The seahorse and the reef - Personal responses

The seahorse and the reef by Witi Ihimaera is a short story, and personally I am not a big fan of short stories, I just find them quite boring. But for some reason I quite liked this story because I feel like I can connect to it, because I have a Maori background. I remember going on haerenga (trip) in year 8 going up to Whangarei and we stayed at beautiful Marae, and right next to the Marae was a little secluded beach, just like how the dad had a sack and a knife to catch the kai moana, I did too, however this was my first time going diving and I just couldn't catch anything, but the scenario was just so similar, everyone that was diving was at the shore talking and walking in the water.

There is a quote that I think is extremely important it was, "he taught us to respect and to have reverence for the life contained in its waters." I feel like more people in this world today need to be taught this. I feel like not enough people respect the sea, there is always rubbish and junk in the sea, the sea is home the many marine life and people just chucking rubbish in the sea is just destroying there home. I also think many big companies need to learn this, it really does break my heart watching documentaries of killer whales in tiny tanks trying to beach themselves because they don't want to be trapped they want to be free in the sea, where they home and family is. I mean I would have the exact same feelings if I had been captured and be put in a tiny room and can barely move. I think creatures like that SHOULD BE LEFT IN THE SEA!!!

I think my generation and younger generations needs to read this short story because all our favourite swimming spots and beaches could end up like there shore in the story, polluted and dangerous to swim in. If we could just stop being lazy human beings and put our rubbish in the bin, we could save our beautiful beaches!