Olympic Update : Men's Rowing Pairs

Eric Murray and Hamish Bond have JUST won gold for New Zealand in Men's Rowing Pairs.  My family is SOOOOOOO happy, and I'm sure the rest of Aotearoa is too!  WOOHOO!! Another gold medal for the kiwis!! For a second there it looked like they weren't even trying! And yet they were a good 20 metres in front of the next boat.  Although France managed to hold them at second for the 1st 500 metres, New Zealand smashed back and it was all over.  With France in second and Great Britain in third.  This gives us 2 Golds, and 1 Bronze. All I really do care about though, is we won. And I've never been more proud to be a kiwi.

People Of Polynesia

Polynesians, were the first to inhabit New Zealand. Over 1000 years ago, early Maoris from East Polynesia came in their canoes. These vessels had : a double hull, or an outrigger , and woven sails. They were 15 - 25 metres long.

Sea swells gave the navigators directions by day, whilst the stars guided them by night. Sailors searched for signs, like birds feeding by the sea (This meant land was near). Many canoes set out to the vast ocean, but only a few managed to sail the empty, stormy seas, to reach Aotearoa, New Zealand.