Cherokee Nation by Rebecca

Writing

ROOM 13

CHEROKEE NATION

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By Rebecca

INTRODUCTION

The Cherokee Nation are Native American people. It is the largest Cherokee federally recognised Tribe in the United States. It was established in the 20th century. Some tribe members descended from the old Cherokee nation, who had relocated from the Southeast.

History

During 1898-1906, the US government dissipated the former Cherokee Nation governmental and civic establishments, in order to make space for the Indian Territory in the new state of Oklahoma. Between 1906 and 1938, the tribal government was not determined.

Modern Cherokee Nation

In the 1930’s, Franklin Roosevelt administration worked towards improving conditions by supporting the Indian Reorganization Act, which led to other tribes to reestablish their governments. On the 8th of August, 1938, the Cherokee Nation held a general convention in Fairfield, Oklahoma to elect a chief of their tribe. The Cherokee Nation elected J.B Milam as leading chief.

American Indian Wars

The American Indian Wars, were multiple armed conflicts between European Colonists and Governments, and later American settlers, the United States Government or people of North America. The wars started in 1622 and ended in 1924. The wars occurred across the North American continent. Causes of the Wars were land ownership and resources. Years between 1789 and 1891, the US census estimated 25,000 European men, women and children and over 39,000 Indians. This heavily impacted the population.

Cherokee Nation Song

The Cherokee Nation song was written by John Loudermilk. The Cherokee Nation song refers to the five civilized tribes, including Cherokee, that were chased off their land onto the Trail of Tears. The lyrics in the Cherokee Nation Song have depth and meaning, as such the second line of the first verse “put us on this reservation” showed how the Cherokee tribe was forced to move onto the Trail of Tears. On the first line of the second verse, “took away our native tongue” refers to how the Europeans taught all of the children english instead of the Native American Indian language, as well as the line “and taught their English to our young.” In the second verse, the third and fourth line “and the beads we made by hand, are nowadays made in Japan,” talks about how everything nowadays is commercialised and made in countries like Japan or China. The third refers to how the Europeans took the whole Indian Nation and forced the Cherokee people to move to the Trail of tears, in other words, the reservation. The lines in the third verse “They took the whole Indian Nation, Locked us on this reservation, Though I wear a shirt and tie, I’m still part redman deep inside.” The last lines regard to how the Cherokee people were like Europeanised, to talk like the Europeans, dress like the Europeans and even act like the Europeans. The “I’m still a redman inside” means that no matter how the Cherokee may be forced to act, they will always be part of their culture and heritage. The last verse of the Cherokee Nation Song, “But maybe someday when we’ve learned, Cherokee Nation will return, Will return, Will return, Will return, Will return.” This indicates that the artist who wrote the song, John Loudermilk, thinks that in time, the Cherokee Nation will develop into the proud culture it used to be.

Personally, I think that the Cherokee Nation has been mistreated over the centuries by other cultures and tribes. The song, Cherokee Nation, has a strong message about the mistreatment of the Cherokee Nation. The lyrics that John Loudermilk wrote gave a strong sense of purpose and meaning.

Cherokee Nation: Writing Prompt

The Lorax by Rebecca

The Lorax
Themes and Characters

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By Rebecca

INTRODUCTION

The Lorax is a story, written by Dr. Seuss. This story was written to warn people about environmental problems that we could face in the future if we don’t take care of our world.

