View a plain text version

July 2016

Learning, a key focus of new Archive Exhibition

Finja and Ben Stoeveken of Wellington recently visited the Archives New Zealand Constitution Room. From early next year our nation’s constitutional taonga will be the centrepiece of the new Archive Exhibition at the nearby National Library of  New Zealand.

Learning opportunities for students between 10 and 15 years are a primary objective of the new Archive Exhibition, to open in the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington early 2017.

The permanent exhibition features the constitutional documents that shape our nation:

• 1835 He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni – Declaration of Independence  of the United Tribes of New Zealand
• 1840 Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Treaty of Waitangi
• 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition – Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine.

National Librarian, Bill Macnaught, who is responsible for the National Library of New Zealand’s Service to Schools programme, says the Archive Exhibition is being created “with young people in mind”.

“It will tell the stories of the documents, explain their significance and encourage debate about how they will influence our future as a people and a nation. 
 
“The exhibition’s interpretive area will be a colourful and lively space with interactive features and learning areas for school groups. Our wish is that all young New Zealanders will be able to visit this exhibition once during their school years.

“But for those who can’t visit in person, or who want to know more about our founding documents, the exhibition’s online site will provide a wealth of learning material about these powerful constitutional treasures.”

While the exhibition is in the National Library of New Zealand, the primary responsibility for the ongoing care of the documents remains with the Chief Archivist and Archive New Zealand.

Learning specialists developing Archive Exhibition resources

Learning specialists Kate Potter (left) and Arapine Walker.

The National Library of New Zealand has appointed two of its learning specialists to guide the development of resources for the new Archive Exhibition. Arapine Walker (Poutiaki Rauemi, Services to Schools) has spent many years as a parent, kaiako and advisor to kura kaupapa Māori around the country.

“I’m looking forward to assisting the development of resources for Māori medium that allow students to critically examine their own tribal histories within the wider picture of New Zealand society, drawing from the past to make sense of the present and inform the future. It’s an opportunity to develop some really exciting and relevant material in conjunction with kura communities.” 

Kate Potter (Learning Specialist) is a secondary school teacher with a background in museum work and educational resource development. “The primary goal of the learning resources is to support students to think critically and with empathy about Aotearoa New Zealand society today. It’s important for young New Zealanders to understand our complex history and to consider their own roles as active citizens. I can’t think of a job I would rather do.”

Online exhibition resources for students and teachers 

A range of online learning resources will be available for students and teachers to support the new Archive Exhibition. The resources will be aligned with achievement objectives in The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. The resources will have a citizenship focus, exploring the relevance of all three documents to contemporary issues and supporting teachers to emphasise New Zealand history within their learning programmes. The learning programmes offered at the National Library of New Zealand will be both stand-alone and collaborations with other Wellington institutions such as Parliament and the Wellington Museum.

Year 11 student  Ella Thorpe – researching suffragists for new exhibition

Ella Thorpe, a Year 11 student at Wellington Girls College, has been researching 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition signatories for the new Archive Exhibition. 
She joins a number of professional researchers and archivists who are preparing short biographies of signatories to be included in one of the exhibition’s interactive features. 

After selecting a name from a designated petition page, Ella uses resources such as Papers Past and online government records to find out as much as she can about the chosen signatory. Says Ella: “I have found this project utterly fascinating.

“These women took part in an event that changed New Zealand forever, but lived very normal lives for their time. 

“Comparing their lives to women in New Zealand today has been interesting. For example, it might not be common to have six children today but in the time of the suffragists, women would often have even more than six! 

“I get a real buzz when I find new information about the signatories. It’s amazing to be able to get information about people who were born more than a century ago just by going online.”
 

To forward this newsletter to your network please use the forward button below. You may subscribe to receive future email newsletters here.

For further information, please go to
dia.govt.nz/Archive-Exhibition-Project
or contact archiveexhibition@dia.govt.nz