Rich resource of online content

EPIC(external link) is a consortium of New Zealand library and information organisations which provides access to thousands of curriculum-related resources for students and staff to use at school and home.

Content is professionally curated, allows quick fact-finding along with in-depth coverage of topics, and is available 24/7. Many of the resources are updated daily. Any number of users can access EPIC resources at one time and these resources can be accessed online from any web-enabled device.

The Ministry of Education subscribes to a range of EPIC resources to make them freely available to all New Zealand schools.

E-resources currently available include general reference tools, multimedia subject-specific resources, eBook collections, and databases providing access to full text journal, magazine and newspaper articles.

New Zealand content

Over the last few years there has been an increase in the amount of New Zealand content made available through EPIC.

New Zealand Geographic Online provides access to the entire archive of the magazine dating back to 1989, as well as access to current and newly published editions. Here are some examples of articles:

• A Leap into the Light, by Sandra Coney (Issue 020 Oct-Dec 1993) – prominent feminist Sandra Coney outlines how New Zealand women got the right to vote in 1893.
• Tainted Games, by Geoff Chapple (Issue 092 July-Aug 2008 – documents from 1975–1985 when sports and politics collided in New Zealand.
• Brother and Sister, by Anke Richter and Kate Evans (Issue 157 May-Jun 2019) – Brothers and sisters discussing the aftermath of the Christchurch Mosque attacks.

The Bridget Williams Books – Treaty of Waitangi Collection provides access to works published by BWB about the Treaty of Waitangi, including:

• Tangata Whenua: A History, by Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney and Aroha Harris.
• The Treaty of Waitangi, by Claudia Orange.
• The Story of the Treaty, by Claudia Orange.
• An Illustrated History of the Treaty of Waitangi, by Claudia Orange.

The Bridget Williams Books – New Zealand History Collection has recently been added to the EPIC resources. Access has been fully funded through to July 2020 by Te Puni Kōkiri. Titles include:

• Vincent O’Malley’s The New Zealand Wars: Ngā Pakanga o Aotearoa.
• Marilyn Waring’s new autobiography – Marilyn Waring: The Political Years.
• Michael King’s Bombing of the Rainbow Warrior: The Intimate Story of Two French Agents and the New Zealand Police.
• The 9th Floor: Conversations with Five New Zealand Prime Ministers the book written to support Guyon Espiner and Tim Watkins’ 2018 RNZ podcast.

The Australia New Zealand Reference Centre Plus provides access to the largest collection of full-text New Zealand and Australian magazines, newspapers and reference content in one place. Up-to-date full text articles from most New Zealand daily papers, magazines and journals including North and South, Architecture New Zealand and Heritage New Zealand.

How to access EPIC

Every New Zealand school is assigned an EPIC school login, which can be used by staff and students. For EPIC school login queries, email epic@epic.org.nz from your New Zealand school email address.

The downloadable EPIC resources guide(external link) gives a good overview of the wide curriculum coverage on offer to schools.