My Memoir of Aongatete with KCC Tauranga

By Drew (age 8)

Drew

As I trekked up the hill, I listen intently for the bird calls. When I stepped inside the bush the leaves start rustling. The bird calls twist round our ears. Tuīs, grey warblers and riflemen.

The healing plant shivered in Kate, our leader’s hand.  She explained it was a kawakawa. As we trekked further, colours become clearer. I tested some colours against my sheet.

As I look at the trees my Dad whispers to me, “Look, there’s a kererū”.

I searched. “Where?” I asked, suddenly alert.

Dad replied, “That lump in the tree.”

I stared in the direction, and sure enough there it was; it was huge. I looked in admiration at the feathers, and how heavy it was on the branch. As it left, it swooped and broke the branch with one flap of its mighty wings. “Wow” I murmured.

We walk further and I notice fungus spiralled up a tree. Shell shaped, it had a tree growing through it.  There’s more fungus, some popping out the ground like an orange mushroom, and plenty of moss.

We come to a clearing. It has a swing tyre. There is another path leading further into the bush.

I love the bush.

With our colour matching sheets