Speeches

This year we have school speeches. I wrote a speech about Why I Think Gisborne Should Be Planted in Native Plants. The years that compete in the finals are from Year 3 through to 6. I entered the semifinals and completely sped up, and on the way I lost a card. Luckily my expression showed exactly my point and the judges ( Ms Dunn and Mrs Ducky) entered me into the finals. On Monday, I have to share my speech to the whole school and new judges that have never heard my speech before. I am really nervous because I didn't think I would get in. I am in the Year 6 division and have some really hard competition. If you want to read my speech I will put it below.

Imagine Gisborne, full of native birds and plants. Beautiful, isn’t it? I think it would be. We could make Gisborne the first place in NZ to have only native plants. Gisborne could finally be put on the map, not only for its beautiful weather, beautiful beaches and amazing culture,  but, for being the first place in NZ to be fully planted in endemic plants. I’ll tell why I think that native plants should be planted in Gisborne.

All native birds have a favourite native plant. If we plant some of these then maybe it might just give them the encouragement to hang around Gisborne. Some of the endemic birds could come live in our wonderful Gisborne if we just plant natives instead of  exotic species of plants. Birds prefer different things. If we plant those thing they might come back. I bet any bird would love to live in sunny Gizzy. If you were a bird wouldn’t you?

Last year, people from our community helped restore Titirangi, by planting natives instead of exotic plants. 11 hectares of exotic trees and plants were removed being replaced by 57,000 native plants and trees. This has really helped getting the birds back to the area and has made Titirangi the most native planted hill in Gisborne.'

Eco Sourcing is another great way of restoring slips. DOC says that “Collecting seeds and spores from naturally-occurring vegetation close to where they are to be planted is an important part of a restoration project. It means the plants will be suited to local conditions and more likely to survive.” As exotic Eco Sourcing will not work the same.

Native plants are helpful to the land. They can stop further slips by being planted on the places were the slips may happen. They also know where to put themselves in the ground. Exotic plants from other countries are not  used to the environment and the soil, that means that these plants might not grow well and could actually be  causing the slips.

In the morning I love listening to the birds songs, but, I rarely ever hear the native birds I usually only hear the Sparrow. If we planted native plants then maybe, just maybe, we COULD wake up to the sound of the Tui, or the Kereru singing a joyful song. In conclusion I strongly believe that Gisborne should be planted in native plants, so that, we CAN wake up to the sound of birds chirping and look out the window and see native plants.

x