Many of our Local Geographies are part of the National History We Must Own

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One advantage of old age is a long and generally instructive memory. So long, in my case, that I've almost become a part of history, from the years when Maori were hardly seen and never heard, to today when many Maori and Paheka are speaking out for a truly inclusive New Zealand.

The Death Ship and a Cannon over Parihaka: two Anniversaries

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 Yesterday (Tuesday) was the 100th anniversary of the arrival in Samoa of the NZ ship SS Talune that introduced pneumonic influenza, killing 8,600 people, 25% of the population, in eight weeks. In Fiji and Tonga between 5-10% of the population died.

NZ's School System 'Racist' for Failing to Teach Colonial History: Academics

Two academics are claiming a subset of New Zealand teachers are refusing to teach the country's colonial history, reports Stuff. They're calling on the government to audit schools, and to survey schools on what exactly is in the history curriculum. The University of Canterbury academics say to not teach topics like the New Zealand wars is a dereliction of professional standards. -- The Spinoff 

(Click on Stuff above to listen to Minister of Education Chris Hipkins; and then read on.

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