NZ Wars helps students find identity
Stuff asks why the seminal event of our history – the New Zealand Wars – isn’t taught across the board in schools and how that could change.
At Hamilton Junior High School, the ‘‘voices’’ of the New Zealand Wars are being revived and heard.
Students learn about the event throughout the curriculum and across the school year.
Learning about the New Zealand Wars isn’t confined to textbooks but includes field trips and visits to marae.
Student Chris Ropitini, 13, said learning about the New Zealand Wars gave him the chance to learn about his ancestors.
‘‘It helps me know where we’re from, where we’re going, and who we are,’’ Chris said.
Currently, the Education Ministry gives schools the option to teach the New Zealand Wars.
For Kyra Cashmore, 12, her school studies have enabled to her understand New Zealand history from different perspectives.
‘‘We’re taught both sides of the story,’’ she said.
Public debate over the New Zealand Wars has ramped up in recent weeks following an attack on the Captain Hamilton statue in August.
Taitimu Maipi took to the statue with red paint and a hammer, accusing Hamilton of being a murderer.
Teacher Jodie Mason said following news coverage of the event, students had their own questions they wanted to research.
‘‘Students wanted to know if there were street names that were connected to people who had fought on the British side during the New Zealand Wars,’’ she said ‘‘and they wanted to know who is Taitimu Maipi. People talk about being reo champions but why don’t we be voices of the war? Let’s open up and talk about our war stories and our ancestors.’’