Learning intentions

Community connections and participation are an important part of who we are and where we belong. Our personal and shared stories contribute to our collective identity.

Learning intentions for this experience are:

• Explore local rohe | region and community stories.
• Understand how the past influences the present.
• Explore how people participate in local decision-making.
• Collaborate to investigate local stories.

Kōrero | Discussion

• What is community?
• Who is in your community? Consider mana whenua, whānau, organisations, services, roles and functions, for example: schools and clubs. Consider people, place, and equipment.
• What makes your whānau, iwi, culture, and community unique?
• What do you know about your local clubs? Consider when they began? How many teams? Where is it? What are the on-field and off-field roles and responsibilities in the club?

Ngā ngohe | Activities

History is now

Research the history of your school, kura, or local club or field.

Explore the following:

• Māori pastimes and games, including Traditional Māori games – ngā tākaro Kaitiakitanga: how are the land and buildings protected and looked after?
  
  
• Pūrākau | stories and legends about people and land;​
  - How Maui Captured the Sun.
  - How Kiwi Lost Its Wings.
  - Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku.
  - Nine Stars of Matariki.
  
  
• Record or create an historical story or pūrākau as a short film, picture book, mural, or comic strip. Think about the following:
  - Does your rohe have other names?
  - What are the stories about names?
  - What is the story behind local street names?
  - What happened here?
  - How has the past influenced the present?
  - Are there any challenges or risks to the whenua?
  - What are some possible solutions?
  - What might the land and buildings look like in future?
  
  
• Share stories and discuss how the past influences the future. ​

Map your rohe

• Use Google Earth to create a map or model of your rohe.
• Include schools, kura, clubs, sports fields and features (rivers, the coastline, shops, and parks).
• Identify places of interest including club and field, schools, kura, local mahinga kai | food gathering and growing places, land features, and buildings.
• How has the whenua | land been used in the past?
• Consider how Te Tiriti o Waitangi relationships work in your community. How are local ideas and issues about land use discussed? How are decisions made?
• Create a photo montage, video, picture or mural about a location or venue in your rohe (example, club or field, school or kura). Consider possible changes in the next 5, 10, and 50 years.
• Discuss what actions are needed to support local environmental sustainability?
• Consider how you can participate in kaitiakitanga.

Kuputaka | Glossary

• Kaitiakitanga: how the land and buildings protected and looked after.
• Pūrākau: stories and legends about people and land.
• Tikanga: customs and traditions.
• Rohe: region.