Math + Art = Pi-scraper at annual maths fair
Numbers and art have been mashed together in a spectacular fashion at an annual maths event.
Submissions from Taranaki students were on show at the 2016 Methanex Maths Spectacular in the Pukekura Raceway function centre.
Lachie Hanser of New Plymouth Boys High School submitted a 3D lego landscape with each building representing a height that corresponded to a digit of Pi.
‘‘I put a little light in where the ‘point’ is,’’ he said.
‘‘People think it’s really cool and that’s a good feeling.’’
The fair welcomed students from throughout the region to submit hand-drawn or computer generated 2D artwork, 3D artwork, statistical projects and even poetry and creative writing.
Event coordinator Kim Goodey said the event was an integral part of students’ learning.
‘‘Maths isn’t as easy to show off like sports so it’s just wonderful to have so many students here and enjoying the exhibits.’’
Submissions were judged on a demonstration of how much math was involved in the project. But, the event didn’t have to be all too serious.
‘‘I feel bad for this girl’s father,’’ she laughed as she pointed to a stand titled The ‘Still’ Balding Dad.
‘‘She submitted this project last year and compared his head this year. That’s why it says ‘still’.’’
A bicycle ridden by Sir Edmund Hillary during his days climbing Mt Taranaki is going on display in a Cambridge cafe. Vintage ‘‘everything’’ enthusiast Tony Jecks came across the 1920s BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) bike when he went to view an old car in Howick, Auckland, owned by Hillary’s good friend, 93-year-old Julian Godwin. ’’His daughter had listed an old Triumph Mayflower on Trade Me for a cheap price, so I went to have a look. I decided it wasn’t worth fixing, but he took me into his shed and showed me this bicycle,’’ Jecks said. Godwin’s father bought the bike for him in 1938 ‘‘second hand but refurbished’’ from a bike shop in Newmarket. In 1943, when he enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Airforce, Godwin was stationed in New Plymouth for training and he took his bicycle with him. ’’His best mate in the RAF was Ed Hillary and on weekends they would ‘double’ each other out to Mt Taranaki and have a crack at the mountain,’’ Jecks said, recalling what Godwin had told him.Jecks has temporarily given it to Deli On The Corner cafe in Cambridge to display.
Alex Laurenson has been appointed as the new president of the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Law Society. Laurenson, who is a partner at New Plymouth law firm Govett Qulliam, replaces Rajan Rai who had previously been in the role since 2010. Much of Laurenson’s legal experience has been in civil and private litigation. He also specialises in iwi sector legal services and is of Te Ati Haunui-a-Paparangi, Tuwharetoa, Ngai Tumapuhia-a-Rangi and Ngai Tahu decent. Rachael Webb was re-elected as the branch’s vice president.