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One of the fascinating features of modern education is the ability of students to communicate with students in other countries and exchange information on their countries. New Zealand schools and libraries are well equipped with computers and many teachers promote these exchanges. The exchanges back and forth between the students is fascinating and often humerous.
New Zealand students answered the following questions on New Zealand posed by some English students. The answers are a composite of responses from a class of year 9 students.
1. What size is New Zealand?: N.Z. has two main islands-North and South Islands - with many smaller islands around it e.g.( Stewart Is., Great Barrier, Waiheke
etc)
2. Where is New Zealand?: The Tasman Sea divides N.Z. and Australia. To our East is the huge Pacific Ocean.
3. How many people in New Zealand?: 6 million people live in N.Z. with 70 percent living in the North Island. There is a wide variety of different people ranging from Polynesian to Maori to European to Asian. We have a lot more of a tan than you fellas.
4. What are the main languages ?: Our main languages are English and Maori.
5. Is there a native culture and what do you know about it?: Our native culture is Maori. They were fierce warriors who fought with clubs made of greenstone. Maoris were also very skillful at weaving, dancing and carving. Maori carvings are very decorative. They were the first people of the land and still own much of it, often as share holders of
a large block. Much of the land was confiscated by early European settlers although
is now being returned under the Treaty of Waitangi. Maoris are an integrated part of our society and do not run around in grass skirts except for festivals and ceremonies.
6. What is your traditional clothing like?: The traditional Maori costume consists of piupius (skirts made out of specially prepared flax) and cloaks made from feathers of native birds. They usually wear no shoes.
7. How old is the country?: The Maoris arrived in N.Z. in canoes from the Polynesian Islands in the 1300's. Captain Cook an ENGLISH explorer was the first foreigner to land in N.Z. in 1769.
8. What is the country side look like?: The countryside varies from large plains to huge mountains. Large fiords dominate the south of the South Island. Rolling hills and
fertile soil in the North Island allow for extensive areas of farmland. No, we don't have deserts but we do have heaps of sheep.
9. What's the climate like?: N.Z.lies in the cool temperate zone. The Winters can be pretty cold (average 7 oC ) in our area. It does not snow
where we are, but it does in the South Island and on the central plateau in the North Island. In the Summers it can get HOT!!!! A year ago the thermometers
reached 40 oC. This year we have had two cyclones (Fergus and Drena). There are
also live volcanoes here. Last year Mount Ruapehu erupted sending ash every where including Piopio.
Hope you find this informative.
Samuel Houghton, Year 9. Piopio College, March 1997
The New Zealand students then sent the English children a summary of what they thought about England--perhaps a little tounge in cheek.
Here is our response of what we think about the way you live and your country.
1. What size is England?: We think England is about the size of South Island. It has probably more than 1 island. It is attached to Scotland and Wales.
2. Where is England?: North of France.
3. How many people in England?: 1.5million? 25 million? 10million? About 30 million?
4. What do you look like?: Bit whiter than us, majority small (5ft 10).
5. What is the main language?: English
6. Is there a native culture? What do you know about it?: Celtic and Saxon. Your culture is drinking tea every 15 minutes.
7. What is your traditional clothing like?: Black suit and tie like a butler.
Your traditional clothing is suits (armour)
8. How old is the country?: We reckon it was inhabited from about 2000 B.C.
9. What does the country side look like?: Smog and gas waste. Your country side is rolling hills and forest.
10. What's the climate like?: Your climate is mild, cold & miserable
Hope you laugh like we did.
Hayden & Alastair, Piopio College, March 1997
P.S. We are not aborigines & Aussies wear hats with corks. What an insult!!
All of our class had to answer the questions so there is a cross-section of answers.
