Schools tap into local knowledge

Plans are in place to commemorate Captain Cook’s arrival in New Zealand by teaching young Kiwis about the country’s dual heritage.

The Ministry of Education is working in conjunction with Tuia Encounters 250 to introduce a new subject into the national school curriculum.

The curriculum, set to commence in 2019, would teach students about the first encounters between Ma¯ori and Europeans.

Totaranui 250 Trust member and Whitney Street School principal Cheryl Wadworth said e-book stories from each region would be used to help incorporate local knowledge into the curriculum.

‘‘[The e-books] could be accessed by all kids in New Zealand,’’ Wadworth said.

‘‘These digital and interactive books will be aimed at both junior and senior levels.

‘‘We hope to make them flexible so that each child can learn at their own pace.’’

Totaranui 250 Trust co-chair Raymond Smith said three stories from the Marlborough region would feed into the national curriculum.

‘‘The first e-book would focus on the careening of the Endeavour at Ship Cove [in Queen Charlotte Sound],’’ Smith said.

‘‘The second would focus on Cook’s lookout on Arapaoa Island, and how Cook disproved the southern continent theory that New Zealand was just one big island.’’

The third e-book would focus

on Motuara Island, which was where Cook ‘‘proclaimed the South Island on behalf of King George III’’, Smith said.

‘‘It would explore the significance of place names before and after the arrival of Europeans.’’

Wadworth said it would be ‘‘great to have local culture and heritage being a focus in all schools’’.

‘‘Schools could introduce the curriculum before the Endeavour’s arrival in Marlborough next December, cultivating learning at the event,’’ Wadworth said.‘‘or, the event could take place and schools could use it to springboard [the curriculum] from there.’’

Commemorations in Marlborough would begin with a visit from a replica of The Endeavour in late November 2019, as it was not available on January 15, 2020, which was when Cook landed at Ship Cove 250 years ago.