Do you remember when you felt the wind clubbing against your face while riding on the Corkscrew Rollercoaster or the familiar feeling of blood pumping into your brain whenever there was a loop?

Do you remember the adrenaline you had, when it felt like it was the first time you had done it?

Do you remember getting the excitement when you rode in a ride and suddenly you feel like you can reach to touch the sky?

That was our Rainbow’s End Trip.

Do you remember when you rode on the Gold Rush, you can start to feel the magic happening on the ride or when you were on the Invader, the experience felt like was out of this world?

Do you remember the feeling of nausea when you rode on the Stratosphere, the 360, the Motion Monster or feeling the anxiety of when you were at the top of the Fearfall, could you feel building up, just waiting for the drop?

Do you remember all the fun rides, scary or not, enjoyable or not or the savoury chips and the sugary sweets we bought with our money?

That was our Rainbow’s End Trip.

October 29, 2024

Darlene Saulala

The Gardens School, Auckland 2105

 Our warmest welcome to you,

 Our duty as Kaitiakitanga, we’ve known for a long time, Climate change has put a huge impact on our water’s ecosystem.  I won’t promise this’ll be short and sweet but I will list at least 3 causes of Climate change:

 

Water Temperature Rising

Climate change has risen the temperature of the water in seas and oceans which has formed problems in our ecosystem. Since the temperature has risen over time, it has made creatures, amphibians and fish alike, harder to live in these warm conditions; especially some fish that are extremely sensitive couldn’t survive in the slightest change of temperature. The cause of this change also has evolved an issue with the melting glaciers as more ice is being dissolved; and that is problem number #1.

 

Pollution – Contaminants

Ever since the water level had risen, more contaminants enter the water pathways including the Puhinui Stream; these “foreign” things can come from urban places (where construction of roads and buildings are) such as farms and cities. Farms can be an example of this happening: since farmlands use fertilisers for planting, these fertilisers can be washed into nearby streams and rivers, which can then pollute the sea and contaminate the ocean; and that is problem number #2.

 

Rainfall – Droughts & Flooding

Two of the causes have now led to this final one: rainfall; the change of the weather has drastically influenced the rivers/streams in the world. Some parts of the world have dealt with heavy downpours like Cyclone Gabriel for example, which caused waterways like sewer pipes and streams to overflow and flood; whereas others experienced heat stroking droughts where the streams are little to no water. And that is the final problem number #3.

 

Solutions:

I can only assume you have read through this thoroughly, as we are in need of your assistance. We only have one home, Earth, and we need to protect it. We can use natural and organic plantations instead of fertilisers to stop pollution, plant more trees near beaches and move constructions further away from the beaches to stop flooding and reduce less factory use to stop water temperatures rising.

 

We can use these solutions and your help to prevent these problems from happening, Kaitiakitanga plays an important role in our lives and has kept us thriving for years, starting back from our ancestors; which is why we need to keep it recognised and venerable (respected).

 

 

Thank you for your confirmation. (Credits to ‘EkePanuku’)

Darlene Saulala

It was the day where skill was tested

Events of variety to be perfected,

All had a goal and that was to win

To triumph opponents, otherwise beaten.

But though that were the case, it was as joyous as heavenly choruses

In competing with trying, whereas some with flawlessness,

The day was as long as the tallest tower

But time flies as fast as light around the hour.

As it came to a close

Everyone came knows,

It’s worth trying, at the start or around the dot

Who wouldn’t ease to do so, would you not

A man came to a funny thought

‘Is there metal that wither and rot’

Metal that turns to dust,

One that will never rust

Exposed air is what this metal got.

