The Kiwifruit Orchard
Suzy Nielsen, Year 5
Fairhaven School
Bay of Plenty
I chose to do my wonder box about Mum’s kiwifruit orchard in Te Puke. I spend a lot of time there catching cicadas and picking walnuts to eat. I search the ground for avocados until I’ve found one. Next I gather berries off the vine, trying not to get pricked.
After all the gathering I head off to my hut. I feast upon my picnic, then sneaky Mummy comes in and eats with me too.
How many kiwi fruit can you find?
White Amethyst
Hamish Dwan, Year 6
Fairhaven School
Bay of Plenty
My collection is about white amethyst. It’s rare to find white because it’s usually hard to see inside rocks in caves – or under the earth in mountains.
Amethyst is formed when volcanic heat heats up rocks, and crystals sprout. I like my long amethyst. Its crystals are small because, when I mined them, they were not very old.
My favourite one is the one in the bottom right corner. According to a mining expert in Waihi who collects crystals, it’s pure amethyst.
I find amethyst precious because it’s not your average rock, and it’s troublesome to find. I mined these in the mountains of the Coromandel.
Off for a Walk
Marnie Robinson, Year 6
Omokoroa No. 1 School
Bay of Plenty
I got my stuff from Crapps Walk, which is next to OmokoroaBeach. It’s a good walk and has an amazing view.
Crapps Walk is special to me because I use it for cross-country training. Also, as a family, we spent part of Easter up there.
The things I collected were moss, which is special because I like to climb the trees you find it in; mangrove; black walnut, which you can’t eat; grass, which I used for the hill that you look down to see the view at the bottom; and sand, which I used for the beach.
Crapps Walk is fun, and it’s good to stretch your legs.
Threats to Native Animals
Lachlan Kelliher, Year 6
Omokoroa No.1 School
Bay of Plenty
My wonder box is about threats to native animals. I collected objects to make the trees from school and home.
I enjoy hunting and fishing. One of the main reasons I enjoy these activities is to experience New Zealand’s flora and fauna.
My wonder box shows that a change is needed and that mankind is drowning in pollution.
Contamination runs off into our water ways, and introduced noxious animals kill our native species and ruin our environment.
Controls need to be put in place so future generations can enjoy our environment. I enjoy hunting possums as that protects our native birds.
What do you think you can do, either as individuals or as a group, to protect our environment?
Papamoa Beach
Ruby Doyle, Year 6
Fairhaven School
Bay of Plenty
I found my collection on PapamoaBeach. Some of it was on (and in) the sand dunes. My dad helped me to find my treasures and some information.
I chose the beach because lots of creatures live there, and I knew I would find a lot of unusual things. I love the beach, especially exploring the sand dunes. Feeling the sand tingling my feet makes me feel calm and quiet.
One of my plants is called hare’s tail grass. It is used in dried bouquets. I really like my pāua shell because of the green and purple iridescence.
What’s your favourite treasure in my wonder box?
My Pine Cone Collection
Marnie Scott, Aged 5
KaniereSchool
Kaniere, Westland
I collected some pine cones from the forest in Adairs Road. Pine cones grow on pine trees. The forest is a special place for me because Dad and I go there to collect pine cones to burn on the fire, to keep me nice and warm.
When I am in the forest, I see bellbirds, wood pigeons (kererū), tūī, fantails, and the pine trees. I also see weka running around.
There are some pine seeds in my collection from inside a pine cone. These blow in the wind, and also birds drop them. And then pine trees begin to grow.