Walter is a cat who catches mice at the factory next door to his home. He has friends at the factory who, like his family, are very fond of him. When he doesn’t come home for his dinner, the family is worried and checks with the factory workers. Where can Walter be? The story shifts back in time to show the reader that Walter has been accidentally trapped in a shipping container. He arrives in Australia many days later and, thanks to a kindly quarantine officer, he is returned to his family. A page at the end of the story includes a map, a photo, and some information about the real cat that “The Stowaway” is based on.
Walter is a cat who catches mice at the factory next door to his home. He has friends at the factory who, like his family, are very fond of him. When he doesn’t come home for his dinner, the family is worried and checks with the factory workers. Where can Walter be? The story shifts back in time to show the reader that Walter has been accidentally trapped in a shipping container. He arrives in Australia many days later and, thanks to a kindly quarantine officer, he is returned to his family. A page at the end of the story includes a map, a photo, and some information about the real cat that “The Stowaway” is based on.
This short, dramatic poem is in te reo Māori with an accompanying English interpretation. It describes the sights and sounds of lightning as Tāwhirimātea performs a haka. Tāwhirimātea is one of the children of Ranginui and Papatūānuku. He didn’t want his parents to separate. When his brothers separated his parents to let light into the world, Tāwhirimātea caused violent storms. He is the Atua of the winds, clouds, rain, hail, snow, and storms. “Atua” refers to ancestors who have a continued influence on people’s lives.
The tākapu is also called the Australasian gannet. In this article, the author explains why she thinks the tākapu is an amazing bird. The text contains specialised vocabulary and some unfamiliar concepts, which are well-supported by the context, photographs, and maps.
This article explores different aspects of this New Zealand tree, including a description of its preferred habitat, the special features that help it survive, the creatures that live in or on it, and the significance it has for Māori. Students also learn that pōhutukawa are in danger from people and from possums – these trees need help to survive.