Hands-on learning with a Waipā flavour
‘‘We get amazing feedback and people leave with a real appreciation for our history and our district.’’
Anne Blyth Te Awamutu Museum director
From the Land Wars to wearable art, students from all over the North Island can experience hands-on learning with a Waipā flavour.
Te Awamutu Museum has once again won a three-year Ministry of Education contract to ‘‘enrich local curriculum experiences’’ – the only Waikato museum to do so, a Waipā District Council statement said.
For the first time, preschoolers will have their own programme.
Overall, 71 providers around New Zealand have won one of the contracts, including the Waitomo Caves Museum and Hamilton Zoo.
In Waipā’s favour is its mix of significant historical sites and its striking natural landscapes, museum director Anne Blyth said.
Education programmes at the museum vary but there’s often a focus on the New Zealand Land Wars, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the natural world and wearable art.
Many involve visits to significant Waipā sites – like Rangiaowhia, O-Rākau, Lake Ngā Roto and the Alexandra Redoubt – and all programmes have a Waipā focus, she said.
Over the 25 years the museum has held the contestable education contracts, it had welcomed more than 80,000 students from Whangaparaoa Peninsula to Wellington – and in between, the council said.
‘‘For a small museum, we do punch above our weight in terms of what we can deliver to students and I think this is reflected in the success we have had in delivering educational programmes,’’ she said.
The museum was founded in 1935 and having ‘‘fabulous resources and staff to call upon’’ allowed it to connect Waipā and the greater Waikato with nationally significant stories, places and taonga.
Waipā is one of New Zealand’s most significant districts in terms of the Land Wars and inter-tribal conflict, she said.
‘‘Plus we have striking natural landscapes on our doorstep including our maunga – Kakepuku, Pirongia and Maungatautari – which also hold unique stories. It’s a privilege to be able to share those stories with young people and is an important part of what we do.’’
Customised programmes are created for kura and other organisations by Te Awamutu Museum education facilitator Kerrin Carr and other museum and council staff.
‘‘We have a very experienced and dedicated team and we’re all passionate about history, culture and arts,’’ Blyth said.
‘‘We get amazing feedback and people leave with a real appreciation for our history and our district.’’
The new government contract will involve museum staff offering programmes for pre-schoolers for the first time, introducing them to what museums offer.
Most programmes from the museum are for older students and support the New Zealand curriculum.
Curriculum changes mean New Zealand history will be taught in all schools and kura from this year, and Blyth said there had been a growing awareness and increasing demand for ‘‘uniquely New Zealand stories’’ even before this was announced.
‘‘Of course we have been advocating for this for a very long time so we’re happy to be part of this movement and to be sharing our knowledge and resources.’’