Business Studies - Economy

 What Is the Economy?

An economy is the system for deciding how scarce resources are used so that goods and services can be produced and consumed. Resources are things like land, people (who can work or innovate through their ideas) and raw materials. They are seen as scarce because we have unlimited wants but there are not enough resources to produce the goods and services to satisfy these wants. The economy is important to all of us. What’s happening in the economy can affect us and the decisions we make. Our decisions can also influence how the economy is performing. Every time you choose to buy something (or not to), you are affecting the economy. 

Sectors Of the Economy

In the economy there are five sectors: Households sector, Firms sector, Financial Sector, Government sector and Overseas Sector. 

Household Sector

This sector is made up of individiuals in the economy.

• They provide their time and skills or ‘labour’ to firms in exchange for income (wages). 

• They are consumers who buy goods and services from Firms.

• They may borrow from, or save money with, the Financial sector. 

• They pay taxes to the Government. 

Firms Sector

This sector is made up of all businesses in the economy. 

• They produce output (goods and services), which they sell to consumers and receive revenue. 

• They may borrow money from, or save money with, the Financial Sector

• They pay taxes to the Government.

Financial Sector

This sector is made up of banks and other financial institutions in the economy. 

• They receive savings from Households and Firms

• They help households and Firms invest by lending them money. 

Government Sector

This sector is made up of all bodies in national, state and local governments

• They receive taxation revenue from Households and Firms

• They spend this money on public goods and services, such as roads, parks, schools and hospitals. 

Overseas Sector

This sector relates to New Zealand’s trade with other nations.

• New Zealand exports (sells) goods and services, produced by businesses in New Zealand, to other countries.

• New Zealand imports (buys) goods and services, produced by businesses in other countries. 

Injections and Leakages

In the circular flow model, money flows in and out of the economy. Think of a bathtub with the tap on but the plug out. Water is being added by the tap but also leaking out. It's important to get the balance right so the water doesn’t overflow or drain out completely. 

Think of all the exchanges taking place in the economy.

Some are putting money into the economy. These are injections. 

Some of these are taking out money out of the economy - the money is not being utiised elsewhere in the economy. These are leakages. 

The Financial sector plays an important role in facilitating business investment. Firms rely on banks lending them money so they can invest in things like new equipment, higher wages or additional staff, to increase production. 

ESOL Term 3 Reflection

 Term 3 Reflection

This term in Esol we worked on language features, language skills, punctuations. This term we've been doing some tests to test our listening, writing, and reading skills. One of our lessons that I really enjoyed was watching the film "Cool Running" this film is about a Jamaican sprinter who gets disqualified from the Olympics Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican Bobsled Team. "Cool Runnings" explores themes of perserverance against great odds, cheating, second chances, and developing self-esteem. I really enjoyed watching this film and hope that we do more film studies in class. One of the tasks I was proud of was my Presentation I did on places to visit and do In New Zealand, I think I did really well with speaking and putting in effort in my presentation. What I could do differently next time is getting my work done on time and using my time in class given to complete tasks.

Kristallnacht - Social Studies

 Kristallnact - 'The Night Of Broken Glass'

On November 9th, 1938, a wave of anti-Jewish violence and demonstrations took place

throughout parts of Germany and Austria. The assassinations of Ernest vom Rath, the third secretart of the German embassy, by 17-year old Jewsh refugee Herschel Grynszpan gave Hitler and his Nazi party enough amnunition to launch their full-scale annihilation of the Jewish population, starting with a single night of destruction known as Kristallnacht, or 'Night of Broken Glass'. This might was an integral step in fulfilling Hitler's Final Solution of the Jewish Question, by first destroying over 1000 synagogues, 7000 Jewish businesses, and deporting over 30,000 Jewish men to concentraion camps.

Significance of Kristallnacht

Kristallnacht highlights the overall intent and coordination behind the Holocast conducted by Hitler and the Nazi Party. The manipulation of events surrounding this night, as well as the organisation of violence and destruction communicates the dangers of a totalitarian regime and the true inflence that Hitler held over the German people. This coordination was a key factor leading up to the mass killing of Jews now considered a genocide, however it is only in retrospect that we can understand this.

Nuremberg Laws - Social Studies

 Nuremberg Laws

As part of our Holocaust learning in Social Studies this term, one of our task was to learn about the Nuremberg Laws. Below are some information about what the Nuremberg Laws are and how they affected society especially the daily lives of the Jewish People, and then are some question with my answers.

