Aotearoa New Zealand's histories and Te Takanga o Te Wā

Me mātai whakamuri, kia anga whakamua.
To shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s future, let’s start with the past.

Final content now available

Aotearoa New Zealand is on a journey to ensure that all ākonga in our schools and kura learn how our histories have shaped our present day lives. The final Te Takanga o Te Wā in Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories in The New Zealand Curriculum content is now available. 

The new content will support ākonga to be critical thinkers and understand our past, in order to make sense of the present. The feedback we heard from New Zealanders during the public consultation was invaluable, and we appreciate the input of everyone who took the time to support this important mahi for all the young people of Aotearoa. 

NZSL 

From 2023, Te Takanga o Te Wā and Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories will be part of all kura and schools’ marau ā-kura and local curriculum. The final content has been released in March 2022 to give kura and schools time to plan for implementation of the new curriculum content from term 1 2023. 

Now that the final content has been released, schools and kura will be taking some time to become familiar with the final content. This year there will be opportunities for whānau and communities to contribute to the development of their school or kura local curriculum | marau ā-kura, to include local critical histories. 

View the final national curriculum content, supports and resources for Te Takanga o Te Wā on Kia māhorahora te reo Māori | Kauwhata Reo(external link).

View the final national curriculum content, supports and resources for Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories on Aotearoa New Zealand's histories.(external link)

This update to our national curriculum will ensure that all ākonga leave school or kura with an understanding of our histories, and how they have shaped our nation. 

In the context of school and kura settings across Aotearoa, the national curriculum (which includes The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa) sets out the expectations and requirements for teaching and learning. It contains the learning that all ākonga should experience in schools and kura. 

Marau ā-kura | local curriculum is how to interpret and present Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and The New Zealand Curriculum to ākonga in kura and schools, making it relevant to their current and future lives – their strengths, aspirations and needs. Kura and schools shape their marau ā-kura and local curriculum by collaborating with ākonga, parents, whānau, hapū, iwi and their wider community. The purpose of the marau ā-kura | local curriculum is to be explicit and intentional in delivering teaching and learning to meet the needs and aspirations of ākonga and their whānau. 

Curriculum and assessment changes

Over the next five years Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga - Ministry of Education is undertaking a refresh of the national curriculum, which includes The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa

This work will ensure the national curriculum is clear, easy to use and is delivering inclusive and equitable learning for all ākonga. Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories and Te Takanga o Te Wā marks the first step towards the changes in the respective curriculum documents.   

Te Takanga o Te Wā will be part of the learning under the Tikanga ā-Iwi wāhanga ako of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. More specific information about the redesign Te Marautanga o Aotearoa can be found here: Refresh of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa - kauwhatareo.govt.nz 

Aotearoa New Zealand's histories will be part of the learning under the Social Sciences learning area of The New Zealand Curriculum. More specific information about the refresh of the NZC can be found on Refreshing The New Zealand Curriculum. 

Information on the whole curriculum and assessment changes work programme can be found on this page: Curriculum and assessment changes. 

More information

Implementation information for schools and kura 

Process for creating Te Takanga o Te Wā and Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories content, including reports on the public consultation 

Who we worked with

Key messages and Q&As(external link) [DOCX, 197 KB]

Contact us

For any questions about Te Takanga o Te Wā or Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories, email AotearoaNewZealandHistories@education.govt.nz

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