Polynesian navigators, America s Cup and inspiring kids with stories of their ancestors
5 Mar, 2021 12:53 AM
4 minutes to read
Polynesian navigators, America s Cup and inspiring kids with stories of their ancestors.
Sir Ian Taylor s new project that teaches kids about Polynesian voyagers migration across the Pacific Ocean thousands of years ago is personal.
The 2019 Innovator of the Year and founder of Animation Research, the company behind America s Cup graphics, was near 70 years old when he heard his ancestors story. My ancestors were part of the greatest human adventure story of all time, and I d never heard it before, he said.
He learnt about the migration journeys of his Pākehā ancestors at school in Raupunga, but he was never taught about the journeys of his other tūpuna, his Polynesian ancestors.
Amy, originally the "Florida Queen," has become a beloved member of the North Street neighborhood in Durham, North Carolina. Amy has a genetic condition called Williams Syndrome (WS) that often encourages unique verbal abilities, highly social personalities, and an affinity for music. It is also associated with some developmental delays. Amy loves waving to her neighbors, winning bowling tournaments, and taking road trips with her best friend Avery. Avery is a graduate of Duke University who joined Reality Ministries, a Christian organization that fosters friendships amongst people of all abilities marked by mutuality and authenticity. North Street is a neighborhood where friends with disabilities thrive within a broader community.
ABC's Michael Koenigs @mcckoenigs is the host of the show "More in Common" which features people across America who overcome their differences and find common ground.
What I m reading: Author Fiona Sussman on her favourite books of the moment
5 Mar, 2021 09:00 PM
3 minutes to read
By: FIona Sussman The focus of my artistic life, says George Saunders in his latest book, has been trying to learn to write emotionally moving stories that a reader feels compelled to finish. A few years ago, I had the privilege of attending an Auckland Writers Festival masterclass by this distinguished writer. It was an incredible 90 minutes. Saunders, who has taught creative writing at Syracuse University for more than 20 years, was generous with his insights, conveying wisdoms about the writing process and writer s life in an accessible, inspiring way. You can imagine my excitement when my daughter gifted me A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, a distillation of his Syracuse course, in which seven short stories by great Russian writers are springboards for examining the craft and reflecting on the significance of storytelling. I have just begun t