Stand up

Hey,

Today, I will be talking about the protest that has happened in New Zealand. We had to read the whole information about the different protests, the main point is to understand what was happening. Then there were questions that should be answered. We did this from the start of the term so by now I've already finished it. 

Stand up

Activities: 

Vocabulary - Using the glossary on page 10 and 11, explain the meaning of the following words: 

• Suffrage 

• Union 

• Watersider. 

Suffrage means the right to vote in public or political elections. 

Union is when a group of workers arrange with employers to have a better pay and better working conditions. 

Watersider means a person who works on a wharf, a landing place for a ship. 

Find specific information - 

1. What is the name of the law that ensures we have a right to protest in NZ? 

A: The name of the law that ensures we have a right to protest in NZ is the Human rights act 1993, and the second one is the New Zealand bill of rights act 1990. 

2. When did soldiers invade Parihaka? 

A: Soldiers invaded Parihaka on November 5 1881. 

3. How many women signed the Women’s Suffrage petition? 

A: There are over 25,000 (roughly) women who signed the Woman’s Suffrage petition. A few mens might also have signed the petition, because it’s ‘not all men’. 

4. What is New Zealand’s most famous hikoi? 

A: New Zealand’s most famous hikoi was a prost movement led by a group called Te Roopu Matakite. 

Make connections - When you read this article, what does it remind you of? Have you ever seen or been involved in a protest? 

• I have not seen or been involved in a protest. But whenever I hear the word ‘protest’ It always reminds me that humans always have the right to use their voice and speak up for what they believe is right. The freedom of their speech. 

Visual/What do you think - Page 13 poses an interesting scenario: 

“Imagine: You are involved in a dispute with your boss, and the government introduces laws to punish you. One of these laws makes it illegal for people to give you food, even though you have no money.” 

Q: How would you feel in this situation? What would you do? 

• It actually depends on how the problem started. But in our everyday lives, we all need something to eat or else we’ll starve to death. I would definitely feel frustrated because of how unfair the punishments are. But I will remain calm in these situations, I would peacefully talk to them and try to settle the problem. 

Was the watersides’ protest successful? 

• In the end, it probably wasn’t what they expected because they suddenly gave in after 151 days and went back to work, they also had trouble getting work because of them getting involved in the dispute. 

Task: Create a billboard to highlight one of the causes mentioned in this article. 

Thank you for reading this blog. I hope you learnt something new, have a great day, goodbye!