All The Bright Places

If you like…

Looking For Alaska

The Fault In Our Stars

Side Effects May Vary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

then you will want to read…

All the Bright Places

Meet Theodore Finch and Violet Markey in this poignant story about life, death, wanderings, and Post-It notes.

The story begins with Finch talking Violet down from the ledge of the school’s bell tower where she is frozen with fear. The year before Violet lost her sister and best friend in a car crash on an icy road. She has been overcome with the grief and lost her way in the world.  By lunchtime everyone thinks Violet talked Finch off the ledge as he is the one who talks about death, is on probation at school, and is known as the school freak.

For a school project they team up to discover the natural wonders of their local area and so begin the “wanderings”. As Violet gets to know Finch her world finally begins to grow again. Whilst Finch feels alive in Violet’s company his own world seems to be diminishing, his mind full of racing and dark thoughts.

This is unique storytelling as it deals with suicide and depression in a sensitive and open way. The book is full of hidden gems which lighten and create humorous moments along the way. Both characters love to read and there are many book references which bring a smile. Finch plays the guitar, loves music, and Split Enz is referenced as a favourite band. The Post-It notes are clever and witty and add another layer to understanding. The wanderings draw Finch and Violet closer and can make for a teary read at times. A small annoyance is the plot centres exclusively round the two main characters with friends and family less developed than expected.

The best thing about All the Bright Places is that the story connects with the heart and lingers there. It’s an insightful book. Near the end Finch sends a heartfelt message to Violet which captures the essence of this read.

You are all the colours in one, at full brightness

P. S. In case you have to wait for All the Bright Places, why not try one of the books suggested in our If You Like… The Fault in Our Stars list?

 

Te Kupu o te Wiki – The Word of the Week

Kia ora. To celebrate Te Reo Māori we are publishing kupu (words).

Kīwaha (colloquialism)

Tō ihu.
How dare you.

Kupu (word)

ru
earthquake

I rongo koe i te rū?
Did you feel the quake?

 

 

• Browse our Te Reo Māori resources.
• Previous Te Kupu o te reo Māori posts.

Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival

4 – 8 March 2015, hosted by the Waitaha rohe at Hagley Park (North), Christchurch.

Every two years, Te Matatini organises the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival, where top kapa haka teams from New Zealand and Australia compete for the honour of being crowned the best of the best.

The Festival started in 1972 and is now the world’s largest celebration of Māori traditional performing arts, attracting over 30,000 performers, supporters and visitors.

Over four days audiences experience the best Māori performing arts in the world, from the harmonies of dynamic group singing to the graceful movements of women performing the poi and the ferocity of the male haka.

The Festival is a whānau friendly, smoke, alcohol and drug free event.  It is an opportunity for all people, regardless of culture, background or age to come together, to share and celebrate.

While the main focus is Kapa Haka , the Festival also celebrates Māori culture and cuisine.  Visitors can enjoy a range of retail and food stalls, art and craft exhibitions and other entertainment activities.

Day 1 – Pōwhiri by the Tangata Whenua.

All Kapa Haka performers, supporters, dignitaries and visitors are welcomed by the local hosts.

Days 2, 3 and 4 – Pool Rounds (Te Ihu, Te Haumi, Te Kei).

Kapa Haka teams are required to perform six disciplines within their performance piece – whakaeke (a choreographed entry), mōteatea (traditional chant), poi (light ball swung on the end of a rope), waiata-ā-ringa (action song), haka and whakawātea (exit).  They must perfect every discipline in a polished 25-minute performance.

Each performance is judged against set criteria, by expert judges, appointed from around New Zealand.

Taonga (trophies) are awarded to the team with the highest score in the seven compulsory (aggregate) categories (the six disciplines mentioned and the seventh category, Te Reo Maori – the use and clarity of the Maori language). Further taonga are awarded across non compulsory (non-aggregate) categories such as Kaitātaki Wahine (Best Female Leader), Kaitātaki Tāne (Best Male Leader) and Kākahu (Costume).

The top three teams with the highest combined marks in their competition pool will compete in the Competition Finals.

