Rationale

This unit of work is designed to complement a history teaching programme at NCEA Level 1. It focuses specifically on the causes, events and consequences of the Māori Battalion’s participation in World War Two, using this resource Kia Mau and other relevant resources. It also asks students to compare perspectives on the Māori Battalion from different people and groups, as well as the students’ own perceptions.

Achievement objectives

Achievement objective 6.1

Students will gain knowledge, skills, and experience to:

• understand how the causes and consequences of past events that are of significance to New Zealanders shape the lives of people and society.

Indicators:

• Selects and explains the causes of past events
• Orders past events in terms of importance
• Identifies the consequences of past events
• Links the causes and consequences

Achievement objective 6.2

Students will gain knowledge, skills, and experience to:

• understand how people’s perspectives on past events that are of significance to New Zealanders differ.

Indicators:

• Identifies and describes perspectives on a past event
• Debates an event from different perspectives
• Makes links or contrasts between the experiences of people in the past and their own experiences
• Compares their experiences with those of people in the past

Prior learning

Students could have prior knowledge of:

• The origins of World War Two
• Previous conflicts in which New Zealand and/or Māori troops fought, for example the New Zealand Wars, the Boer War, World War One
• The New Zealand Expeditionary Force and its role in the allied war plans

Indicators, lesson ideas and resource links

Assessment

Students could:

• Conduct an inquiry of the Māori Battalion for their major historical investigation (Achievement Standard 91001) or select an historical figure as part of a study of Māori Leadership (for example Ngata or Te Puea).
• Complete an historical perspectives task (Achievement Standard 91002) on differing views regarding Haane Manahi’s demotion to a DCM rather than the Victoria Cross. Perspectives could include: a General in the British Army; a soldier in the Māori Battalion; the official in the British War Office who declined Manahi the VC; a contemporary figure such as politician Phil Goff (who became embroiled in the controversy in 2006) or historian Paul Moon.
• Use the Māori Battalion to meet Achievement Standard 91006: “Describe how a significant historical event affected New Zealand society”. Students could use World War Two and/or the Māori Battalion as the event, and provide detail of its consequences, particularly for Māori communities before, during and after the war.

Sample assessment activity: Level 1 history

Attached is a sample assessment activity based on Achievement Standard 91006: “Describe how a significant historical event affected New Zealand society”. This is the most likely template the examiner will use for this standard from 2011 onwards:

Teaching and assessment links:

• NCEA Level 1 History - Internal and External Assessment Specifications
• Otago Area History Teachers’ Association web page - valuable material and thinking around the history curriculum guidelines. Apply for a password through the site administrator.