Have you noticed there’s been a lot of conversation recently about the New Zealand Wars and the New Zealand Curriculum?
The New Zealand Wars occurred across almost three decades. From 1845–1872, conflict between Māori and Pākehā claimed thousands of lives and saw more than 12 million acres of Māori land confiscated or sold. Battles took place all over the country, including famous sieges such as Ruapekapeka pa and Parihaka.
The NZ Wars are an important part of New Zealand’s history, and they still shape our culture today. So why do we see articles asking, “Why are they not taught in schools?”
Well, they are.
Although teaching the New Zealand Wars isn’t compulsory (the New Zealand Curriculum empowers teachers “to look into the opportunities to use local community-based history”), it doesn’t mean it’s not happening.
Here’s what teachers have said:
• “If you know your mahi, in the NZC there are ample opportunities to teach about the importance of the NZ Wars.”
• “We teach the NZ Wars because our whenua and its history are a part of the identity of our students. Identity is a massive part of learning.”
• “We teach the NZ Wars as part of our themes on community and local heritage.”
• “It’s so important our students know their history. A history they can relate to. For many it is their whakapapa, their stories… it’s a part of their identity.”
• “Studying the NZ Wars brought us closer together as a class and created greater acceptance and understanding.”
Want to learn more about and teach the New Zealand Wars? Here are some resources that will help.
Resources for teaching the New Zealand Wars
Your first port of call should be the Māori History framework outlined by the Ministry of Education. This framework helps support teachers in identifying opportunities to teach Māori history in a way that will develop a sense of identity and belonging for students.
Te Ara and NZ History are great places to get information, too!
And here are some of the resources we’ve published in the School Journal for the Ministry of Education. Follow the links to find PDFs of the stories and articles – most have teacher support material to help with your planning, too.
1. Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa/The New Zealand Wars – School Journal Level 4, November 2014
The author of this text, Ross Calman, presents a balanced account of the wars and their impacts. He looks at the circumstances of the wars, including the areas and the tribes involved. There are good general descriptions of the main confrontations and key players (both Māori and British) – a great starting point for you and your class.
2. Ngā Tātarakihi o Parihaka – School Journal Level 4, May 2016
This story by Lucy Ira Bailey is partially based on oral history – the author’s great-grandmother lived at Parihaka at the time of the government raid in 1881. Ngā Tātarakihi o Parihaka tells the story of Parihaka from the perspective of a young girl.
3. Fallen Leaves – School Journal Level 4, November 2016
Fallen Leaves is the fictional account of a young Māori man named Haora who is living in Kororāreka (now Russell) in 1845, the start of the NZ Wars. Author Paul Mason writes about Haora’s work in a printery while a war is building between Hone Heke and the British troops.
4. Hakaraia: Warrior Peacemaker – School Journal Level 4, May 2015
Mark Derby remembers the life of an important Māori leader named Hakaraia in the time just before the NZ Wars. Harakaia adopted Christianity but increasingly struggled with the actions of the government. This article is a good insight into the life and death of a Māori leader who lived on both sides of the Māori/British conflict.
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