Themes

There are several important messages and themes in the Lorax. The first one is humankind and the natural world. The Once-ler tells the story of the trees to Ted, which describes the relationship between humans and the natural world. The story explains how money, power and fame can cloud humans decisions about the environment. The Once-ler started off as a young lad with big dreams for his future. He left his family to find the perfect material for his ‘thneed’. A thneed that could do the job of a thousand men. The Once-ler found a forest full of Truffula trees, perfect material for his thneed. The Once-ler cuts down the very first tree and little did he know the impact he was making and that he summoned a creature, the Lorax. The Lorax descends from the sky, claiming that he is the guardian of the forest and that he speaks for the trees. Because of what the Once-ler done, the Lorax tries to get the Once-ler to leave, by pranking him and almost killing him in the process. However, the Once-ler is determined to make his thneed, therefore the Lorax and the Once-ler make a compromise, that the Once-ler promises to never cut down another tree again. Nevertheless, the Once-ler breaks his promise as the fame and demand of his thneed becomes bigger. The Once-ler’s family also help to persuade the Once-ler to break his promise. Wanting to earn his family's respect, the Once-ler agreed to cutting down the trees. This hints at another theme of self-worth, as the Once-ler tries to prove himself to his family and wanting to please them. The Once-ler’s mother, Isabella, is very manipulative and money-crazy. When the Once-ler first started to harvest the Truffula trees, Isabella managed to manipulate the Once-ler into breaking his promise. Determined to earn his family’s respect, the Once-ler agrees and when the company becomes bigger, the Once-ler tries to tell himself that what he is doing not bad. The Lorax is almost in a way, the Once-ler’s conscience.

At the start, Ted first initially tries to find out what happened to the trees because Audrey always wanted one. When he first proposed this idea to his mother, she did not see the reason of a real tree. Just like the other people in Thneedville, they had been without trees for so long that it did not occur to them the real purpose of trees. Especially since they had big walls all around the city, so they could not actually see the real world that loomed around them. The townsfolk of Thneedville had been manipulated by Mr O’Hare by making them believe that they could buy air. Ted thens sets of to find the Once-ler who tells him the story of why they have no trees. Money, power and fame clouded the Once-ler decision making for the care of the environment. Because of the Once-ler’s actions, animals were forced to leave to the forest and the air was horribly polluted. No matter how many times the Lorax tried to persuade the Once-ler, he wouldn’t listen. It was only when they cut down the very last Truffula tree, that the Once-ler sees what the consequences of his actions were. When the Once-ler finishes telling the story to Ted, he gives him the last Truffula tree seed. At the start, Ted only wanted to find out because of a girl and his own selfish reasons, but as the movie progressed, Ted realised the importance of trees, and the difference he could make. At the end of the movie, Ted introduces himself to the townsfolk as ‘Ted Wiggins, and I speak for the trees’. This shows that Ted’s character progressed as he started out as a self-obsessed boy, to a boy that made a huge difference in the world.

Dr. Seuss in his book is trying to warn humankind that we must take care of the environment otherwise the consequences are fatal.

The Lorax

The Lorax is a friend to all nature, his introduction in the book is “I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees, I speak for the trees that have no tongues.” The Lorax has many characteristics, like his protective side towards all of the forest animals and trees.

1. As an example, when the Once-ler chopped down the very first Truffula, the Lorax was distraught. Because of this, the Lorax and the forest animals, placed rocks around the tree stump, like it was a memorial. The Lorax was very angry and irritated that the Once-ler was putting his needs and wants before the care of the environment.

2. When the Thneed business has ruined the forest, the Lorax sent away all of the forest animals for them to find a better place to live. This is showing that the Lorax is very protective over the forest animals.

3. Ultimately, as the movie came to it’s conclusion, the Lorax learns forgiveness. The Lorax once again descended from the sky, when the Once-ler came out of its house after many years to water the newly growing Truffula trees, the Lorax learnt to forgive the Once-ler for ruining the environment. Especially since the Once-ler redeemed himself by telling the story to Ted, which resolved in Ted carrying out the mission to save the trees.

The book of the Lorax is recognised as fictional story, concerning about the power of greed presents to nature. The Lorax was known as Dr. Seuss’ favourite story. Dr Seuss was able to write a story about environmental problems without the story being tedious. The story of the Lorax, is an excellent book to warn humans about the environment and trying to get a point across.

