Kupua the Pukeko - My Mascot

During class, we were given a task of creating our own mascot after we examined Glasgow's commonwealth mascot, Clyde. We had looked at the other mascots like Shera the Tiger, the Olympics mascots and of course, like I said, Clyde the Thistle. This inspired us to come up with our very own mascots. We imagined what mascot would represent New Zealand if we held the next commonwealth games. 

I had a hard time trying to name my mascot. I tried to think about what things made New Zealand significant and what represented it well. So I decided to name my pukeko, Kapua. Kapua means cloud and New Zealand is known as the Land of the Long White Cloud. With my pukeko, I drew gumboots and a greenstone. Those two things are both apart of kiwiana (New Zealand icons). 

Kapua is a great hiker and he also love running. He helps the sheep dogs gather the flock and kine at farms. The commonwealth will find itself with amazing luck when Kapua is representing New Zealand. 

Commonwealth Games: Zoe Ballantyne

As you may know the Commonwealth games has began and and this year the event is being held in Glasgow. Being that New Zealand is part of the Commonwealth, I have chosen one of the athletes; Zoe Ballantyne to follow during the Commonwealth.

This year, Zoe Ballantyne is currently participating in the 4x400m Women’s relay with her first Commonwealth relay on the first of August at Hampden Park Stadium. Although this is her first Commonwealth Games, Zoe has been an Oceania Championship medalist in 2010, 2011 and in 2012. Not only that but she is New Zealand’s top 400m hurdler winning three years in a row in the New Zealand National Championship.

Hopefully, Zoe will win some medals for New Zealand and beat her current personal best (53.92) during the games. She is definitely already a great athlete and won’t disappoint.