The Events of Parihaka

Parihaka Summary Power Point Presentation

The Events of Parihaka

My opinion on the events of Parihaka:

I believe that Te Whiti and Tohu were inspirational because they refused to sink to the level of violence. Many people in their situation would have fought back, but they took the peaceful approach. I think that the reason why they advocated non-violence was because they were already in the right and knew that more war would achieve nothing, also they knew that the Europeans were in the wrong.  I think they actions of the Europeans were inhumane and cruel; and they just wanted power and land. The Maori's decisions were good and if they had fought back they could have caused more conflict and the war may have gone on much longer.

WALT: Summarise information and  give my opinion.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Taylor Alison Swift was born on the 13th December 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania; though she was raised in Wyoming, Pennsylvania on a Christmas tree farm. Her mum is called Andrea Gardner and her dad is called Scott Kingsley Swift. Also, she has a younger brother called Austin. In her life she has helped and inspired many people.

At school, Taylor Swift was bullied so she used music to express herself. When Taylor was in fourth grade she won a national poetry competition with a three page poem called ‘Monster in my closet’. In Tennessee she attended Hendersonville High School; though she was home-schooled for her junior and senior years. She earned her high school diploma in 2008.

Unlike many other stars, Taylor wasn’t born into fame, she had to work for it. Taylor loved music and was determined to succeed. When she was ten years old, a computer repair man taught her three chords on guitar and she then taught herself the rest. She then wrote her first song: Lucky You (also when she was ten). At the age of eleven Taylor made her first trip to Nashville with a demo tape and gave one to every record company in town, only to be rejected. Though, evidently she did not let this stop her. In the same year Taylor was selected to sing the national anthem at the U.S Open Tennis Tournament! Taylor made so many trips to Nashville trying to get a recording deal that, when she was fourteen her family relocated there. When she was fifteen years old, Taylor rejected an offer from RCA Records because they wanted to keep her on an artist development deal. She now works with Big Machine Records. 

Just like everybody else, Taylor was inspired by other people. Her maternal grandmother was an opera singer who she looked up to, although her taste in music did change to country. Her other inspirations included: Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes, Tina Tuner and Dolly Parton. 

As we all know, fame and fortune can ruin a person, though it can also do the opposite. In her life, Taylor Swift has helped many people and supported many charities. In 2008 she donated all the proceeds from merchandise sales at the 2008 Country Music Awards to the Red Cross. Taylor has also donated £13,000 to the UK children in need cause. Additionally, Taylor donated a pair of signed, never worn, shoes to the Wish Upon a Hero foundation and, at the event of the Tennessee floods, gave $500,000 to flood relief! Eighteen year old Kevin McGuire was first diagnosed with leukemia at the age of thirteen, whilst undergoing intense treatment, he suffered many spinal taps and bone marrow transplants etc. He then had a relapse at the age of eighteen and still has it. Taylor Swift was his idol so his sister, Victoria McGuire, contacted Taylor and asked her is she would be Kevin’s date to his senior prom. Taylor then contacted them via Facebook saying: “Kevin, I’m so sorry, I can’t make it to your prom, but the ACM awards are coming up, would you be my date? Love Taylor.” He will now be flying up to L.A to be Taylor’s date to the ACM awards!

Taylor Swift, I believe, could be considered inspirational as she has kept going even when looking failure in the eye and had to work for her dream. She has helped and supported many people and charities. Taylor Swift is inspirational to me  because she helps people and is still real, she is not a barbie doll.

By Molly Harrison

WALT: Write a biography on a person I find inspirational.