Sharks in the Forest by Emily B

Sharks in the Forest

Amethyst P.O.V

Dear diary,

This is my first time writing in this diary. It’s the year of 2116. Eighty years have passed since the world became abnormal to what it was one hundred years ago.  It’s recorded that in 2036 that sharks started jumping out of water for long periods of time, over the years people found that when it was foggy, the sharks could swim through the low amount of fog. So when it was people locked themselves inside for the fear of getting attacked in the open. One day the sharks made enough distance through the air and made it into the forests where it’s always foggy, so now they prowl around the depths of the forest keeping people out.

Over the years we were told not to go in the forest. Not to get lost in one. Always be with an adult. As the sharks over the years moved into the forest to stay hidden. But where am I now. Stuck in the middle of the forest lost left to fend for myself. How did I end up here, well me and my brothers were playing near the edge of the forest where we live. They dared me to go into the forest and wander for a bit, and being me I accepted. I got lost after a few minutes as I was not paying attention to where I was.

I stood still for a minute to see if I could hear anything to lead me back but all I heard were the slight rustling sound that I could only presume where sharks. People are still amazed that sharks have seemed to survive, but since they made it the forest they were able to thrive and survive on what the have. The rustling sound continued, coming closer, closer and closer, and that when I realized that I, Amethyst Roberts was about to face the fear of all people, the thing that keeps people from the woods, the things that make the animals hide in trees and keep alert at all times. I see the flash of a tail behind the trees, fear starts eating me from the insides and it starts making me think what it would be like  to be eaten by one. I see the tail again it swinging side to side sometimes hitting the sides of the trees but the doesn't stop it, it still approaching me.

I see the shark head approaching me, I back away thinking that I might have a chance to escape, but I was wrong because as soon as my back hit the back of a tree the shark was less than three meters away from me. I close my eyes waiting for the vicious attack on me. But nothing came, nothing happened. I slowly opened my eyes only to see the shark centimeters in front of me. The shark was in front of me not doing a thing, just looking at me with sad eyes like he was sad that I was afraid of him. My fear subsided and I just started at the shark with curious eyes. The shark moves back a bit, giving me space to move away. I move to the side and see the shark start to move away, I follow it, curious to see where it was going. I had to catch up as he was moving at a fast paced. I ran to catch up to the shark, a little out of breath. The shark slows down considerably letting me keep up with the shark. The shark leads me towards a cave. I was scared, I had no way of communicating with this shark, the shark could eat me for all I know, but he just wants to eat me without being found. Instead as he goes through the cave there seems to be an exit at the end.

The shark leads me through the jagged rocks towards the exit. I hear the rushing sounds of a stream and the chirping birds around it.

THE FREAKING END

The Lorax Theme by Gregor

The Lorax Theme (Movie)

The Lorax was originally created by Dr Seuss as a book in 1971 and was made into a movie in 2012 by Universal and Illumination Entertainment. There are many themes in this movie but I have chosen to take mine from the Lorax’s quote, “A tree falls the way it leans, be careful which way you lean.”

This can relate to a large number of meanings but I interpreted it as leaning too far the wrong way will be your downfall. As the later part of the movie shows the Once-ler who didn’t take the Lorax’s warning becomes his own downfall with no money, no job and no friends living in a desolate place of his own despair and destruction. Thinking about what the Lorax had said and about how one wrong decision sent him into a world he could never had imagined.

As both the story and the movie show greed and the thought of ‘bigger is better’ can ruin a person. In the book the young Once-ler sees an opportunity in the tufts of the truffula trees in which he needs to make his thneeds. He begins to chop down trees and build a huge factory. As the Once-ler progresses he calls in his family and not listening to the Lorax who has been summoned by his deeds he continues ‘Biggering’. first all of the truffula trees are chopped down and there are no truffula fruits for the Bar ba loots the Lorax has to get them to leave. then sky is full of smog and smoke the Swomee Swans can’t fly they to leave. Finally the rivers are filled with slimy slop. The Humming fish can’t live there anymore they leave, The Lorax leave a message on a circle of stones Unless. Then he lifts himself up by the seat of his pants and ascends up and away through the thick smog. The Once-ler is left alone as even his family have left. Every day he looks at the stones Unless. When a boy comes to see him he tells him his story and realises what he must do so he says to the boy. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot nothing is going to get better it’s not.” The boy is given the last truffula seed and the story has a happy ending.

