In Whakaute we’ve kept in touch with each other via Zoom activities such as team-building games, quizzes, Kahoots, yoga, drama, and even cooking together.

Here’re some rice crispie treats that we made together one day. Thanks to Eloise for sharing your family recipe!

In our own bubbles, we have been continuing a project that we actually began before lockdown - creating a portfolio of our family histories. Here are some excerpts from our writing:

The Glass Jug

My family artifact is a beautiful heavenly clear jug with cups. It has little stars and leaves, dimmer than the rest of the crystal glass, imprinted and scattered on the sides of the glass. The jug is donut shaped, at the bottom layer of glass, while the top is more of a cylinder.The handle stretching from top to bottom is shaped as if it was a human ear with the tip of it being round and smooth like mum's freshly made pancakes. On the top of the jug it extends outwards and the imprints end. Because the jug has a round bottom it stabilizes very well.

It feels polished and smooth even on the edges which are curved, and the imprints are also smooth. The jug cleanly pours water or other liquids from the jug to cups, with the imprints not getting in the way because the top is curved outwards making it easier to pour. Back in 1970 we had a horse called Stylish Pal. They entered the horse into the race. The horse went on to win 1st place which is how our family came into possession of the jug, but then in 2009 my great grandma died and it got handed down to my mum who has it to this day.

• Jacob

My Family Taonga

My family's taonga is a patu, a maori weapon, ours being made of whale bone. It is as long as a forearm and is the width of a slice of bread. It’s an oblong shape that’s wider at the top and it narrows down at the handle. The colour resembles white sand at a cloudy beach, with koru engraved on each side, swirling like a curled up fern. At the bottom,there’s a piece of twisted string made of dog hair, looping through a small hole on the handle.

It’s about the same weight as a drink bottle filled to the brim and is as thick as a chopping board. Although it is very old, it barely looks like it, as there are no chips or marks that show that it’s worn out, almost as if it’s ageless. This is because it is treasured and protected.

It comes from Uawa, which is Tolaga Bay, located just above Gisborne. For a while, it got lost, but over time, we found it again. My family went to visit it last year when we went to Tolaga bay and we got a photo of my cousins wearing matching hoodies that said Uawa on it, and my brother holding the patu. We also listened to a speech by our whanau. I hope that I will be able to visit it again soon.

• Brooke

A Place Important to Us

On the coast of New Plymouth in Taranaki surrounded by peaceful nature Is a bridge that goes over a lush river. A smooth concrete trail leading up to the bridge. The bridge is over 83 metres long and eleven years old. It is a popular landmark to tourists due to its unusual shape - looking like a whale skeleton, as you go across the bridge on the other end is an award winning coastal trail that stretches along the edge of New Plymouth. You will see lots of people biking or walking on the coastal trail as it has a good view of the sea.

On a good day you can see a snow capped mountain in the distance. With the greenest native plants scattered all around the bridge.

• Terence

Meeting Walt Disney

When my Aunt was a little girl she lived in a little town called Marceline in Missouri. Marceline was home to a five year old boy named Walter Elias Disney. His family moved there in 1906 and lived on a little family farm. Here was where Walter developed an interest in drawing. When my aunt visited the farm she would find Walter in his ‘drawing’ tree, the place he loved drawing. At Marceline, Walter went to Park Elementary School with my aunt for the five years he lived there. They were good friends at school and then in 1911 Walter had to leave as the farm was not profitable. His family then moved to Kansas. Soon Walter became known for his cartoons and movies. My aunt kept in touch with her friend but not until now did she phone him.

In 1965 when I was a lad at the age of 20, my Aunt rang me. She had just booked me a whole day with Walt Disney, the tv star and rising celebrity. My head was spinning.

“Hello? Are you still there? William?” My Aunt called from the other end of the phone.

“Yes…” My voice trailed off.

One thought was spinning through my mind as reality came crashing down. ‘Was I important enough to meet Walt Disney?’

• Millie (Writing from grandad’s perspective)