Wellington performs Interactive Haka for London school

When a London school was asked by its NZ counterpart what it would like to see most from their Kiwi friends in an on-line video link; the answer was simple, a Haka.

Students from Northwood School in Erith, South London, joined kids from Brooklyn Central School in Wellington in an on-line forum that featured a cross-the-globe Haka by Brooklyn’s Kapa Haka group late last year.

The British High Commission’s website www.britain4kiwikids.org.nz has been helping connect Kiwi Kids with their British counterparts through a new on-line forum.

Through a project called Hello/Kia Ora the High Commission brought them one step closer – face-to-face through a video-conferencing link-up.

On Wednesday 10th December at 7.30 a.m. (NZ time), and Tuesday 9th December at 6.30 p.m. (UK time), the British High Commission hosted Brooklyn School’s class of eight to 10- year-olds for a face to face with Northwood School’s class of eight to 10-year-olds.

The children from both schools presented what they had learnt about each other and at the Brits’ request, a special haka was performed by the Brooklyn School Kapa Haka Group.

Leader, Emanuel Psathus, 12, even taught the Brits a couple of moves after the performance, when Northwoods cheers and applause died down.

“It was real awesome to talk to people on the other side of the world. They thought it was strange that we lived in wooden houses, but we just think it’s normal,” said Emanuel.

The kids swapped stories about their favourite things to do at Christmas time – while Brooklyn kids are having barbecues and going to the beach, Northwood kids are playing in the snow and trying to stay warm.

Paul Greenwood, Northwood School’s teacher in charge of the project, said that his class underlined the multi-cultural face of Britain with over half its students coming from Nigeria and of Yoruba heritage.

Through this project, students have engaged in a collaborative learning experience. With text exchanges in a monitored forum, students have learnt about the daily lives and interests of children who live in another region of the world.

“Our main aim was to develop an international dimension to education by linking a NZ classroom of students with a classroom of students from Britain via our on-line forum, and help broaden the minds of students both in NZ and Britain,” said the High Commissioner George Fergusson.

“The website is aimed at children between seven and 16 years and teaches NZ youngsters about life in the UK. It is an ideal resource for projects about Britain and includes plenty of information on Britain and British culture.”

The website has links to the British Museum and the Natural History Museum. It also has a gallery of free photos for projects and has many useful links to other resources such as London’s Science Museum and the BBC children’s unit.

If you would like your class to be involved in a link-up with a school in the UK please contact: feedback4kids@fco.gov.uk