The Aotearoa New Zealand Histories draft curriculum is open for public feedback until May 31st. Finalised content will become compulsory in all schools for Years 1 to 10 from the start of 2022. Michael Belgrave, co-chair of the Royal Society expert panel on the draft, described the move towards compulsion as “revolutionary” and “a major development in New Zealand’s story of itself”. Working on the writing team that produced the draft, Nēpia Mahuika (Ngāti Porou) recalled the difficulty of the task: “We’re challenging generations of history learning and programming about New Zealand’s past that has been done a particular way over a long time. It’s not easy to do that”. This seminar takes the form of a provocation workshop in which participants will critique the draft — its strengths and possibilities, and the potential pitfalls and challenges ahead for its implementation, the aim being to encourage all in attendance to complete the Ministry’s online consultation survey before the end of May.

On hand to introduce and facilitate the discussion:

Hēmi Dale (Te Rarawa and Te Aupōuri) co-writer of Te Takanga o te Wā, the new history whenu (strand) of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, the Maori-medium curriculum

Tamsin Hanly professional developer and convenor in 125 schools to date of the Critical Programme Resource (CPR) on our histories

Alison Jones chronicler of early Māori–Pākehā educational engagement

Rose Yukich researcher on the experiences of secondary school history teachers.

In preparation for the workshop, please read the draft document (see link below).

Important links:

(Draft) Aotearoa NZ Histories in the New Zealand Curriculum (English medium)

(Draft) Te Takanga o te Wā/Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (Māori medium)

Public consultation survey