wellington camp

As we enter the realms of the building a scaly green beast looms above us, cold wet mucus drips down. They stand rock still surprisingly, as they are made out of plastic.

We go into the Weta Workshop store and come face to face with a real life like, and extremely freaky, Golem clutching a fish.

We are at Weta Workshop; one of the best known places in the world for making movie props. They have made props for the Lord Of The Rings , The Hobbit and tonnes of other well known films. Although they have made a multitude of props, my first impression is that they are good at making swords and shields and guns. They make things for video games as well.  An example of this is the way they were exhibiting the motorised vehicle for the Warthog, along with the sniper and machine gun from Halo. They had a man who is one of the only men in the world to actually forge his own steel weapons like they did in medieval times.

We g had tour around the workshop and got to feel and ask questions about bits of artistic crafting which provided a lot of insight to the more arty people in our class.

This is a bit of background about weta workshop according to wikipedia

Weta Digital is a digital visual effects company based in Wellington, New Zealand. It was founded by Peter Jackson,Richard Taylor, and Jamie Selkirk in 1993 to produce the digital special effects for Heavenly Creatures. In 2007 Weta Digital’s Senior Visual Effects Supervisor, Joe Letteri, was also appointed as a Director of the company. Weta Digital has won several Academy Awards and BAFTAs.[1]

Weta Digital is part of a number of Peter Jackson co-owned companies in Wellington which includes Weta Workshop, Weta Productions, Weta Collectibles and Park Road Post Production.

The company is named after the New Zealand weta, one of the world's largest insects.

To date, Weta Digital has won five Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King[2] (2003), King Kong[3] (2005), and Avatar (2009).[4]

I got background about Weta Workshop from wikipedia

year 8 leavers dinner speech

I've really enjoyed the extra curricular activities and my chance to excel as a leader. I've enjoyed being a leader of a whanau group and class leader. I especially enjoyed revamping the library and going to the bush and wet land. I would like to thank my teachers for all the learning opportunities they have provided. It was great having time with all the year 8's at tech and all the Oroua events. I am looking forward to the challenges next year will bring. Have a great holiday and the best of luck for high school.

Nelson Mandela speech

Hey black man drink from that tap ... go to that toilet ... don't stand in this line ... don't make it dirty. I'm white. I'm way better than you, you dirty piece of garbage.
This my friends is apartheid. Apartheid means separation of the races. The white people and the black people of South Africa were separated by the colour of their skin and people thought that one man was better than the other because of their skin colour. One man acquired the strength to break the chains of apartheid and lead his country bloodlessly to freedom.
And this man was Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela was born in Mevezo village in Transki in a time where apartheid ruled supreme. The minority (the whites) ruled over the majority (the blacks). He got a degree in law and set up the first place for blacks to get lawyers. This was before he joined the ANC; The African National Congress, manned by the blacks who wanted change. He was on the military side and helped to set up the ANC's youth league. They were spurred into action after the Sharpeville massacre where the police stopped using tear gas and rubber bullets and shot and killed 69 protesters using live ammunition shooting most in the back as they were running away.

Around this time, Nelson Mandela was rounded up, alongside other senior ANC members and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The Government was scared of him. They knew that if anyone had the power to form an uprising, it was him. They sent him to Robbins Island; an island prison 7 km off the coast of Capetown. He was kept in solitary confinement in a room 8 foot square, a bucket his toilet, a mat on the floor his bed, stout bars blocked his way to freedom. He also suffered from hard labour; breaking blocks with a sledge hammer ... doing this day after day. He did ten years of this before getting moved to another prison for a further 17 years!!! Imagine spending  27 years (over a quarter of your life) behind bars. His release paved the way for hope for South Africa and freedom for all black South Africans  

Nelson Mandela was officially and democratically elected president on 10 May 1994. Everyone thought that South Africa would go into civil war with thousands dead and blood on the streets but Nelson Mandela chose peace. He urged the black population to lay down their arms and work with together to form a country where all people value and respect one another. It is still a work in progress.
 For his efforts, in preventing civil war, he received the Nobel peace prize which he shared with FW De Clerk the president of South Africa. No one could question he eligibility for such a prestigious award. In 1999 Nelson Mandela gave up presidency as he wanted someone younger to take the presidential seat. Once again he shows that he has humility and integrity.