As you can see from the stories plot greed can lead you to your downfall but it only takes one person no matter how big or small to make it a happy ending I think Dr Seuss had chosen a great topic and that environmental matters are out there and young children should know that. So what happened to this great theme when it was made into a movie?

Ted is a young boy living in Thneedville a city that is plastic and fake with nothing natural. Ted spends a lot of his time trying to impress his wannabe girlfriend, Audrey. On one of these occasions Ted is dragged into Audrey’s back garden where he is shown a realistic painting of truffula trees which don’t exist anymore. With the knowledge that Audrey would marry the finder of a tree on the spot Ted decides to find one. When his Mum is out of the way granny tells Ted about the once-ler who for two cents, a nail and the shell of a great, great Grandfather snail would tell you all about trees. That night Ted sneaks out of town to find the Once-ler, in the outside of town where the grincle grass grows and no birds sing excepting old crows. Over the next few days the once-ler tells his story about the thneeds, the truffula trees, and how he biggered and biggered and how the animals and the Lorax left and how all of this was his fault. (The Once-ler's story is the same as in the book.) Then the Once-ler gives Ted the very last truffula seed. Ted has to outwit the Millionaire air seller Aloysius O’Hare who thinks that the trees who make air for free will be a threat to his business, as well as his two bodyguards/Cronies. With the help of granny who recaptures the seed off of O’Hare and digs the hole with a giant excavator. Mum who drives her car in a convincing dummy manovre and the people of Thneedville who overpower O’Hare Ted plants the seed and new life begins.

The theme stayed and the movie was great promoting safety for the environment and standing up to people who think that they can rip others off and lord over them. Ted shows that we don’t need to all be the same and live a boring life because it only takes one small person to make a big difference good or bad and it only take one person to tip the tables.

Corruption is a big thing in the world today and resembles more or less O’Hares intentions and fits the quote “A tree falls the way it leans, be careful which way you lean.” If you try to control the people like O’Hare, the people will come back and will be your downfall. It was the same with the Once-ler he made a promise not to chop down any trees however harvesting the tufts took too long and driven by parental pressure he started to chop down trees again. The magical valley is polluted and all of the animals leave to find better homes. The Once-ler’s company gets to big, all of the truffula trees are chopped down and no new ones are planted. The company collapses because there are no more tufts. The Once-ler also leaned too far the wrong way and became his own undoing. Leaning is ok, just don’t lean the wrong way.

The leaning quote theme is not the only theme in the story there are some other such as Communication, Forgiveness and Compassion.

Communication. In the movie there is a lot of communication. Especially between the Once-ler and the Lorax. During the film when the Lorax tells the Once-ler to stop cutting down the trees and to leave the valley the Once-ler is listening however he does not obey and lets the demanding Lorax’s words pass right over his head. Like as the saying goes the words go in one ear and out of the other. Because of this the Once-ler carried on and on and destroyed the valley singlehandedly. When he eventually saw his mistake it was too late and the Lorax was gone. There was no one to talk to until Ted came.

In the movie there is a lot of forgiveness. When the Once-ler tells Ted about how he destroyed the forest and cut down all of the trees leaving the animals with nothing. Ted would have been annoyed about what the Once-ler had done and at the cruelty and injustice of it. However O’Hare is not forgiven for his crimes of selling air when the truffula seed was always there for someone to find and make a difference. He also tried to get rid of the seed that would make all the difference as well as running a corrupt business that was making him far too much money. He is attached to a jetpack and the last we see of him he is a little black streak of smoke flying out of Thneedville. Sometimes it’s easier to let things go that to forgive.

