Honouring our stories
Hirini Henare is a kauma¯tua from Nga¯ti Hine. In every whaiko¯rero he gives, every speech he makes, he talks about our part in the New Zealand Wars. I could listen to him all day, telling stories of our people, the battles, the loss of life and land, about who our t¯ıpuna were — their courage and bravery.
He tells a story about one particular kuia in the Northern Wars.
The wife of a warrior from Nga¯ti Hau/Nga¯ti Hine, she fought in many battles alongside her husband. Her job was to take her husband’s gun, load it with gun powder and then a musket ball, hand it back to her husband, who aimed and fired the gun against the Red Coats, then he would hand it back to her again. Gun powder, musket ball, hand back to her husband, over and over again.
When the battle moved to Ruapekapeka, the kuia was there. But this time, alone.
She had to become the warrior. She loaded the gun, aimed and fired the shot. The kuia fell at Ruapekapeka, like her husband in the battle before.
War was not just fought by men. Our women were warriors too.
I have stood at Ruapekapeka and wondered about that kuia. Was she scared? Did she think of her children? Did she have time to grieve for her husband? I don’t have the answers. What I do know is that I honour her place, I honour her sacrifice — by remembering her story.
I spoke about this kuia and the importance of remembering stories such as hers early last Thursday morning at Parliament, when I joined Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard to unveil a plaque commemorating the New Zealand Wars. Following the unveiling, Jacinda made the significant announcement that New Zealand history will be taught in all schools and kura by 2022.
Our government has heard the mounting calls from New Zealanders to know more about our own history and identity. The National Curriculum currently allows schools and kura to decide how our history is covered, but differences in delivery mean too much is left to chance in what is taught and learnt. These changes will make clear the expectation that our history is part of the local curriculum and marau a¯ kura in every school and kura, and means all learners will know key features of our history and how these have shaped our nation.
Topics¯will include the arrival of Ma¯ori in Aotearoa, first encounters and early colonial history, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the New Zealand Wars, and our evolving national identity from the late 19th Century to today. We will work collaboratively with experts, iwi and mana whenua, Pacific communities, students and wha¯nau, and other groups to shape how New Zealand history is taught.
This change is about honouring every story. Because they are our stories. They are part of us, of who we are. And they will continue to shape who we, as a country, will be.
"These changes will make clear the expectation that our history is part of the local curriculum and marau a¯ kura in every school and kura, and means all learners will know key features of our history. "