On september 15, 1935, the Nazi passed two new laws at their annual Reich Party Congress in Nuremberg, Germany. The Laws took German citizenship away from Jews and banned both marriage and sexual relationships between Jews and non-Jews.

The Nuremberg Laws did not idenitfy a "Jew" as someone with particular religion beliefs. Instead, the first amendment to the Nuremberg Laws defined anyone who had three or four Jewish grandparents as a Jew, regardless of whether that individual recognised himself or herself as a Jew or belonged to the Jewish religious community. Many Germans who had not practiced Judaism (the Jewish religion) or who had not done so for years found themselves caught in the grip of Nazi terror. Even people with Jewish grandparents who had converted to Christianity could be defined as Jews.

Why did the Nazis enact the Nuremberg Race Laws?

The Nazis enacted the Nuremberg Laws, because they wanted to put their ideas about race into law. They believed in the false theory that the world is divided into distinct races that are not equally strong and valuable. The Nazis considered Germans to be members of the supposedly superior "Ayran" race. They saw the so-called Aryan German race as the strongest, and most valueable race of all. According to the Nazis, Jews were not Aryans. They thought Jews belonged to a separate race that was inferior to all other races. The Nazis believed that the presence of Jews in Germany threatened the German people. They believed they had to separated Jews from other Germans to protect and strengthen Germany. The Nuremberg Laws were an important step towards achieving this goal.

Questions & Answers

1. Provide two examples of ways in which the Nuremberg Laws affected the rights of German Jews.

Due to the Nuremberg laws that German Jews were basically not human, they didn't have the equal freedom that everyone else did, such as they were no longer admitted to municipal hospitals, every human has a right to treatment for their health and Jewish university students were not allowed to sit for doctoral exams, I personally think that this is unfair and that is taking away education from someone.

2. What other actions were taken that discriminated against Jews in Germany?

In December 1935, the Reich Propaganda Ministry issued a decree forbidding jewish soldiers to be named among the dead in World War I memorials.

3. Why do you think that the Nazis passed these laws?

I think it's because they've been brainwashed with all this nonsense, and probably because the government needed someone or something to blame and therefore it has to be Jewish people.

4. If a New Zealand government passed a law that provided for different treatment of a named racial group in New Zealand, what do you think the reaction of most New Zealand people would be?

If the New Zealand government did pass a law like this, I think there would be conflit and war within the country, but luckily in a country like New Zealand there are many educated and understanding people that will oppose this law because it is wrong to treat other people differently.

5. Do you think these Nuremberg laws were racist?

I strongly believe that the Nuremberg laws were racist and showed discrimination against the Jews. Taking away human rights from someone is straight discrimination, not being able to ahve sexual relationships or be able to marry a Jew is racist, because your pointing someone out (or a group of people). Not giving them the right to basic living things such as education, careers, treatment for health is considered racist. For something to be racist it donesn't just have to be about their skin colour it can be how you treat them, how you consider them and in this case this is an extreme case of racism and discrimination.

Adapted from http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005681

NZ Food History - Home Economics

 NZ Food History

Feasts:

The early Maori had traditional feasts called Hakari. Feasts were used as a way to show who's boss to visitors. Tribes would compete with each other, over which one is the most hospitable. The Maoris would have Hakiri at various times of the year such as Matariki, a Tohi ceremony or a marriage Feasts were very common in the 19th century. The Pakeha settlers didnt approve of their culture. Back then the white people thought they were more upper class to the Maoris, nowadays white people realise how important the Maori culture is. Kids at school are encouraged to learn about the Maori culture - by learning the language or going to the local Marae for a sleepover and having a hangi.

Nutrition:

In Maori tradition the leaders ate first then the fighters and warriors and so on until the women and children who ate last. This was set up in a way so that the strong (fighters and warriors) would get the nutrition they needed, and in case there wasn't much food to go around, the women and children were the last to get because their need to be fed wasn't as important as the warriors because they were not going into combat etc.

What was eaten and how was it eaten?

Household guides in the 19th century included advice about serving meals, laying tables, folding napkins and table decorations. Traditionally Maori served food in baskets which were shared between small groups. High ranking people ate from their own basket. People ate with their hands. Basic habits passed from parents to children include washing hands before eating, holding utensils correctly, keeping elbows off the table, not talking with full mouths, not putting knives in mouths, leaving untensils together on the plate when the meal is finished and asking perimission to leave the table. Traditional foods included whitebait, the seaweed karengo, huhu grubs, pikopiko (fern shoots), karaka berries and toroi - a dish of fresh mussels with puha (sow thistle) juice. With the arrival of the europeans they had access to alot more vegetables which improved their nutrition but it also meant they had access to process food which brought on serious health issues like diabetics etc.

