Monday, November 2, 2020

Caring for the planet

Caring for the planet By Jack

I will explain about how our world is changing because of pollution. Pollution is everywhere. There are so many different types of pollution. There’s air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution and that's just some of the examples of the different types of pollution.

People need to start taking care of the planet. There are some things that cannot be controlled like cars so we should start small like stop littering. It's easy, just put it in the bin. It's that simple just think of the changes that would do one little thing at a time it will make this world better.

Each year 1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage, stormwater, and industrial waste are dumped into US water. The sea life is dying from all the plastic in the water. You should reduce reuse recycle

It is impossible to not use cars but for shorter distances, like going to the shop, maybe walk or bike, it is that easy.

So think about pollution, just think before you do anything like that.

Friday, September 11, 2020

Rimu tree

Rimu tree

Rimu can live for 1000 years or more. They used to dominate the New Zealand landscape. The trees can grow to a height of 20-35m with some growing to a height of 60m and a trunk diameter of 1.5m. Rimu's scientific name is Dacrydium cupressinum rimu, some other names for rimu are red pine, huarangi, puaka or Southern conifer.

Rimu wood was used the most after the Second World War when people needed new houses. The meaning of Rimu is tall New Zealand timber tree. Rimu is mostly used for furniture.

This is the most common and widespread native tree of New Zealand. It can be found in lowland and mountain forest on the North, South, and Stewart Islands.

Male and female cones on trees take 15 months to become bright red. They also take 18 months to mature.They make a food source to the animals in the forest, birds eat the seeds and spread them around the landscape.

Some Rimu trees were already 250 years old when the first people came to these islands. Rimu is a valued wood. Rimu is an excellent timber. It turns well and allows a high class finish. Rimu is most used for furniture. It was used to build new houses after world war 2.

James Cook's crew made rimu beer when they were at Dusky Sound Fiordland in March 1773.

Monday, August 10, 2020

Matariki

 Matariki 


In the Māori language, Matariki is both the name of the Pleiades star cluster and also of the season of its first rising. This is a marker of the beginning of the new year.


Matariki, the Māori New Year, is rich with tradition. Discover the importance of Matariki, and explore ways that you can celebrate the Māori New Year with your family. Matariki is officially celebrated on 13 July 2020.


Matariki has another name the seven sisters. The mother is Matariki, and her daughters are Tupu-ā-nuku, Tupu-ā-rangi, Waipunarangi, Waitī, Waitā, and Ururangi. Ururangi is the youngest daughter. The first matariki was celebrated in hawks bay in 2000. 

In Maori Matariki means 'tiny eyes' or 'eyes of God'. The children of the earth mother Papatuanuku and sky father, Ranginui, were divided over whether to separate them and bring light and life to the earth. Eventually, Tane Mahuta, the god of the forest, laid on his back and used his feet to force them apart. But Tawhirimatea, the god of the winds, did not agree with his brother's actions. He thought that separating his parents was cruel. He was so angry he tore out his own eyes and threw them into the heavens where they have looked down on man ever since. 

The eyes of Tawhirimatea have become many constellations, and among them live Matariki, the mother and her seven sisters. They rise after the winter solstice, and use their mana - their power - to help the weakened sun on his journey back south. 

Matariki is a time of renewal and an opportunity to reflect on who we are at this moment in time, and build connections with our whanau. 

 



Monday, June 22, 2020

KIWI

KIWI

Kiwi or kiwis are flightless birds native to New Zealand. Kiwi are long-lived, and depending on the species live for between 25 and 50 years. Stoats, ferrets and weasels are the biggest threat to the survival of Kiwi, closely followed by cats and dogs and cars – only 5% of all Kiwis hatched in the wild survive to adulthood.

The feather patterns allow kiwi to protect themselves by disappearing into the dark and fading into the forest. Kiwis can swim but don't come out in the rain. Although worms form a major part of their diet, they will also eat woodlice, millipedes, centipedes, slugs, snails, spiders, insects, seeds, berries and plants.

The first kiwi was found about six million years ago. A kiwi is about the size of a chicken. There are five species. The largest is the northern brown kiwi, which grows up to 20 to 25 inches (50 to 65 centimeters) and weighs 3.2 to 11 lbs. (1.4 to 5 kilograms). The smallest is the little spotted kiwi. It grows up to 14 to 18 inches (35 to 45 cm) and weighs 4.3 lbs. (0.8 to 1.9 kg).

Kiwis are nocturnal, which means they sleep during the day and are active during the night. Throughout the night, they spend their time foraging for food. A kiwi has tiny wings but cannot fly. Kiwis have whiskers. It is the only bird in the world that has nostrils on the end of its beak. The kiwis scientific name is Apteryx. There is a legend about the kiwi flying and this is it. They sleep in burrows, hollow logs or under dense vegetation.

Kiwis are not your typical bird. They are sometimes called ‘honorary mammals’. Unlike most birds, kiwis have heavy bones filled with marrow. Their powerful legs make up a third of their body weight and allow them to run as fast as a human. The largest of all the kiwi species, the great spotted kiwi is found only around the southwest of the South Island. The rarest kiwi is found in the West Coast of the South Island.

Kiwi chicks hatch fully-feathered and independent, which is very unusual for a bird. Adult kiwis don’t need to feed their young as they are born with nutritious yolk sacs attached to their bellies. This yolk sustains the chicks for their first 10 days of life – after that they are ready to forage for their own food. Roughly 90% of kiwi chicks born in the wild die within six months, with around 70% killed by predators such as stoats and cats.

Kiwis have big ears so they can hear very well. They are also the only bird in the world with no tail. Kiwis are found in the forests of New Zealand. It is believed that the reason the kiwi egg is so big is because once upon a time the kiwi was actually as large as its ancestors. The kiwi was most likely the same size as an emu but as evolution has taken its course the kiwi became smaller but its egg did not.



Wednesday, May 13, 2020

How spiders make their webs

Have you ever wondered how spiders make their webs?

If you've ever seen a new building getting built, you know that they use wooden boards to frame the house. Instead of boards, spiders produce silk threads to build their webs. Did you know it takes about 1 hour for a spider to make a web.

A spiders organ is called a spinneret, a spinneret spins up the silk. Spiders don't just use nets for catching food. Hunting spiders often make silk to use as drag lines to trail behind them as safety nets while they walk. Other spiders use a specialised silk to create egg sacs, or even to build a little protective shelter for themselves.