised a long rectangle pushed to the side. It looked like a gladiator standing post. As I slowly dragged myself out of the foam pit everybody left and I was the only one left in the foam pit cage. So I walked out and found everybody standing by a tramp.There were four more bouncy tramps two by the basketball hoop and two by the wall jump. I jumped one wall but the other one was four meters high and I jumped the 2 meter high wall. I slipped on the block onto the tramp and bounced off but luckily landed on my knees. Ten minutes later everybody had had enough so we left flip out.

I had fun at Preston's birthday and I hope he did too.

Chris Turner

Holiday Recount

Going to Rotorua

On Saturday the 8th of October it was my cousin’s birthday and we had decided to go to Rotorua for the day.

I woke up made my bed and got ready. After 10 minutes of rushing everyone was ready for today's adventure, we were all excited for today and couldn’t wait to arrive in Rotorua. Since we couldn’t all fit in one car it was certain we would have to take two because there were six of us so three of us raced to one of the cars and the rest jumped in the other. Once we were belted up and good to go we raced off towards Rotorua determined to get there before 11am. Up and down hills twists and turns round corners and finally our journey had come to a halt, we had stopped at Whakamaru for a toilet break and a quick snack. We then gassed up the cars and left for another hour and a half before we arrived in Rotorua. Kilometres and kilometres of trees had passed and we weren’t even almost there. A whole two hours had passed and we had finally arrived.

We stopped off at the information centre to see what we could do for the day. We all agreed to going to the luge and flipout to celebrate my cousin’s birthday. Once we had decided of what to do we walked back to the cars and drove to the luge. After 15 minutes or so of driving trying to find the luge we were there. We all jumped out of the cars in excitement and raced to the front door where we had to catch the gondola ride up to the luge. Once we were up we walked towards a box with helmets inside. On the front showed the colours and sizes of helmets. We walked over to two waiting lines to ride the luge, one for your first ride and the other for your second ride. We walked to the back of the first ride line and waited. After a lifetime of waiting and waiting we were finally at the front of the line we hopped into the kartz, there were 3 different lanes to go down the scenic, the expert track and the intermediate track. Since that was our 1st time we went down the scenic track to see what it was like. I slowly moved forward and gained speed while going down the hill. After swerving through narrow corners and down bumpy hills we were finally coming up towards the end of the track we pulled back the kart handle bars to brake. We pulled them onto a machine that hooked them at the bottom of the chairlifts to take back up to the start. We walked over to the waiting lines for the chairlifts and they took us back up to the start of where the kartz where. After another 20 minutes of riding we were finished and ready for lunch.

We left the luge and stopped off at wendy’s for a lunch break. We all got big combos to fill our bellies. After another long wait our food had finally arrived The food called my names. The smell of the delicious food lingered around the store. We dug into our food like pigs. The chips were crisp and crunchy. The burgers were delicious and juicy. Lunch was finally over and we were ready for flipout.

Flipout was only a couple of metres away we were all so exhausted. Before we knew it we were bouncing on trampolines in flipout. There was a big pyramid in the middle of all the trampolines. There was a foam pit, two basketball hoops and two bouncy trampolines. After

an hour or so our energy was gone we were tired out from bouncing. We were all so tired so we walked back to the cars and left to home.

It was a very fun and enjoyable day and I really liked it and hope to do it again.

Martin

Slaying the Beast

As I wake up from my tremendous slumber, unbenounced to me, it was the holidays. After I got up and had a beautiful, thirst quenching drink of water, I went back over to my comfy bed, and of course, got back in it and snuggled up into my blankets and pulled out my computer.

After going through the irritating task of re-starting my computer, I opened up my steam and saw that two of my friends were online, I thought to myself “How peculiar, out of my 58 friends, only two are online?” I was questioning this because at least five are bound to be on, no matter what. They were both in-game, and to my amusement, they were both playing the same game. I decided to join as a new character, big mistake. They were fighting The Destroyer Of Worlds, a 3200 foot metal monstrosity of a worm. I died, a lot. After they slayed the beast, they decided to fight The Twins; Two bulbous mechanical eyeballs. One of them shot a laser, the other one charges at us. After you get them about half health, they go through a transformation, turning them into absolute abominations. Spazmatism - the one that charges at us, and gains an acid-fire like breath. Retinazer on the other hand, gained an eyeball laser inside his pupil, just big enough to fit his iris.

After that occurred my friends decided to realise that I was in the server with them - as a new character - they bestowed upon me fifteen Life Crystals, nineteen Life Fruit and a full set of Hallowed armour, with a mask. I began to type in chat “Why?” But before I could even write in half of my question, they spawned in Skeletron Prime, a big hulking mechanical skull skull with four metal arms that have their own weapons, it began to hover above us, but before I could even blink, my friends terminated the beast, somehow.

About one hour and thirty minutes passed, we had defeated a couple more bosses with ease, and we were preparing to fight the Lunatic Cultist, the fanatic leader of the “Moon Lord” cult, our first try attempting to defeat him was an utter failure, because we didn't prepare enough. On our second attempt we did kill the Cultist, we weren't prepared for what was going to come next though, the four “Celestial Towers”. They are the key to fighting the final boss. We went after the Stardust pillar first, because it is arguably the easiest. Then we went on to the Vortex pillar, then the Nebula pillar, and finally the Solar, because it is the arguable hardest pillar. Afterwards, the world began to shake, slowly. It turned to night. The Moon Lord spawned, the final boss, the thing that the cultist was trying to summon, it took a long time, but we managed to saw off one of his hands, making it angrier. We defeated the middle eye, on his forehead, which disoriented him, allowing us to murder his other hand. His core opened up, allowing us to slay the horrific god. There was a sudden flash of light, he began to float up, then the Moon Lord exploded into little rocks and a prism, that was it, we had defeated the Moon Lord. We had finished the game.

I closed down my steam and realised the time, It was five hours ago that I joined my friends’ server. My throat was quite dry, so I decided to go grab a drink of water after a hard day of gaming.

By Zach.