Silent Reading

Found written by Hana Aranga is a great short story. The story was about a thirty-five years old man named Manawanui Hetana who grew up with adopted parents who didn't show him love or affection. Manawanui was a lost adult who is trying to fit into the world. He was jobless, has no family and smokes and drinks. Eventually he gets a 10 day job to work at a festival. An old man came up to him and tried to speak Maori to him but he couldn't understand him. The old man asked him what his last name was He replied with Hetana. A few days later A woman and a man came up to Manawanui and introduced themselves. They ended up being Manawanuis Grandfather and mother. I enjoyed this story because it shows that even if you think you have no one, there is always someone there for you.

Silent Reading

Today in English we had 10 minute silent reading. I read a short story called 'A Taniwha Named Taukere' written by Shilo Kino.

The book was about a taniwha named Taukere who saved a boy named Niko who was drowning. After the incident Niko went back to the river to find Taukere, but he wouldn't come out. Only Nikos koro thought Taukere was real.The whole town heard about what happened to Niko and thought he was crazy. Nikos koro died from a heart failure. Niko and his friend decided they want to find more out about the taniwha. They went searching through his koros room and found a book called 'Taming the Taniwha'. The book tells them that they should put a pounamu (Green stone) around the taniwha neck. Niko and his friend went to the river and did a karakia (prayer) and threw the pounamu into the water. Suddenly a eel was flying out of the water into the mud. Niko gently puts the eel back where it belong. As they turn around they see something sparkling in the mud it was Nikos koros pounamu.