It’s time to tell our story

A year since the Waikato Times launched its campaign pushing NZ history in schools, the Government acts, reports Aaron Leaman.

A grassroots campaign spearheaded by the Waikato Times pushing for the compulsory teaching of New Zealand history has helped win over the Prime Minister.

Jacinda Ardern announced New Zealand history will be taught in all schools and kura by 2022 – and singled out theTimes’ Time to Tell

Our Story campaign for praise. Ardern, who grew up in Morrinsville and is open about her passion for history, said the Times campaign resonated with her.

‘‘I of course heard the calls from those who embed themselves in the teaching of our history. But to have it being promoted by the paper that serves this area was actually very powerful I thought, '' Ardern said.

‘‘It stood out to me, perhaps knowing the region as well, and knowing some of the things you speak to.''

Following Ardern's visit to Hamilton in June, during which she discussed the Time

to Tell Our Story campaign, she talked to Education Minister Chris Hipkins about the push to make New Zealand history compulsory in schools.

‘‘It prompted me to have a conversation again with the Minister of Education to point out to him that this was becoming equally a grassroots movement.''

Times’ editor Jonathan MacKenzie said he was ‘‘buzzing'' when he heard the news.

‘‘We get a lot of letters from readers who really don't understand what underpins this country and why we are working to right the wrongs of the past, so to have a generation of children raised on facts instead of ignorance will make for a better country and a better future for all of us,'' MacKenzie said.

‘‘From the newspaper's and

Stuff’s point of view we couldn't have asked for more.''

The Times campaign was backed by prominent historians and educational leaders.

New Zealand historian Vincent O'Malley said the Government's announcement exceeded his expectations.

Historians, iwi leaders, young people, and teachers had been calling for several years for New Zealand history to be taught as a compulsory subject, he said.

‘‘It's great news and not before time,'' O'Malley said.

‘‘There has been momentum that's been building up over the last few years around this. In some respect the call for New Zealanders to engage with this history, to own our history, and to understand it, has become almost irresistible.

‘‘There are few countries in the world that don't teach young people the history of the country they grow up in.''

The Times’ campaign gave special prominence to the New Zealand Wars.

The Government said it expects the seminal conflict to be part of the teaching of the country's history.

Teaching young people about the New Zealand Wars is especially important given its significance, O'Malley said.

‘‘The New Zealand Wars were the

‘‘I of course heard the calls from those who embed themselves in the teaching of our history. But to have it being promoted by the paper that serves this area was actually very powerful.’’ PM Jacinda Ardern speaking to the Waikato Times’

Aaron Leaman TOM LEE/STUFF

defining conflict in our history.

‘‘I’ve argued that in many ways they were far more important than either World War I or World War II in terms of the transformational effect that they had for the country as a whole.’’

In 2018, Hamilton’s Fairfield College unveiled a pou commemorating those who fought in the New Zealand Wars.

Fairfield College principal Richard Crawford said it’s crucial young people learn about the conflict. The Government’s announcement reassures him the work he and other schools are doing is important, he said.

‘‘What the Government is saying is, just as maths is important, just as English is important, just as science is important, New Zealand history is also important.

‘‘To me, that’s no longer negotiable.’’

Yesterday’s announcement coincides with the unveiling of a New Zealand Wars parliamentary plaque in Wellington.

‘‘For me, the New Zealand Wars is an important part of our history but it’s also about place,’’ Ardern said.

‘‘It teaches us about the history of the land, and the people of the land through time.’’

In June, the New Zealand History Teachers’ Association presented a petition to Parliament calling for the ‘‘coherent’’ teaching of New Zealand history to be made compulsory in schools.

And in 2015, O¯ torohanga College students started a petition calling for a national day of commemoration for the New Zealand Wars and an introduction of local histories in the New Zealand curriculum.

Ardern said there’s ‘‘huge enthusiasm’’ among Cabinet members for the move to make the teaching of New Zealand history compulsory.