Nelson Mandela is an inspiration, why,
Because he grew up in a time where the rules were unjust
But he sought to change the rules that weren't fair and did whatever he had to. If possible his ways were to attack the Government using peace using such means made the Government feel threatened and as a result he was locked away but he didn't give up and changed history and made the world a safer place.  "I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days."  
Nelson Mandala, South Africa's greatest son, said this in life but in death his legacy lives on.

Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do."

8) "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

9) "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

10) "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

         
“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” 
― Nelson Mandela

“It always seems impossible until it's done.” 
― Nelson Mandela

Quote for lamb and calf day

I am thankful to all those who said no to me because of them I did it myself.
Einstein

skiing 2014

As I fly down the steep slope my skis glide effortlessly across the white powdery snow. I am on the Ruapehu mointain surrounded by white. I am all bundled up and enjoying the thrill of the experience.

An Amazon Adventure - Narrative 2014

The crack enlarges as we float silently down the river, rifles resting on our knees ... until finally the boat disintegrates and we are submerged in cool deep water.
We swim the sixty metres and drag ourselves up on to the shore, guns clinging to our backs. We lie there for a while, just regaining our breath, before hopping up and taking stock of our surroundings. We are in a clearing, surrounded by trees, with the calls of the birds and bugs loud in our ears. I take out my machete and slash a path further into the jungle.
Eventually we come to a farm with the barns burning and sheep and cows lying butchered in the paddocks. The young farm owner was throwing buckets of water on to the fire but to no avail. My men and I got bucket and helped put the fire out before asking questions.
"Who was it?'
"Why did they do it?"
Of the answer I was stunned. It was my old arch enemy Croc. Apparently he had broken out of prison and now he and his band of criminals were here in the Amazon on a gold finding mission. He deserved to be in prison and it was my job to take him there.
After fixing the boat I decide to go after him with my crew and my kid brother Roger. We prepare to hoist off but before we could depart the solemn young farmer hopped on with a cry of ... "Let's get him!!"
This was greeted with cheers of approval as we floated down the river. It wasn't long and we noticed smoke gently rising into the air before being whisked away on the wind. We beach our boat and head away to investigate.
Our arrival was greeted with yells of uproar and before we could blink we had twelve blow darts, tipped with lethal venom, levelled at our chests. We slowly raise our hands and after removing our guns and knives they shove us into a small wooden jail cell. We looked round at the flimsy door with the solitary guard behind it. Luckily they hadn't noticed the small black knife strapped to my thigh. On the strike of midnight we force the door and scramble through before clocking the guard unconscious with the butt of the knife. Rapidly we bolt over to the door where they had stashed our guns and machetes. It takes two hard smashes with a boot to send the door flying inwards. I quickly grab my Winchester 323 rifle and sling it over my shoulder before strapping my machete to my belt in preparation for what may lie ahead.
With a shock the lights click on and the alarm whirs into action as we are padding silently towards the cover and safety of the trees. We crawl back to the boat and continue our journey down the river. Suddenly we are thrust into the swirling crashing white water rapids.
"Push off the rocks with your oars!" I yelled over the noise.
Soon we come to calm still water where we notice, with a start that snaps me out of my sleepy daze, a boat rolling with the current down the river. I realise that the boat is Croc's. I quickly swing the gun up to my shoulder before pulling the trigger. With a crack a crew member slumped across the edge of the boat before plopping into the water. Then the force of the current pushes Croc's boat behind a cluster of grey rocks.
Suddenly we hear a Hippo as he stomps down on Croc's boat, forcing all of its occupants into the piranha infested water. We fly past, hoisting up Croc and his bedraggled crew members before imprisoning them in the make shift jail we had rigged up.
Wearily we start the long journey home.

Charles Upham

My inspiration, Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham, was a New Zealand soldier who fought in World War 2. He is mostly known for being awarded the Victoria Cross, which is the most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. Amazingly later, he was awarded the Bar meaning he won the Victoria Cross again; making him the first New Zealander to win it twice and one of only three in the world!

He was born on the 21st of September, 1908. He was born in central Christchurch. On leaving school he became a farmer after getting a degree in agriculture at Lincoln University. At the outbreak of the WW2 he joined the 2nd New Zealand expeditionary force (2nzef) at the age of 30. He signed of as a private and was soon promoted to temporary lance corporal and then sergeant.

