Dioramas

We have been learning the story of Wairaka and how Whakatane got its name.  (We'll write the story down later to share with all our readers.)  To show what we have learnt we were asked to make a diorama.  The following pictures show the process of making the diorama:

Miss B gave us the diorama box and asked us to draw something to represent Wairaka, the beach with the Maori men on it, and, of course the water where the waka was, filled with women and children.  This is what KT designed:

 We loved KT's intricate designs!

This is how our dioramas are starting to look after we have begun painting them. 

The next thing we need to do is to cut out our waka and make it stand up on the base of our diorama in our 'water'.  

Here are our finished dioramas -

How Whakatane Got its Name

A long time ago ladies and men were on a waka.  They were sailing all the way to New Zealand to see if it was a nice place to live.  When the men went to see if it was alright the tide went out and pushed the waka all the way to the ocean.  Back then the men were the only ones allowed to touch the paddles of the waka.  Wairaka told the ladies to pretend to be men.  They all got a paddle and paddled all the way to shore.  When the men came back and heard what happened they said "Good thinking Wairaka!"

UM

NOTE:  The word 'whakatane' means 'pretend to be a man.'  The place where this story took place is now known as Whakatane.  A statue commemorating this event stands on a little island in the harbour.