New resources inspire ākonga

Tauira o Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiū o Ngāti Porou: Ramari-Peri, Tamera, Emelee, Bobbi and Harmony stand with the new resources at the launch in Ruatoria. 

The Uepohatu Memorial Hall in Ruatoria made a fitting location for the launch of the learning resource in July. The hall proudly overlooks Whakarua Park, home of the Ngāti Porou East Coast Rugby Union.

Just before 10.30am, the sounds of ākonga practising waiata and kapa haka filled the hall as they put the finishing touches on their performances.

The event began with pōhiri, in which distinguished speakers gave whaikōrero paying respect to those who had gone before. 

Hon Kelvin Davis, the Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education) with Hon Peeni Henare, the Member of Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau, who is of Ngāti Hine and Ngāpuhi descent. 

Following the pōhiri, Hon Kelvin Davis, the Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education), officially launched the learning resource, sharing his thoughts on the influence of the 28th (Māori) Battalion in war and in shaping our modern nation: 

“Now these resources aren’t here just for us to learn about what the Māori battalion did in war, but it’s also for us to understand and realise the impact of what their actions had on us as Māori and the impact they’re having on us now,” he said. 

“Because when we think about it, over 3,000 of our uncles and whānau left overseas and about 600 never came back and we just need to imagine the impact that that loss of 600 leaders being lost to Māoridom had, and the implications that we are still feeling today because of that, 80 years later.”

Minister Davis encouraged those present to think about what the sacrifice of the 28th (Māori) Battalion, including that of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu VC, means to ākonga and young people today.

“What a legacy Ngarimu left us, what an example he left for us, and the thing, in my opinion, is that we need to continue to honour his legacy, and his deeds, and his sacrifice by being the best Māori that we can be.”

There were nine kura present at the launch of the learning resource: Hiruharama School; Tolaga Bay Area School (Kuranui); Makarika School; Ngata Memorial College; Potaka School; Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti; Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiū o Ngāti Porou; Te Kura Mana Māori o Whangaparaoa; Te Waha o Rerekohu. 

Ākonga kōrero

Education Gazette asked Tamera Cross-Morice, a student at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiū o Ngāti Porou, to share some of her thoughts on the day.

He pēhea ki a koe te hui hei whakarewa i ngā rauemi mō Ngarimu VC me te Ope Māori 28?

Katahi te hui whakamiharo ko tera, te hui whakarewa i nga rauemi mo Ngarimu VC me te Ope Māori 28. Hihiko ana taku wairua ki te whai wahi ki te pohiri atu ki te Minita Mātauranga me tona ope katoa. 

He aha rā te tikanga o te rauemi mō Ngarimu VC me te Ope Māori 28 ki a koe? 

Waimarie matau o te Tairawhiti - kua roa matau e ako ana, e mau pumau ana ki nga purakau, nga korero, me nga waiata e hangai ana ki a tatau hoia. Ko te mea hoki he hononga hangai wa matau ki nga hoia. Engari, ki taku whakaaro, ko te tino wariu o enei rauemi ko te tautoko i nga kaiako me nga tauira o nga kura auraki. Kei whea mai tena. 

He aha te wāhanga pai o tēnei rā ki a koe? 

Ko te wahanga pai ki au ko te whakarongo ki nga korero a nga minita, na ratau i whakatapu i nga rauemi. I au e whakarongo ana ki a Papa Boycie Te Maro, ka taka te kapa mo te hohonu me te hiranga o enei rauemi. He timatanga ano tenei mo nga hitori o a tatau hoia Māori.  

How did you find the Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion learning resource launch?

The hui to launch the resources for Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion was an amazing event. I was so glad that I was able to take part in the welcome to the Minister of Education and all those who accompanied him. 

What does the Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion learning resource mean to you?

We, here on the East Coast are fortunate – for so long now, we have learned and retained all the stories, in written form and songs about our soldiers and their deeds during the war. Mainly because we have such strong connections to those men. But, in my view, the real value of these resources is that we have something to support teachers and students in the mainstream schools. That’s wonderful. 

What was your favourite part of the day?

My favourite part was listening to the things our ministers had to say, when they blessed the resources. While I was listening to Papa Boycie Te Maro, it was then than I realised the true depth and significance of these resources. It is another starting point in learning about the histories of our Māori soldiers. 

The Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Learning Resource is for tamariki of all ages, whānau, kura and schools.

Social inquiry learning

The learning resource is based on social inquiry learning. This means it focuses on using the process of ‘social inquiry’, whereby students ask questions, process information, and communicate findings; investigate differing perspectives, values and positions and the reasons for these; and examine issues, identify solutions, evaluate outcomes and make decisions about possible social action. 

This learning resource fits within Te Whakaritenga Pāpori Me Te Ahurea and Te Ao Hurihuri in Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, and within Te Takanga o Te Wā, Social Studies and Aotearoa New Zealand Histories in the Social Sciences learning area of The New Zealand Curriculum. 

For more information on the learning resource, visit kauwhatareo.govt.nz(external link). Here you can view the resource in te reo Māori or English. 

For more information about the Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships, visit  Education.govt.nz(external link) and Looking to the past to understand the present: launch of a new learning resource on the 28th (Māori) Battalion – Education Gazette(external link)