Aotearoa, New Zealand’s Histories Curriculum

Aotearoa, New Zealand’s Histories Curriculum

The revitalised site is intentionally designed with the Aotearoa, New Zealand histories curriculum in mind. The curriculum is structured around four main ideas: Māori history as the foundational history, colonisation, the use of power, and relationships and the connections between people. It utilises the “Understand, Know, Do” progression model, where students develop knowledge of historical contexts, engage with big ideas and participate in enquiry-based learning.

Stories in this site can be browsed using the following curriculum-context categories. Stories often relate to two or more of the categories and in some instances all four. We tried our best to link them to the most appropriates context, but understand interpretation is fluid.

This guide is designed to support Kaiako in the Rotorua district, particularly those teaching History in English medium settings, to engage in a Te Tīriti o Waitangi honouring approach to working with ngā taonga tuku iho (including local traditional narratives of Tangata Whenua). It was the product of a collaboration between Rangitihi Pene (Te Aka Mauri), Rangitiaria Tibble (Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue), Manaaki Pene (Curator – Te Whare Taonga o Rotorua), Taupopoki George McLeod (Education Team – Te Whare Taonga o Rotorua) and Kārena Ngata (New Zealand History Teachers’ Association).

More information about the curriculum contexts

Whakapapa me te Whanaungatanga
Culture and Identity

Exploring the past’s influence on current culture, familial bonds, and collective identities. Including the following themes: Origin, creation and tribal pūrākau, pre-arrival and pre-Aotearoa, pacific roots, navigation, maintaining these connections and early discovery, exploration and arrival.

Tūrangawaewae me te Kaitiakitanga
Place and Environment

Investigating the relationship between people and the land, water and resources and the history of their control and use. Including the following themes: Belonging, marae, Hapū, iwi, whenua and landscape, geology and geographic phenomena, buildings, natural events such as the Tarawera eruption.

Kōwhinga ohaoha me te Whai Oranga
Economic activity

Examining the choices people have made to meet their needs, how they have made a living, and the resulting interactions and exchanges. Including the following themes: Clothing, work, food, shelter, import, export, cultivation, aquaculture, horticulture farming, industry, business, technology, trade and exchange, modern daydreams and aspirations, urban drift and tourism.

Tino Rangatiratanga me te Kāwanatanga
Government and organisation

Studying the history of authority, control and the Treaty of Waitangi, including relationships between government and people. Including the following themes: First contact, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, New Zealand Land Wars, colonisation, impact of migration and early settler, religion and missionaries, education institutes.