He won his first VC in the attack against Maleme. He was injured but took out numerous machine gun posts. When he heard of a platoon that had become separated, he immediately began a rescue attempt. He went 600 yards with a corporal, killing two Germans on the way, before leading the men back to his platoon. He went on the rescue attempt himself as he felt it was to dangerous for his men.

It was at Galatas, on the 25th of May, that Charles Upham was Platoon Commander. His platoon came under heavy machine gun and mortar fire. After his platoon went to the safety of a ridge he himself observed the enemy. Then when the Germans advanced he led his platoon forward and they killed forty and forced the rest to scramble away in panic.
When his platoon was ordered to retire, he sent it back with the platoon Sargent and went to warn the other platoon that they were being cut off. But while he was on his mission he came under fire by two Germans as they shot at him he fell down and faked death and then crawled under a tree. His arm was broken so he rested his rifle in the fork of a tree, shot one, reset the bolt and shot the other. The German actually fell on the muzzle of the rifle.
Once again he used his quick thinking and kept a calm head at a time of great stress. I admire the way Upham didn't give up and say ... "OK you've got me". He thought quickly and acted promptly doing all he could in the situation. I believe this is a skill you can apply in life where ever you are and what ever you are doing. For example if you are caught in a crashed car, would you give up and die or would you grab something and try to smash the window to get out? When you are playing a game of rugby you need to think and act quickly just like Charles Upham. If you are in an exam and it is really hard, would you give up and walk out all would you do all of the other questions and then come back to it and try to solve it?

Charles Upham received his bar from a battle for Ruseweit ridge. The citation from the king stated that in the battle Charles was wounded twice. He took out a truck filled with soldiers and also a tank and several machine gun posts. But after winning a couple of objectives his gallant platoon, now reduced to six survivors, was overrun by the enemy and Captain Charles Upham was captured and sent to a POW camp.
After several escape attempts he was sent to Colditz Castle. Here he made more attempts. One in particular was that he tried to climb the fence in broad daylight but he became entangled in the barbed wire. Unbelievably, when the guard pointed a pistol at his head and threatened to shoot he calmly lit a cigarette and had a smoke. On another occasion, he was travelling on a train guarded by two Germans. He was only able to go to the toilet when the train was travelling at high speed so that he didn't jump out the toilet window. Nevertheless he did ... jumping out and knocking himself unconscious.
Charles demonstrated courage and desire. He was determined to escape and set himself a goal to achieve this. He escaped in so many different ways. I aim to, like Charles, set myself goals and work to achieve them. If I fail, I will try and try again.
He was calm in times of difficulty. Charles took risks and accomplished a great deal. I question whether I would deal so well with these situations and really admire him for it.
In my future would like to be brave and look on the positive. He show that there are plenty of people out there who have been in worse spots than we have been in and have survived and been better for it. When we think times are tough we should always look on this and face our challenges.

When Colditz Castle was captured by the Americans, Charles was one of the few who instead of going home, got the Americans to give him weapons and went back out to fight the Germans. 
When the war finished the people of Christchurch raised ten thousand dollars for Charles and his wife, Molly McTamny, to buy their dream farm but he refused and instead, organised a charity for the children of ex service men to go to Lincoln university. 
I respect Charles thoughts. He believed that his medals were not just owned by him but were earned by his platoon. This shows selflessness and being a team player. He has good old fashioned values and wanted to be treated just like all of the other returning soldiers. I admire the way he wanted his money to be used to help children rather than just him. What comes around goes around. Because of him I have thought more about being selfless; giving to those who need it more than I do and thinking of others. I value being a team player and will continue to develop this as I feel it is important in life.

In November 2006 Charles' VC and Bar were stolen from Waiouru Army Museum. It is hard to imagine who and why would steal such a unique piece of New Zealand history. They were eventually recovered after a reward of 300,000 was offered. 

Charles Upham is my inspiration because of his bravery, determination, courage and selflessness. I am blown away by his desire to never lie down and die. I respect the way the way he did what he knew was right and lived life to the fullest.
He inspires me to believe that good things happen to good people. He inspires me to be that good person.