Compassion is also a big part of the movie as is portrayed by the Lorax’s love for trees and the animals of the forest. There is also a large amount of comradeship shown when the animals try to get rid of the Once-ler and when they leave the valley. Not all of the Compassion is good like when the Once-ler is forced by compassion for his Mum to begin cutting down trees. Ted has compassion for Audrey and it is this compassion which originally makes him visit the Once-ler to get a tree. Fate works in strange ways.

The Lorax, a book of many themes. Telling us that the environment matters and that leaning the wrong way in life will be our failure and our downfall. I hope that Dr Seuss has managed to convince everyone of the matters around us and that that legacy is carried on in the amazing transition from Lorax book to Lorax movie.

Ski Trip

Farm Trip

Killer Woods

Doo, doo doo, doo doo, doo! This is breaking news from TV1 60 minutes at 6! We have reports coming in from all over the country of sharks that can swim in the forest. During the 80 tornadoes which touched down in almost every state which yesterday thousands sharks from the Californian coast have been deposited all over the place. Like a twist in a fairy tale it has been discovered that these sharks swim in the forest as if it were the sea. This has been put down to a radioactive nuclear waste depot being sucked up in Arizona. We will keep you informed during the course of the evening. A warning anyone who knows friends or relatives are in forests at the moment, please warn them to get out!

Ernie was lost. He had got out of his car on his way home to have a leak. He was driving to his house in Tacoma from Seattle where he worked in the docks. Trying to find a spot where he could ‘go’ without attracting the eyes of the lorry drivers and Highway Patrol. Eventually Ernie found the right sort of spot and  he seemed to go into a coma as the pent up pressure in his bladder was slowly released. He spun around finding his new found freedom of the lower body quite amazing, when he was hit hard on the nose by cold reality, the road was gone, he was lost. For once in his life Ernie felt scared and, unable to handle the annoyance, grief and pressure he broke into some very manly tears.

It was now around three hours after Ernie’s unfortunate accident. After crying for around hour and a half, deciding to do something useful he had traipsed off into the forest. He had spent the last hour and a half walking round and round in a circle about 500m in diameter, though according to him he was making good progress. He remembered this by saying, “I’m making good progress,” every five seconds. If you ask Bear Grylls what to do in a survival situation when you are lost in the forest the last thing he will say is ‘Walk around in circles saying, I’m making good progress!’ However Ernie was not Bear Grylls and did not have a hope at becoming anything like him. So he carried on walking in circles.

After walking in circles for another hour Ernie was exhausted and as it was quite dark now he decided to make camp. Having always lived in Washington as a boy he had no idea where he should start. After thinking quite hard for several minutes he decided he would punch down trees like they do in the movies and make a log cabin. But as he soon found out the movies aren’t always that truthful and that punching trees really hurts. Unable to think of a better solution he lay down on the forest floor and pulled leaves over his large beer gut like a blanket. Content with his rusling bed he drifted into the deep, dark realms of sleep.

Around 1am he was awoken by a strange swishy swooshy noise. Swish swish swish swish, swoosh! Then it started again. Swish swish swish swish, swoosh! Now thoroughly scared he stood up and ran for his life (it wasn’t particularly fast but that’s another matter) straight into something very big and very solid he took a step back to examine this thing that had so rudely stopped him when he saw that two small piggy eyes were staring at him out of the darkness.

“Aaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!” he screamed realising that he wasn’t alone. “Eeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeee!!! Whhhoooo aaaaarrrrreeee yyoouuu!!!” He was pulled up into the air by the seat of his pants and given a killer wedgie as something very large and strong threw him way up into the air. Branches whipped his face and the wind hollered in in his ears, then it was all over and he fell to earth with a thud that shook the ground. Once again he was up and running for his life (which again wasn’t very fast). Through the forest he ran, oh how he ran but the thing was right behind him all the way he reach a clearing where the moon shone brightly in the clear, starlit sky that was when he realised that the seat of his $80 Tellason designer jeans full of anger and embarrassment he threw himself at his enemy focused on their destruction. As the first punch glanced the side of the beast’s snout but it’s eye couldn’t take the pressure and exploded. This sent a geyser of blood into the air and the animal became still as it slowly bled to death.

