Weekender, February 20, 2021

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021 LEARNING IN ACTION: A class from Ilminster Intermediate learning history on the waka hourua Tairāwhiti. File picture ‘This learning no longer left to chance’ New Zealand history is set to be taught in schools, with local stories making up the backbone of the new curriculum. To understand where we are going, Herald reporter Jack Marshall spoke with Tairawhiti Museum’s director, a university lecturer, a teacher and a Māori educator for their thoughts. ast September the Prime Minister Education Minister Chris Hipkins said it has helped shape the area into what it is ■ The exercise and effects of power and announced a decision that would students would explore the stories that were today, while in Northland they may explore how it has shaped Aotearoa New Zealand. change the teaching of history in unique to their rohe (area). Māori histories and early Croatian stories. The Government’s press release read, “New LNew Zealand schools forever. “In Waikato, ākonga (students) may Three “big ideas” are in the draft Zealand history to be taught in schools”, and From 2022 New Zealand history will be learn about the invasion of Waikato led by curriculum: so read the news presenters and newspaper taught in all schools. Governor George Grey and the implications ■ Māori history, both foundational and headlines. The changes are national but many of the this had for people living in the region. continuous But is history not taught already? stories will be localised. The curriculum is set “In Otago, they may delve deeper into the ■ Colonisation and its consequences and to focus on local people, battles and stories. region’s Māori and Chinese heritage and how its continued influence Continued on page 2 Is it a puzzle Weekly lessons start or is it a game Wednesday 3 March 2021 at 7.15pm of carrdsds ?? This is a 13-week lesson course and includes comprehensive course notes and membership to the club for the learn to play remainder of the year for just $50. Bring along a friend, Bridge…ge… a partner, or just come by yourself. the best card game in the world ! Gisborne To register please phone Pippa on (06) 862 3787. Entries are limited to the first 20 people. BRIDGE CLUB 572 Gladstone Road 38105-01 2 THE GISBORNE HERALD LEAD ‘All it takes is a couple of words’ From page 1 beneath our feet and the people who came before us. Gisborne Girls’ High School head of social “At a foundation level, it’s learning about science Dr Nic Taewa thinks it is, and he the names of iwi, hapu, and places — should know — he teaches history. mountains and rivers and so on. Layered The subject is currently taught as part of on to this foundation comes understanding social studies from Years 1-10. of significant events, national and local So what history is being taught in schools contexts, and people — their motivations around the country? and their relationships. The answer: It’s complicated. “For me, as a child, there was so much I The problem with the New Zealand didn’t know about the place I lived, and the curriculum is it is flexible to the point of land I lived on, and there was no one to tell excess. me, or maybe they didn’t know themselves. Rather than specific subject matter, “I have felt at times frustrated by that, there are “achievement objectives”. For but I think every generation has to learn social sciences, one of those objectives says things anew and the exciting thing about students should, “understand that events the discipline of history is that every have causes and effects”. new generation brings new perspectives, Since there is no set subject matter, that interpretation and critique, and so our means an awful lot of topics teachers can knowledge and understanding grows and choose from. changes.” The good news, Dr Taewa says, is social Although difficult, she says learning local science teachers and students’ assessments histories and stories is an empowering have focused on New Zealand history for experience. years. “When the stories are about the places Instead of suddenly bringing history into where you live, you are so much more the curriculum, Dr Taewa says the changes invested in them.” will give clarity to the subject matter taught, Asked if history can change how students to ensure all students are taught key aspects see the world, Mrs Wallace said she could of New Zealand history. only answer by personal experience. Building structure, continuity and “As a Pakeha living in Aotearoa, I think coherence on a national scale is where Dr my work as a public historian has led Taewa says a lot of good can be done. me to delve into my family histories and “Now that’s where there is a huge gap and connections to where I live — and it does I’m hoping these changes will correct that.” give you confidence in making sense of your The challenge of teaching history is not world, and your place in it. going to be felt by those in secondary “When I imagine the potential of the schools, because plenty of teachers have new curriculum, for me it is not that history degrees under their belts, he says. we’re trying to create historians, it’s an Primary schools and intermediates acknowledgement that an understanding will have it tough because the teachers of the world in which we live, how we live are specialists in doing everything, not within it, and why things are the way they necessarily history specifically. are, just sets you up for life. Regardless of the challenge, he says “Importantly, the hope that knowledge, history is a vital subject for students in at a very personal and practical level, gives PLAN OF NGATAPA PA: a world drowning in information and The Siege of Ngatapa in January 1869 was one of the worst us empathy for our neighbours, and a Crown atrocities in New Zealand history. Supplied by Tairāwhiti Museum misinformation. foundation of shared understanding to “History teaches us about ourselves, how make positive changes in our communities.” we situate ourselves in history, even if it’s University of Auckland senior lecturer appetite for local history, with an influx of the decision table. not our history that we are learning.” of history Dr Felicity Barnes says if a schools stepping on to the marae, an act he “The work we do in schools and the Being able to critically analyse a source, its country wants to unravel its present it must says resonates with the students. community has brought us to a position context and trustworthiness — be it social understand its past. “Immediately there is a connection going where iwi can contribute and take full media, newspapers or historical sources For her, that means telling more stories on there, they sense a connection,” said Mr advantage of this opportunity to make — is imperative for citizens in a modern than just the Pakeha ones. Gibson. sure that New Zealand histories are democracy, Dr Taewa says. “There has been a lot of emphasis on local Te Runanga o Turanganui a Kiwa delivered with iwi being involved in the Knowing the local history and origins is history and I think we have to make sure was established in 1986 to represent conversation, driving the iwi component of an important part of that, he says. “Many that this isn’t just another opportunity the interests of Rongowhakaata, Ngāi the programme.” people live right next to significant sites in where we tell the settler narrative about Tāmanuhiri and Te Aitanga a Māhaki iwi. Maori are now being asked to advise on our history and have no idea.” New Zealand. Mr Gibson says for a long time only one local history and stories, at the centre of the And there are plenty of stories around “That means not only having stories from version of our history existed, without kōrero. Gisborne, like the Siege of Ngātapa in 1869, Maori but also telling those stories in a much interest in the foundation story of For Mr Gibson, this makes perfect sense. one of the largest losses of life in New Maori way.” Turanganui a Kiwa. “We’ve learned all about your history; isn’t Zealand’s history. To do so, Dr Barnes says we must rethink He says it is important all students it time you learned about ours?” Te Kooti had attacked Matawhero and both the content and the way it is taught. learn our region’s stories, but stresses it is Maori history is an inclusive one, Mr killed between 50 and 70 people, then was While the Government has got behind equally important teachers have the ability Gibson says. pursued by Ngāti Porou and Crown forces. history in schools, groups like Te Runanga and knowledge to pass on those stories “I always say to our visitors to the After an attack on the Ngātapa pa, o Turanganui a Kiwa have been doing it for adequately. marae, ‘when you leave here today, you’ve between 86 and 128 people were executed. years. He is cautiously optimistic. now become part of our whanau. When Tairawhiti Museum director Eloise Wallace Their programme, Te Whanaketanga “It’s quite exciting, but we’ll see how it’s you come back don’t come through the says there are many challenging stories but o Hineakua, helps share stories about managed.” front door, come around the back, grab it is necessary they are told. She believes a ancestors of this region, connecting It helps the move towards teaching a a tea towel, get involved, and have a new curriculum was needed.

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