How did Maori preserve their food?

Maori preserved large quantities of food, to seave for leaner times or to trade with other tribes. Food could be dried in ember or, in the geothermal Rotorua area, spread on hot rocks. Meat, fruits and seeds were also dried. Fatty birds such as titi (muttonbirds) were preserved in their own fat.

Introduced Food:

Maori quickly adopted food sources introduced by Europeans, growing potatoes, gifting pigs to other

tribes, and developing large wheat plantations and mills. In the early 1800s, pigs and baskets of potatoes were used as currency.

• Food Plants
• Animals - Early settlers brought pigs, goats and hens.
• Potatoes
• TinFood
• Wheat

 The Great Depression

The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted until about 1939. It was the longest and most severe depression ever experienced but the industrialized western world. Although the Depression originated in the United States, it resulted in drastic declines in output, severe unemployment, and acute deflation in almost every country of the globe. But its social and cultural effects were no less staggering, especially in the United States, where the Great Depression ranks second only to the Civil War as the gravest crisis in American history.

What was life like?

People played board games, puzzles, baseball, and listened to the radio (if they had one) to get their minds off the depression. Many farmers ran out of money and lost their farms. Those who didn't had to cope with the, "dust bowl", huge clouds of dust that flew across the great pains of American and Canada. These dust particles would enter the home and cause bad living conditions. many children left school to help their families by working. Children between the ages 10-18 worked in factories, mines, or farms. Women worked seasonal jobs, but usually had to quit because men were dominant.

Failures

The fall of the economy caused bank failures, many businesses to perish, and brought a rapid rise to the crime rate, suicide rate, and malnutrition rate. Birth rates dropped below the replacement level for the first time in American history. Divorce rates also dropped sharply since it was too expensive to pay legal fees and support two households. This caused many women to start working and husbands to leave their families.

Why was Germany hit the hardest during the Great Depression?

In 1929 as the Wall Street Crash led to a worldwide depression. Germany suffered more than any other nation as a result of the recall of US loans, which caused its economy to collapse. Unemployment rocketed, poverty soared ad Germans became desperate.

Explain what Germany had to agree to by signing the Treaty of Versailles?

The Treaty of Versailles is one of the most controversial armistice treaties in history. The treaty's so-called "war guilt" clause forced Germany and other central powers to take all the blame for World War I. This means a lot of territories, reduction in military forces, and reparation payments to Allied powers.

How was New Zealand affected by the depression?

In NZ, the effects of the crash were not immediate. But from 1930 export prices began to plummet, falling 45% by 1933. To a country overwhelmingly dependent on agricultural exports, this was devastating. By the end of 1930 urban businesses and manufacturers were feeling the flow-on effects. Demand for their goods and services fell, as did the prices they charged. Unemployment rose to 12% of the registered workforce in 1933, and those lucky enough to keep their jobs often found their wages slashed by as much as 20%.

Dawn Raids & The apology after 50 years

Dawn Raids

Boom & Bust:

The story of the dawn raids begins in the 1950s. At the time, New Zealand's economy was doing so well, there weren't enough people to do all the work, especially in factories. So the New Zealand government looked to the Pacific, introducing system that made it easy for Pacific people to live here. Many came on temporary permits or visas, but when the labour shortage continued, the government allowed workers to stay longer. Things suddenly changed in 1973, when hard times hit around the world. In New New Zealand, unemployment became a problem - in stark contrast to the decades before - and Pacific people became scapegoats. They were blamed for the lack of jobs, and some people started using the term "overstayer".

Operation Pot Black

In 1975, a National government, led by Robert Muldoon, came to power. Muldoon was determined to address the "immigration issue". his election campaign even used a television ad that showed a Pacific-looking character getting angry because there was no work. Muldoon's plan was to find a deport overstayers, which seemed fair enough - if people were breaking the rules. But Muldoon's government didn't act fairly. At the time, around two-thirds of New Zealand overstayers were British or North American - yet by far the largest number of people to be prosecuted were from the Pacific. As well as dawn raids, Pacific people also endured "blitzes". These were random checks, in public, when the police demanded proof of residency. Pacific people were treated like criminals in front of family, friends, workmates, and neighbours, and this caused humiliation and shame. The police named this work operation Pot Black.

