Current events: New Zealand Flag to stay

New Zealand Flag to Stay

New Zealand has voted to keep  its current national flag

The second and final vote in the $26 million process, closed at 7pm on Thursday before Easter.

More than 1.2 million people  voted to keep the current flag.

More than 915,000 voted for the alternative flag, which was designed by New Zealander Kyle Lockwood.

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said it had been a robust democratic process that allowed New Zealand to discuss how it wanted to be represented on the world stage.

Labour leader Andrew Little, however, said Mr Key had “split the nation and achieved nothing”.

 Alternative : Available as another possibility or choice.

Democratic :Relating to or supporting democracy or its principles.

Represented:To be entitled or appointed to act.

My opinion: I never wanted the flag to change so I am very happy.

Source Kiwi kids news 

Fit 4 Farming Bike Ride

Last week on Friday Ngatea Primary School got the chance to do the first leg for the Fit 4 Farming National Cycle Tour. It froze my fingers a lot. We completed the leg at
 Kerepehi school and  we got some water and pineapple. Kerepehi school performed a Haka
 it was pretty amazing.  It was an amazing experience and I hope they do it again next year. 
If you want to go and see the website it is  http://farmstrong.co.nz/commit-to-getting-fit/ 

Rippa rugby

Last week Ngatea school had a visitor. Bill came in to teach us some tips and tricks on playing rippa. We had to buddy up and working on passing and catching. We had to go on our knees because everyone kept on turning their hips when we got told not to. Afterwards we played a game. I got 1 try and I think I did really well. Here is a photo.

Current events:New Zealand $5 note nominated as best bank note of the year

New Zealand $5 note nominated as best bank note of the year

The new New Zealand $5 note is a finalist in the in the Banknote of the Year competition.The competition is run yearly by the the International Bank Note Society.The other nominated notes include Singapore’s $50 and Tonga’s $50 Pa’anga. The winner will be announced next month.The 2014 winner was Trinidad & Tobago’s $50 note. Sir Edmund Hillary features on the note.

My Opinion:

I think it is so cool to have this event I have never heard of it before.

Source: Kiwi Kids News.

My Wondering:

How do they pick what note wins?

Words:

Finalist - A person who makes it into the finals for a event.

International - Between nations.
Banknote - A note of money.

IE's

Current events: Waiheke Mansion up in flames

Waiheke Mansion up in Flames

 A multi-million-dollar Waiheke Island mansion has gone up in flames.The 1990 mansion was  on Saturday as part of a firefighting drill on the Hauraki Gulf island.Up to 45 volunteer firefighters took part in the exercise.The house was bought for $14.25m in August 2014. The current owners wanted it gone to make way for a new home. The cheapest way to do that was to burn it down!

Source : Kiwi kids News 

In my opinion I think that 14.25m is a bit much to spend on a Mansion that is gonna get burnt down.

Why didn't they just buy some land and build rather than burning down a house.  

Writing and Me

Current events: Flag vote begins

Flag vote begins

Union Jack, or Silver Fern? Keep the flag, or change it? Voting papers on the second referendum arrived in the  mail on Thursday morning. Kiwis can decide whether we should keep our current flag, or change to the Silver Fern (Black, White and blue design).Whichever flag wins this referendum WILL become the national flag for New Zealand.Prime Minister John Key  who supports a change of flag, has urged people not to “waste their vote” and vote against change because they didn’t like him. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for New Zealanders to decide which flag they want to represent our country. and I think these opportunities don’t come along very often, they’ll probably never happen again in the lifetime of most New Zealanders who vote in the referendum. [So] they should vote on the flag they think represents them best.”Voting runs for three weeks and will close on March 24, With a preliminary vote announced later that day. The official result will be announced on March 30.The two-step referendum will cost $26 million.
Why is John Key so eager to change the flag.?
In my opinion I think 26 million is a lot and we could use it for better causes like feeding or housing the homeless. Source Kiwi Kids  News