An important setting in “The seahorse and the Reef? was the reef, which has been ruined by pollution. “The stain curled like fingers around the reef…In my mind I caught a sudden vision of many pupu crawling among polluted rocks.? People would always be crowded around the reef in search of seafood, but one day a sewerage pipe bursts and pollutes the reef and sea. “The reef was the home of much kai moana…it teemed with life and food…It was good to us.? The setting of the reef was important as it helps the reader understand the idea of environmental change. It once “teemed with life? but now is stained of pollution. The author wants to make us aware of how permanent pollution can be; the “stain? is hard to get rid of. He wants us to try to reduce pollution and prevent it from becoming worse in order to maintain our “clean and green? image.
The reef is an important setting to the story; it was once a place for families and friends to meet and was a food gathering area. It provided them with food- yet it has been destroyed by pollution, due to poor infrastructure. “It is dangerous to take seafood from the reef.? The setting of the reef was important as it helps the reader understand the idea of environmental change. No matter how attached we are to our environment we end up destroying it. The author is trying to teach us that when we care for something, we must not take it for granted- otherwise it will be destroyed, just like the reef.
In conclusion both “The Whale? and “The seahorse and the Reef? have important settings which help the reader understand the idea or ideas of the story. In “The Whale? the meeting house reinforced the idea of cultural change and love. Witi Ihimaera wants us to respect and hang on to or culture, otherwise we will lose our cultural customs, language, and traditions. In “The Seahorse and the Reef? the reef reinforced the idea of environmental change. Witi Ihimaera wants us to realize the damage we are doing to our beautiful “clean and green? environment, before we destroy it even further. We need to care for it. Both stories deal with the important idea of change, and the sad effects it has on people and the environment.