The Solar Eclipse – Kāpiti and Coast Independent

Unusual Astronomical Event

By Peter Corlett

November 2012

A positive science learning experience

The solar eclipse was a very special event for Waikanae School children on Wednesday. Viewing the rare astronomical event safely was possible, through a telescope and screen set up by local amateur astronomer, Dr Graham Bird.

Dr Bird said that while he dabbled in astronomy, his telescope, a 70mm 30x spotting scope, was usually used for bird watching. Although a smaller scope, it was capable of just seeing the moons around Jupiter.

It was not the first experience Dr Bird had of seeing an eclipse, having also seen a full eclipse in London in 2002.

Because the eclipse was during the school lunchtime, any of the children who wanted to, were able to discuss the eclipse with him. Dr Bird said that the children showed a real interest in the eclipse and while many were very knowledgeable about what was happening, there were a few that wanted to know why the moon went in front of the sun.

In a senior class, children were also able to view the eclipse using a different method, a card with a pinhole, and a screen, which produced a small but clear image. School staff commented that seeing this significant and unusual astronomical event was a positive science learning experience that could encourage a student’s love of science, and possibly a future career in science. “It was very exciting for the children to have the opportunity to witness such a rare phenomenon in a safe way”, said Waikanae School teacher Liz Hobson.

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STORY OF THE WEEK

Kāpiti Coast councillors have toured of one of Aotearoa's unique buildings, the heritage - listed Rotunda at the former Otaki Health Camp, the country’s first.

Jeremy Smith reports that the 105-year-old, eight-sided rotunda predates the Health Camp.

It wasn't actually built in Otaki, but was one of two built in Rotorua in 1915 as part of a military hospital, on the site of Rotorua’s present public hospital.

Later they were taken to Otaki for the opening of the health camp in 1931.

Full story in the main column (December 19).

100 Years Ago — and the Maori Long March begins

Māori politics was dominated by the influential MPs (and sometime Cabinet ministers) Māui Pōmare ( Waitara statue photo above) and Apirana Ngata.

The 1920's also saw the rise of Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana’s religious movement, and the emergence of Te Puea Hērangi in Waikato.

Ngata worked hard to foster Māori scholarship and education and preserve traditional arts and culture.

He convinced the government to establish a Board of Maori Ethnological Research (1923), a Maori Purposes Fund Control Board (1924) and a School of Maori Arts and Crafts in Rotorua (1927).

The Reform government also took the first, tentative steps towards settling longstanding Māori grievances.

Agreements with Te Arawa in 1922 and Ngāti Tūwharetoa in 1926 recognised their respective rights over the Rotorua lakes and Lake Taupō, and led to the establishment of trust boards with some government funding.

Commissions of inquiry which examined Ngāi Tahu grievances (1920–21) and the Waikato and Taranaki confiscations (1926–27) recommended that modest compensation be paid.