Pod 6 Gumdiggers Study

We were very excited as we set off on our trip to Matakohe Kauri Museum for the first part of our camp. Undaunted by the rainy weather, we made the most of the opportunity to learn all about the Kauri Gumdiggers and view the collection of gum and different machinery at the museum.
We had already done some study, looking carefully at photographs to see what we could discover about the gumdiggers and their equipment.

Here are some of our comments about our visit:

My favourite part was looking at the fossilised insects in the kauri gum. - Karlia

I learnt about the insects fossilised in the gum. My favourite part was the chainsaws. They were very sharp.  -  Declan

I enjoyed seeing the huge machines and the gum castles. I learnt that they dressed up in fancy clothes for dinner.  -  Hunter

I learnt a lot of things about the gumdiggers.  -  Ariya

I enjoyed the cross made out of gum. I liked watching the huge saws cutting up the kauri logs. I also learnt lots of things about gumdiggers.  -  Cara

I really liked seeing the two lizards stuck in the dry kauri gum. I learnt that they used boots that had iron spikes on the bottom and another iron spike on the front of the boot. - Tom

I really liked the milking machine because it actually worked. And the school and the insects inside the gum. -  Mason

I really liked the machinery and my favourite one was the huge blade. I learnt how insects get trapped in the gum.  -  Jasper

I felt excited about the gum room. It was beautiful. It was magnificent! I loved that room.  - Ezra-Faye

I loved Matakohe Museum because I learnt about bugs and how they get stuck in the kauri gum. - Alexis

My favourite part was the cow milking machine. It was good.It was noisy.My second favourite was the man moving his hand and cutting the wood. - Riley C

My favourite part was the gum and my favourite of all the gum had fossilised insects inside.  -  Sofia

My favourite machine was the milking machine.  -   Slayde

I liked all the kauri gum in the room, and especially the big cross.   -  Izabella

I liked the gum room and seeing all the insects trapped inside the gum. - Bjorn

I really liked the massive gum building.  - Honey

I really liked the people climbing the tree. - Logan

My favourite part was Trevor's shanty.  -  Eliza

I learnt about doing the washing in the olden days.  -  Bella

My favourite thing is the milking machine. - Aaron

I liked the hurdy-gurdy machine. It was amazing to see the insects trapped inside the kauri gum. - Ryan

I learnt a lot of things about gumdiggers. My favourite part was looking at all the insects fossilised in the gum. I also enjoyed all of the gum. I learnt that they live in different houses.  Quinn

I loved it.  - Tristan

My favourite part was the gum and my favourite of all the gum had fossilised insects inside.  -  Sofia

My favourite part was the logs and my other favourite part was the school.  - Taya

My favourite part was the fancy cross made of kauri gum. I learnt how amazing the school house was.  -  Keira

I really liked seeing the school and my favourite was a butterfly trapped inside the gum.  -  Willa

It was so amazing because we saw a man carved out of gum. The best thing was the fossilised butterfly.   -  Sophie

I enjoyed looking at the gum with the spider trapped inside. I liked the shanty hut. It was cool looking at all the machinery in the museum.  -  Tayla

I really liked the massive piece of Kauri gum. My favourite thing was when the blades were spinning.  - Finn

I really liked seeing all the pretend people from the olden days through the window. My favourite part was seeing the lighthouse blinking its light.  -  Jamie C

My favourite part was the fossilised creatures in the gum and the massive machines. -  Xavier

I learnt a lot of things about gumdiggers.  - Ariya

My favourite part was the chainsaws. They were very sharp. - Declan

My favourite bit was the people in the old fashioned clothing.  -  Ruby

My favourite part was seeing all the olden days stuff. I enjoyed doing all the sheets. I learnt what was good gum for selling.  -  Donnie

My favourite thing was the big chainsaws and the cow machine.  -  Jacob

My favourite part was the insects fossilised in the gum. I enjoyed the old school. I also learnt lots of things about gumdiggers.  -  Cameron

My favourite part was when the saws were cutting in the kauri wood.It was amazing that the machines did work. I really liked the big black train.  -  Keeley

My favourite part was seeing the insects in the gum. I found out lots of interesting facts and it takes lots of work to be a gumdigger.  -  Kari

I really liked the cow milking machine. - Sam

I liked the  boots with the spikes that the men used for climbing the kauri trees.  -  Charles

My favourite part was looking at all the machinery. I also liked the old school.  -  Emily

I learnt that the bulldozer used to pull the logs. I also liked the milking machine.  - Toby