The government is proposing significant changes to the teaching of Aotearoa New Zealand histories in schools. We encourage you to make a submission on these reforms by 24 April 2026. Here is some background to this issue:
For over 180 years there was no requirement in our national curriculum to teach the histories of Aotearoa. Generations of New Zealanders did not learn about the events that have shaped us.
After many years of advocating by Māori and tangata Tiriti allies for Aotearoa NZ histories (ANZH) to be a required part of learning in our schools, an extensive development process was undertaken involving hapū, iwi, historians, teachers, and Te Tiriti educators. Content for ANZH and Te Takanga o Te Wā (the histories curriculum for Te Marautanga o Aotearoa) was made available in 2022 and became a core part of the curriculum for Years 1-10 in 2023.
As Bronwyn Houliston, Jane Jarmen and Kārena Ngata note:
The absence of that knowledge became a wound; festering into poorly informed, even racist, rhetoric around rights and privilege…. The ANZH was designed as a rongoā – a salve – for that wound, holding the potential to heal and nurture a more just and thriving Aotearoa New Zealand.
The curriculum has ensured young people could learn about our past and explore what this means for our present and future. Since its introduction, there have been many initiatives around the country leading to greater engagement of schools with local whānau, hapū and iwi and local histories. Research by NZCER has found a positive response to the curriculum from teachers and communities.
However, the coalition government has made changes to the social sciences learning area and the ANZH will no longer exist as a standalone curriculum area. What took years of careful development involving key stakeholders is to be replaced by a new social sciences curriculum drafted in only six months.
The proposed curriculum minimises Māori histories and agency while foregrounding European “civilisation and progress” without acknowledging the harms of colonisation. It has been criticised by history teachers as being overcrowded, lacking focus and ignoring their input.
These changes take us backwards in very harmful ways. We encourage you to provide feedback on the proposed curriculum. Share why our curriculum including Māori histories, colonisation and its impacts, and building accurate understandings of the enduring importance of He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti is vital for current and future generations.
Provide feedback here before 24 April 2026. Please note the feedback form is lengthy, if you wish to give general feedback you can click through to question 16 to provide overall comments.
Tiriti Action Group Pōneke 