During this time Ernie had been wondering exactly what this thing that was chasing him was. Using his large body weight to aid him, he pulled the creature into the light. As the cold moon shone down on the blood covered body Ernie fainted. It was a shark floating, rotating slowly suspended in mid air.

Ernie woke up twenty minutes later he was covered in cold sweat and a puddle of sick lay beside his head. He noticed a wet patch beside his crotch and was so annoyed at himself that he managed not to faint when he saw the dead shark floating a meter away. Keen to move on again he ran out of the clearing and deeper into the cold, black forest.

After running for five minutes and walking for a further ten Ernie was feeling better and had high hopes of finding his way out when morning arrived. This light and bubbly feeling didn’t last that long though as when Ernie reached another clearing he went  pale at what he saw. A hunters mangled body lay at the base of a tree his gun at his feet and his fly tent in shredded tatters fluttering in the gentle night breeze. Ernie thinking fast for once he grabbed the gun and carried on his flight.

A further thirty minutes later Ernie was still going when he hear the sound that he had been dreading all night swish swish swish swish, swoosh! It followed him as he ran never too close never too far away waiting for him to make his move. Ernie ran on and on and on and on and on and on! Finally as the first rays of daylight crept over the horizon and into the forest below Ernie spotted an old building through the forest in front of him. As he came closer he saw that it was an abandoned logger's hut, with a shutable door! The shark seemed to realise that Ernie was trying to get away and it swam faster trying to catch up with him Ernie reached the door first slamming it behind him the shark which was colossal, at least 20 feet long began to break its way in. Smash, Crash, Clatter.

Ernie screamed in fright as the door collapsed under the sharks weight he tried to use the gun but to his dismay nothing came out when he pulled the trigger. His last thoughts were of his girlfriend and his elderly mother, then everything went black… Forever!

Ernie’s body was found a week later strung up in a tree like party bunting. The whole area was covered in his blood and the blood of smaller sharks fighting over his remains. All but one of the sharks that were scattered across America were exterminated. The remaining shark was huge, at least 20 feet long and it terrorised the people of Seattle for many years. The forest Erie died in was only 5 hectares but nobody went there ever again...

Speeches

Cyberbullying Poster by Abby S and Bailey E

NZ Freedom Campers by Nikita

NZ Freedom Campers

Freedom campers in New Zealand have been causing our clean green image to disappear, our reputation has been demolished because of the issue freedom campers have caused by littering. But banning freedom campers would cause a huge impact on our economy.

Firstly, tourism in New Zealand is very common, but if we ban freedom camping, people will stop visiting New Zealand causing us to lose our money. One huge problem that is caused by freedom campers, is littering. They  drop their rubbish. If they placed several larger rubbish bins, this would decrease the amount of litter.

Secondly, I believe freedom campers shouldn’t be banned because we would lose money from the lack of freedom camping tourists in the economy. Freedom camping is popular with tourists so if we ban freedom camping we would lose money because tourism is common in New Zealand. Tourism encourages people to spend money for their family to go on adventures through freedom camping. People may not be spending money on accommodation but they are spending money on outdoor activities and entertainment whilst traveling through our country, our image encourages them to explore the nature throughout New Zealand causing them to pay more to our industries for gas, food and many more.

Thirdly, camping is a popular activity for both New Zealand residents and for some of the two million foreign tourists arriving every year. Camp sites of varying standards, generally in conjunction with other forms of accommodation, are offered by holiday park operators throughout New Zealand. The facilities at these campsites varies from those with only a basic toilet to those that have the full range of campground amenities.

In conclusion, my understanding leads me to believe that freedom campers should not be banned but they should have strict rules keeping them from destroying New Zealand’s reputation.