 

Silver and grey the metal is found

Flat as paper; not cube nor round

Not cold but moist I plea,

Air turns tarnished dust as fleas

Results you get are very profound.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TKQSds15g9hU_xb_AnSlF4tKUMSLeeRV

(Once you go in the folder, look for “Spanish Blog” and click on it. It should be the video)

This is just in, coming live from the Kāhu Hapori! Last week two of our fabulous bands, Kāhu Kreators (with a ‘k’) and Beyond Manurewa had to attend to RockShop BandQuest! An exciting opportunity where bands from all over Aotearoa get to compete and show off their talented skills. Tuesday night was the night where TGS represented our school, in stage performance and audience manners. Although they’ve only received one award to Aisha for awesome violin playing, regardless to say that both bands did exceptionally well and will continue to practice for Prize-giving and maybe, perhaps Graduation. At NorthShore, Bruce Mason Venue, 14 bands came to compete and only 3 won: ” R n Flava” in 3rd place, “Rock Ninjaz” in 2nd place and “TM8” in 1st place winning $3000. It was a long night for all that were watching but it was said to be a phenomenal experience for everyone there – bands, families. Our bands can definitely say it was one of their biggest highlights. A wonderful experience

 for both bands got to be in, watching other schools perform and just being on stage, feeling thrilled about it. We hope this report will inspire other musicians or non-musicians to join band and to be involved with the program. This is TGS news signing off.

At nine o’clock in the morning, the Kāhu Hapori had the opportunity to experience the influential Tōtara Park and its offers, such as native trees, native species, various types of plants and more.

 

Although I didn’t come along the trip, I am able to remark the few times I last visited Tōtara Park. Last year in Sci-Tech, we went to the Tōtara Park to practise pest-trapping.

 

 We first came there when we were learning about different types of pests in Tāmaki Makaurau. We learned that most of the pests are small mammals such as rats, possums, ferrets and more. However, some pests come in floral beings as well, a common one is called a “Moth Pod” (a plant that erupts at one point, that the seeds fly aimlessly until they start to the process again. Then white sap comes out that irritates the skin.) 

 

The 2nd time we came, we started setting up the pest-traps at Tōtara Park. We were learning where the perfect location would be to catch rats (specific pests). We then discovered a technique where we set-up the wooden boxes but didn’t set the actual trap and put peanut butter outside of the entrance. This makes the animal feel comfortable and safe like home so that the 2nd time it comes, the trap is set. I’m not sure if it always works the 2nd time but it works. 

 

The 3rd time is where we were finding the Pūriri Moth and the Cave Wētā. It was really interesting finding the Cave Wētā inside some of the trees. We were also collecting data from different lakes in Tōtara Park – time-tracking, speed-tracking, measuring the length from the start to the end. It was a fun and intriguing experience for me to learn more about Tōtara Park and its wonders.       

 

Kaitiakitanga is the Māori word for “Guardianship or someone who is trustworthy to look after something” and that is our theme for this semester. This is mostly shown in environmental activities like the people who work at Botanical Gardens and Tōtara Park but sometimes it can be in sports events or any sociable occasion. Today, after the bell went, we all came inside to our home whanau spaces and did our daily morning roll.  After Mrs Fowler double-checked that the people in Kāhu 3 and 4 were present, the Kāhu students were sent outside to gather all of our belongings and lined up in our home whanaus on the basketball court. We then walked to the Botanical Gardens with Miss Rowland in the front and Mrs Dissmeyer in the back of a 150 students. When we arrived, there were some differences I noticed:

1. In Tōtara Park, the footpath gets more cramped the further you go down and it’s more dim because towering trees cover the sky, above the ground. Whereas in the Botanical Gardens, the footpaths are more spacious and the zones are spread-out into different sections of the garden.
2. At the Botanical Gardens, the employees requires only a small amount of people if you’re bringing a bundle of kids to there. They also suggest you let one group enjoy one of each section so you’re not disturbing others’ time. In Tōtara Park, you can bring a limitless group of people to there, just like at Cross Country.

3. In Tōtara Park, all the floral things are seen along the path while in the Botanical Gardens, the floral things are displayed in different areas.

Along the way, there were some similarities too:

1. Tōtara Park and Botanical Gardens both have floral plants in their exhibit. The stormwater system is also similar, when it rains, the shallow rivers are blocked off by large sticks and branches. Then the rest of the water flows to rushing streams where fast rivers are clean and clear.
2. There were some Kauri trees I saw when I was with my group, very identical to the ones in Tōtara Park.
3. There were also some eels and ducks in some of the lakes on our alphabetical scavenger hunt. Only a bit more because the lake is more vast.

Overall, it was a good experience learning more about Kaitiakitanga. There’s some photos below of plants Kanishka and I took during our scavenger hunt.