Raid

The first dawn raids happened in March 1974 under a Labour government led by Norman Kirk. Each raid followed the same pattern: very early in the morning, police and immigration officials would force their way into Pacific people's homes demanding paperwork. They wanted permits, visas, passports - anything that proved a person's right to be here. In the first week of the raids, around eight Pacific people were arrested. This caused a public outcry. Although some of those arrested did have expired visas, for many New Zealanders, the targeting of ethnic groups was unacceptable. They believed that the dawn raids were destroying race relations in New Zealand as well as Pacific people's sense of belonging. Most of those arrested were taken from their homes with only the clothes on their backs. They were held in police cells until they could prove their right to be here. Those who couldn't either stayed on in the cells or reported to the police each day until they were deported. some never got to say goodbye to family; others were escorted onto planes while distraught family members watched. It was a sad time that divided communities in all kind of ways, with some people dobbing in others for being overstayers.

The Apology - 1st August 2021

New Zealand's -prime minister, Jacinda Adern, has issued a formal apology for historic racist policing of Pacific people and offered scholarships to Pacific students. Hundreds of people packed Auckland town hall on Sunday to hear the apology for the "dawn raids" of the 1970s duuring which authorities hunted for visa overstayers. The practice took place under both of New Zealand's major political parties, beginning with Labour prime minister Norman Kirk and continuing under the National's Robert Muldoon.

Q & A:

What did NZ encourage during the 1950s economic boom?

During the economic boom of the 1950s, New Zealand encouraged significant migration from the Pacific region to fill labour shortages in the manufacturing and primary production sector.

In the early 1970s, when the economy fell, who was blamed by parts of society?

The migrants. The migrants who became the focal point and scapegoat for these fears were largerly Pacific peoples.

What did the government decide to do in the 1970s?

Police and Immigration officials overwhelmingly conducted raids on the homes of Pacific families.

What did Pacific communities experience?

Residents in those homes were woken abruptly, physically removed from their beds and forced into police bans to be taken for questioning. Some were hauled to the police station to appear in court the next day barefoot, in pyjamas or in clothes loaned to them in the holding cells; others were wrongfully detained.

On August 1st 2021, what did the government convey?

Jacinda Adern, the prime minister of New Zealand, has formally apologised for police crackdowns int eh 1970s gthat targeted the country's Pacific communities. Adern on Sunday told a tearful crowd gathered at the Auckland town hall that her government was offering a formal and unreserved apology for the infamous "Dawn Raids".

What do you think the Pacific Community thought and felt in the 1970s?

I think that the Pacific community felt scared and confused, because they were asked to come to New Zealand, now they are being kicked out of New Zealand. Their thoughts are probably why are the governemnt and Police treating them like that. Until 1st August 2021 I believe some Pacific people still had that anger and fear in them.

What do you think the pacific community thought and felt about the apology?

I can still imagine the Pacific community devastated and angry, especially those who experience this horrible event, but on 1st August it was a very emotional event, because it took this long for the government to response and formally apologise about the Dawn Raids.

Why did Jacinda Adern write this?

A part of the formal apology held at the event in Auckland, Jacinda Adern also wrote a article apologising online on Facebook. I believe that Jacinda Adern wrote this to formally apologise to those who were affected and to the Pacific community that couldn't make it to the ceremony due to Covid-19.

What do you think Jacinda Adern wants people to understand after reading this?

That the governemnt was to blame for this horrible event that happened in the 1970s and they are sincerely sorry.

What is Ifoga?(samoan custom) Why did Jacinda Adern participate?

The ifoga is a public act of self-humiliation accompanied by the gift of 'ie toga or fine mats. It is a formal apology in the Samoan culture. During the event we witnessed Jacinda Adern perform the ifoga, a Samoan custom of asking for forgiveness. Ifo means to bow down or lower oneself. Ifoga is when an offender covers themselves with a Samoan fien mat as an atonement for their or thier kin's wrongdoing and until the family who was affected decided to forgiver them/or that person under the fine mat they will remove the mat from them.

Images:

A image of a migrant being arrested by the police

Here is an image of pacific people arriving in New Zealand for the first time

This is a photo of the home raids in 1970.

This image means a thousand words and it brought tears to alot of Pacific Islanders. After 50 years the government has finally decided to apologise regarding the dawn raids. This photo shows Jacinda Adern participating in the ifoga (samoan custom), this shocked the Pacific community because this is the first time a prime minister has apologised through samoan traditional customs.