Should NZ ban Freedom Camping? by Ben H

Should NZ ban freedom camping?

I think New Zealand should not ban freedom camping because it is not fair for some freedom campers who eat, sleep and live in a freedom campervan. If people are not allowed to freedom camp they will have to find a place to live otherwise they would have to live on the streets just because some people don’t follow the rules..

Some people think they should ban freedom camping for many different reasons like they litter everywhere and they do many more other wrong things. Although I understand where the Council’s are coming from it is still the wrong decision to make and it is a bad idea. They should provide particular areas where people are able to freedom camp. The Council and the Government should put some funding into freedom camping because it would stop people littering and and it could reinforce New Zealand's green image.  

The Government should put more bins out, provide more modern toilets and more convenient toilets.  Hopefully this will stop people doing their business in the forest and parks.. New Zealand should also have more dump stations so tourists can tip their bins in the correct places. Due to people doing the wrong thing five areas around Christchurch have been shut down till further notice.

Some people who are against freedom camping think that they are polluting New Zealand but actually it is hardly the freedom campers who are polluting New Zealand it is mainly us. People at schools, people at work and people at parks. They all drop rubbish wherever they go but they have not been banned. So if school kids drop rubbish would they get banned from their school. ‘No they wouldn’t’. But if freedom campers litter which they are doing also. They are getting banned and it is just not fair on the freedom campers.

All and all it is not fair on freedom campers who are getting kicked out of their campervans for polluting and for overrunning some places in New Zealand because everybody else in the country is doing the exact same thing as the campers. But yet they are still getting declined a place in travelling around New Zealand. If they follow the rules they should be allowed to freedom camp wherever they are.

Should New Zealand Ban Freedom Campers? by Eden

Should New Zealand Ban Freedom Campers?

Freedom campers in New Zealand have been destroying the clean land and contaminating it with rubbish and toilet paper. Many people are contemplating banning freedom campers but, if we did, that would cause a huge impact on our stunning country.

Tourism is not uncommon in New Zealand but it could be if we ban freedom campers. Freedom campers pay lots of money for campers, food and drink but obviously don’t spend it on fully-equipped campervans. If they did, this would not be such a major problem. If freedom campers do spend their money on rubbish bins, however, they don’t use them. If we go to their home country, would they want us littering and urinating on their land?

With tourists paying for things they need, our country has a lot of money for the government and then they can spend it on useless little things like changing the flag. If we ban tourists, we won’t be able to do that! But seriously, our country has quite a lot of money now, but without it, we will remain to have damaged cities and homeless citizens roaming the streets.

In my opinion, I believe that we should not ban freedom campers but should be more strict on the requirements for their trip. For example, instead of freely entering a camping spot, they have to have their camper checked and make sure that there is a bin and a toilet.

In conclusion, I agree that this is a huge problem but can easily be solved without harming anyone.

Freedom Campers by Nikolas G

Freedom campers have increased in population and people are debating if they should ban freedom campers in New Zealand. “I think freedom campers should not be banned because we can make ways to change how they camp.”

Firstly, I think freedom campers should be allowed to camp but only if they are camping in the right places and not in other people's properties. If freedom campers are parking in the wrong places they should be fined and if the campers leave the country they should fine the company that is supplying the vehicles.

Secondly, freedom campers should be able to camp but only if they keep the grounds clean also they need to go to appropriate places for the toilet. People should stop before they get to their destination to go to the toilet also they need to have a rubbish bin in their camper. We blame the freedom campers for their littering and toileting, but what have we done to solve the problems?

Thirdly, freedom campers need  to have a self contained sticker on their camper to be able to stay in the Hastings District Council designated areas. If they do not have a self contained sticker they  should are not able to stay in Hastings District Council designated areas. We could develop this process for all of New Zealand.

Freedom campers should not be banned but we need to make the rules more defined and we need to make things easier to help freedom campers.

