New history curriculum brings benefits
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Rangiora High School is leading the way in adopting the new history curriculum.
The Aotearoa New Zealand history curriculum was introduced in term one this year, but Rangiora High School began implementing some of the new curriculum last year in collaboration with its partner Pūketeraki Kahui Ako (community of learning) schools.
"It was launched as a document last year and we started working around it late last year, and we have implemented more of it this year," social sciences leader of learning Rebecca Sweney-McKee said.
"We were the first off the rack for years 1 to 10 and we are leading the way."
Schools have until 2026 to fully embed the new curriculum, which is integrated into social studies for years 1 to 10, while the NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3 history curriculum has also been refreshed.
Sweney-McKee said the benefit of working collaboratively across the Kahui Ako meant there was some consistency in learning across the schools.
The Pūketeraki Kahui Ako schools were now teaching the background to the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in years 7 and 8, meaning the focus at high school could move on to "what happened next".
She said the new Aotearoa New Zealand history curriculum was not all about Māori history.
"But Māori history is given more of a focus and an equal status."
Rangiora High School’s year 9 and 10 students were learning about topics such as the New Zealand Land Wars, the Waitangi Tribunal, Bastion Point, the Dawn Raids, the 1981 Springbok tour, the nuclear free movement and the recent Ihumātao land settlement.
"And in a few years time we might be looking at things like Covid."
While it was mostly New Zealand history, there was plenty of scope for some international context.
"The year 10s have been doing social action for human rights looking at Rosa Parks and the bus boycotts alongside Bastion Point.
"And you can’t look at the Springbok tour without the context of what was happening in South Africa."
With the focus on climate change, the year 9s were learning about social action for the environment, looking at degradation in general and from a Māori kaitiakitanga perspective.
Sweney-McKee said the school was rebuilding its social science curriculum, with good support for its NCEA history classes.
"It is becoming more relevant and for people considering law degrees, it is going to set students up with a really good foundational understanding of our history and the development of human rights.
"If you can understand how people form their views and why they have them, you can function better in society."
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Fears motorway toll could leave North Canterbury town worse off
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A community leader fears a toll on the proposed motorway extension could leave a North Canterbury town worse off.
Woodend-Sefton Community Board chairperson Shona Powell said she fears Woodend could face increased traffic without promised safety improvements, if a toll is introduced on the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway extension, which includes the proposed Woodend Bypass.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) last month announced consultation for a toll of $4.30 for light vehicles and $8.60 for heavy vehicles (including trucks) on the new 11km Manawatu Gorge Motorway, which will be completed next year.
It means commuters could be stung with paying an extra $43 a week in their travel costs.
The agency said the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway extension will be 9km, including the Woodend Bypass and the realignment and four laning south of Pineacres.
Woodend residents have been waiting for safety improvements since NZTA began consulting with the community eight years ago.
But the safety improvements have been placed on hold, pending the progress of the motorway extension.
‘‘My biggest concern is people will continue using the existing road through Woodend and will go through Kaiapoi or Tuahiwi to avoid paying the toll,’’ Powell said.
‘‘And Woodend may not get the safety improvements, so nothing changes.’’
Powell was also concerned the speed reduction from 100kph to 80kph on State Highway 1 between the Pegasus roundabout and Waikuku could be reversed, following changes to the Setting of Speed Limits rule being announced.
‘‘It was a speed limit requested by the community as a safety improvement.
‘‘To go back to having that fast speed limit for traffic coming from the north, it would just be disastrous.’’
NZTA director regional relationships James Caygill said the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on land transport requires the agency to consider tolling for new roads.
‘‘But it is too soon to discuss any potential tolling options until the scope and cost of this project has been confirmed’’.
Caygill was unable to confirm whether the 80kph speed limit between Pegasus and Waikuku would remain.
He said the agency will identify locations affected by the rule once it is finalised later in the year.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown said Waka Kotahi ‘‘is working at pace’’ to deliver the motorway extension.
‘‘NZTA’s project teams are reviewing the scope, design, cost, and timing of all Roads of National Significance projects to ensure consistency with expectations in the GPS on Land Transport 2024.’’
He said Government ‘‘will support any recommendation from NZTA to toll roads’’.
The Government was also committed to ‘‘reversing Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions’’, Brown said.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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