Parihaka poem

Angry fires are surrounding me,

Fast burning the walls of my comforting home,

My parents have abandoned me, I’m all alone in this painful 
And unfair world,

What have I done to deserve this torture?

These poor conditions and destruction?

I have no delicious food of refreshing water,

Surrounded by emotional people who are dying of diseases 
And starvation,

I wait for Te Whiti and Tohu to finish this war,

I smell the blood, I hear the screams,

Parihaka is filled with awful terror,

I know that the only thing that I can do is wait for death to 
Come for me,

By Kirrin.

Drew Cullen Biography

Drew Cullen Biography

Drew David Kelly Cullen was born on the 31st of March 2000 in Wellington, NZ. His Mum is called Joanna Kelly and his Dad is called Simon Cullen. He also has a younger half sister, Hazel. In 2002 Joanna and Simon split up and Drew and his Mum left their house in Brooklyn and moved to Eastbourne.

When Drew was three, he started going to Barnardos. At Barnardos Drew built robots out of cardboard boxes that his Dad gave him and played lego. One day at lunchtime, Drew was talking to one of the caregivers at Barnardos and Drew told her that his babysitter was his Mum. “I would only do that once, twice would be to embarrassing” says Drew. From the age of four, Drew began to love soccer. His inspiration was a soccer player called Alan and his Dad. Eight years have passed and still his love of soccer remains.

After Barnardos, Drew went to Muritai Primary School. During Drews fourth year at Muritai he got in a fight with his friend Isaac. The fight started when Drew accused his friend for having to put his dog Forest down. The teacher ended the fight and Drew had to see the Principal everyday for two weeks. Drews happiest moment at school was doing three maths tests in year six on the same day and getting them all correct.

The most important event that ever happened to Drew was seeing his family from England. The first family member he saw from England was his Great Grandmother. Drew has met many other members of his family from England but to him that was the most special.

Currently, Drew is a year 8 in Muritai Intermediate. He is still living in Eastbourne and sees his Dad every two weeks. When Drew is older, he wants to be a football star but for now he will just have to play for Eastbourne and work his way up to super stardom.

By Kirrin