Olympic Highlights by Gregor

Olympic Highlights from Thomas

Olympic Highlights by Evelyn and Hannah

Olympic Highlights by Eden and Nikita

Mini Olympics Video from the Media Team

YouTube: 5 MOST INSPIRING OLYMPIC MOMENTS

YouTube: 10 Times The Olympic Games Weren't So Noble

Rio Olympics by Liam M

Olympian Andrea Hewitt by Alannah

Rio Olympics by Emily B

Olympian Sam Webster by Max C

Rio Olympics by Max C and Gregor

Rio Olympics - Nikolas

Sea Snake Advert By Bailey E

WARNING! Poisonous Sea Snakes!

Yellow Bellied Sea Snakes are found in the north island.

There has been another sighting of a yellow bellied sea snake in northland. In NZ we now have a higher chance of sea snakes washing up on northlands shore. DOC says that we may have more and more sightings every year.

DOC advise all people stay away and report the snakes if they see one. These snakes have a deadly poison. It is said that one sea snakes venom can kill up to 8 humans. DOC also suggests that you warn beach goers about sea snakes if you see one because they are highly venomous and can breath on land. They say that you can’t kill, harass or possess a sea snake without a permit. Sea snakes are considered native in these parts which is why those things are illegal. Stay away from these creatures, they also deserve a nice life, just like we do. Make sure you keep well away from them as they are quick and vicious. If you find a sea snake or krait keep well away and call 0800 DOC HOT.

By Max and Gregor

Live Sea Snake Found on Northland Beach

Questions:

1. How are these marine snakes native to New Zealand?
2. How big do sea snakes get?
3. What could some appropriate actions for the disposal of these amphibious reptiles?
4. Why is the Ministry for Primary Industries involved with sea snakes?
5. They used to be killed on site, how has their relationship with humans changed?
6. It usually preys on fish, what else does it eat?
7. What kind of paralysis can be obtained from severe bites?
8. How recently have the other snakes been found?
9. What is the New Zealand Poisons Centre and what do they do?
10. What type of venom do they have?

This is what DOC’s law is but yet they advise people to kill them or bury them alive: It is therefore illegal to kill or harass a sea snake, or possess one or any part of one without a permit.

By Max and Gregor

Answers:

1. Their territory extends around the Pacific and they travel with ocean currents so New Zealand is part of their natural habitat
2. The biggest snake ever found was 1.13 meters (unsexed.) However they are normally between 0.6 metre to 1 metre.
3. Unable to find information.
4. The Ministry For Primary Industries is involved with the sea snakes due to their role in national biosecurity and their involvement in the New Zealand Fisheries.
5. Yellow Bellied Sea Snakes have never had great relationship with humans because of their deadly poison previously killed on sight. People are now advised to bury them so that they do not pose threat to anyone on the North Island’s beaches. However there is a law that you may not possess any part of a sea snake or harass it without a permit. If we keep on doing this without a formal or conservation styled procedure for the disposal or release of these animals then they might disappear altogether.
6. The Yellow Belly sea snake only eats fish it will get the fish by lying still in the water and fish will swim up to it thinking it’s a stick the snake will then ambush the fish.
7. The symptoms for venom injection by a sea snake are painful muscles, paralysis from hips down (legs), joint aches, blurry vision, Thick tongue or difficulty swallowing or speaking, excessive saliva production, vomiting and droopy eyelids. If the bite does paralyse it is most likely to be from the hips down.
8. There have been 35 confirmed sightings of Sea Snakes in New Zealand since 1930. That is a lot since there are not supposed to be snakes in New Zealand.,  
9. The New Zealand Poisons Centre is a 24h help providing centre that provides handy information if someone has been poisoned or if you are unsure of symptoms or what has just bitten you. They also collect samples of poisons to see what is dangerous and work out the best plan for avoiding it as well as providing information and programmes for schools.
10. The yellow bellied sea snakes venom contains LD50 poison. LD50 is an abbreviation for Lethal Dose 50%