Day 5 – The Finals (Te Whakarae)

The finalists are judged anew to determine third, second and the new Toa Whakaihuwaka – overall winner of the competition.

More information:

• Te Matatini Website http://www.tematatini.co.nz/
• Iticket http://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2015/mar/te-matatini-2015-christchurch
• Ngāi Tahu videos and articles http://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/ngai-tahu/our-stories/
• Waitaha Cultural Council http://waitahacc.co.nz/
• Maori Television Website http://www.maoritelevision.com/haka/home-haka

Christchurch – this week in history (February 16 to February 23)

February 16, 1770 Captain James Cook in the “Endeavour” sights Banks “Island” (Peninsula). February 17, 1939 New Millers Department Store building (the former Civic Offices) opens. Designed by G. A. J. Hart, the building contained the South Island’s first escalator. February 18, 1982 Internationally famous writer Dame Ngaio Marsh dies at her home in Cashmere. February 19, 1873 Anglican synod decides (by a narrow margin) not to sell the present site of ChristChurch Cathedral. February 22, 1909 New “Press” building in operation in Cathedral Square. Designed by J.J. Collins and R.D. Harman, it was the city’s first ferro-concrete building. February 22, 1960 New airport terminal (designed by Paul Pascoe) opens. The first house on the Canterbury Plains, Riccarton [ca. 1890] A timeline of Christchurch events in chronological order from pre-European times to 1989.

Remembering 22 February 2011 – four years later

On Sunday 22 February 2015, it will be four years since the 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch and the loss of 185 people. To commemorate this sad day, there will be a Civic Memorial Service for the community of Christchurch on the Archery Lawn at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens at noon. This is a public event. A live stream will be shown on the Council’s website for those who cannot attend.

Also, on Sunday 22 February 2015, the River of Flowers commemoration is being held again allowing you to share your experiences and hopes for the future. River of Flower sites will be set up along the Avon and Heathcote rivers, and at the estuary. The sites are open from 8am to 8pm, and hosted by local community groups between 12.30-1.30pm. Throughout the day people will be able to throw flowers into a waterway and write messages on a Tree of Hope. At 12:51 two minutes’ silence will be held. View the full list of 2015 River of Flowers sites.

As in previous years, artist Henry Sunderland is spearheading a Facebook campaign encouraging people to place flowers in roadcones to commemorate the quakes and as a wish for a bright future.

The Run to Remember, a 10km fun run and walk to honour those who lost their lives during the earthquake, will take place starting at 9am from Victoria Park in the Port Hills and finishing at Hansen Park in Opawa. A memorial service will be held at the end of the event.

In High Street, C1 Espresso cafe will be opening their rooftop garden. They welcome anyone who wishes to take a quiet moment and check out progress from up on top of the High Street post office.

Six short-listed designs for the Canterbury Earthquake Memorial were made public on 17 February. You are invited to give your feedback.

National trauma and grief support agency Skylight have documents on how to reflect and remember and ways to prepare for the anniversary (both are 200KB PDFs).

There will be more commemorative events in the community, and we will add information as we find it. Please let us know if you have any details.

One way of coping is by recounting your experience. Here are some ways you can do that:

• View and contribute to Kete Christchurch.
• Explore the CEISMIC digital archive and share your stories.
• Read QuakeStories and contribute your own.

Explore our resources

• View our photos Earthquakes and after and more on Flickr.
• Information for kids on the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
• Read our web page on the Christchurch and Canterbury earthquakes.
• Browse books on the 2011 earthquake.

22 February 2014

Flowers left under the Peace Bell at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens in commemoration of the anniversary of the 22 February 2011 earthquake. Flickr: CCL-2014-02-22-22February2014 DSC_1215

22 February 2013

Peter Majende 185 white chairs. Friday 22 February 2013. Flickr: CCL-2013 -02-22-
IMG_4064

22 February 2012

Avonhead Park Cemetery Interment Site. Flickr: CCL-2012-02-27-AvonheadParkCemeteryIntermentSite-February-2012 DSC_027

Waiho i te toipoto … Kaua i te toiroa.

Let us keep close together … Not wide apart.