"WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?"

South Bromsgrove and Rangi Ruru

South Bromsgrove High School Worcestershire Here are our "What's NZ like" bit (we got all the class to give their view, and these are the best bits!): How big is New Zealand? Ranged from 568 km2 to 500,000 km2 Ranged from 600 miles2 to 104,600 miles2 approx Not very big Bigger than the UK Smaller than the UK About twice as big As big as Birmingham!!!! Is it an island? Everyone knew NZ is an island. In fact lots of 9N said it was 2 islands It's not attached to another country because it's an island Don't know whether it's an island or not but think it might be attached to another country NZ's position varied from E to SE to S of Australia. Most said next to Australia By Australia near the South Pole Australasia Oceania The word isolated came up. Do you feel isolated up or down there? I often wonder whether you see yourselves as down or up from us. Are you beneath us or above us? How far away is it? Answers ranged from 60 miles to 12,000,0000 miles Half way round the world What's the population? Answers ranged from 12,000 to 55 million Same as England A lot What do the people look like? Slightly darker skinned Like us but more tanned Europeans and Maoris (dark golden tanned skin & dark hair) White or wear necklaces and beads Long hair, smart and very thin Whites and coloured people A few black and some brown Very dark hair or very blonde hair Not in-between like us Possibly black What language do they speak? English Maori or native NZ Australian What do you know about the native New Zealanders? Maurey Use face paint, hunt for food There were tribes Natives are called Kiwis Like the Aborigines and hunt with boomerangs Perform tribal dances and wear elaborate clothes Made own villages with trees and leaves Traded with Australia Had own language - made bead necklaces for trade and wealth Have traditional dances which we have seen at the Rugby Paint themselves and do a funny dance Know nothing What is the traditional costume? Grass skirts Necklaces Painted faces and bodies Animal skin and clothes Like the Aborigines Feathers Short weaved bikinis Like Native American Indian costume Bones used for jewellery Little covering - just what is needed! There isn't one Brightly coloured Sacking dresses Shell necklaces Leather Sandals What does the countryside look like? Green hills Lots of grass Lots of sheep Sandy desert Like ours but drier Gentle pastures Very green Big forests and mountains Mainly farms in the north Fertile Sand and trees Desert with mountains Beaches with trees Trees, lakes and mountains Lots of birds and animals Not much rain What's the weather like? Like ours Bit warmer than ours Hot, dry, sunny Not much rain - mainly dry Humid Lots of rain Not much colder than us in winter Has a long rainy season Very cold in winter They have freak weather such as gales and violent storms It's the same all year round I think you will agree that this summary shows that 9N have some very varied and in some cases very unusual ideas about what New Zealand is like. Perhaps you can put us right on a few things. Incidentally I will apologise in advance for all the references to Australia. I know full well that you do not like being put in the same basket as "them over the way". I hope this summary is of some use to you. John Brady Geography Teacher of 9N Now take a look at Rangi Ruru's response. Find out a little more about the REAL New Zealand!

Rangi Ruru Girls' School Christchurch I know that you're from Great Britain but the only thing I know about Worcester is that that's where worcester sauce comes from. I know a little about Great Britain.I know the queen lives there and that the people are just like us and they speak English. I know that London is the capital of England, and the majority of people speak English. I know that during winter it snows in alot of places. I know that London is the capital of England, that majority of people speak English, that in winter it is cold and rainy, and that Ireland, Scotland and Wales are near England. I think you have a very strong accent and live a similar life to us but have different customs. There is a very old dance called the Morris Dance which our teachers performed and it was all very hilarious. I have watched the BBC series of Pride and Prejudice and that shows some big homes and alot of the countryside over there. My mum watches Coronation Street. I guess they are quite similar in size although I am quite sure Great Britain is a bit bigger! The population is a lot bigger as well! Is every one in England white and pasti? in other words do you get much sun? A friend of mine has said that as far as speaking goes we speak the same language but you have an accent but I think it's more we both speak English but we have added in a bit of Kiwi ingenuity and made up some extra words to use as short-cuts.