Whakataukī | Proverb
"He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata"
What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.
This lesson explores Te Tiriti o Waitangi, a foundational document built on the relationships between peoples.
🎯 Learning Objectives
Knowledge
- Identify the key participants and motivations behind Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- Understand the key differences between the Te Reo Māori and English versions.
- Recognise the immediate and long-term consequences of the treaty's signing.
Skills
- Develop active listening and note-taking skills from an audio source.
- Analyse historical narratives and identify different perspectives.
- Synthesise information from a podcast to form an evidence-based opinion.
Values
- Appreciate the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Aotearoa's history.
- Value the importance of clear communication and cultural understanding in agreements.
- Recognise the ongoing relevance of the treaty in contemporary New Zealand.
🎧 The Podcast
The Aotearoa History Show: Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Listen to the episode from RNZ to explore the history and impact of the Treaty of Waitangi.
📋 Lesson Structure
🤔 Pre-Listening (10 minutes)
Activating Prior Knowledge
Teacher Action: Distribute the student worksheet. Begin with a class discussion.
Think-Pair-Share: "What is a Treaty?"
- Think (2 min): Students individually write down what they know about Te Tiriti o Waitangi on their worksheet.
- Pair (3 min): In pairs, students share their ideas and add to their notes.
- Share (5 min): Pairs contribute key ideas to a class mind map. Focus on words like 'agreement', 'partnership', 'conflict', 'translation'.
🎧 During-Listening (25 minutes)
Active Listening & Note-Taking
Teacher Action: Play the podcast episode. Students will complete Part 2 of their worksheet as they listen.
Worksheet Task
Students will listen for and record key information on their worksheet, focusing on:
- Key People: Who were the main figures involved?
- Key Differences: What were the major differences between the two versions of the treaty?
- Key Consequences: What happened immediately after the signing?
🗣️ Post-Listening (20 minutes)
Synthesising & Discussing
Teacher Action: Facilitate a group and then a class discussion based on the podcast and worksheet notes.
Group Discussion (10 minutes)
In groups of 3-4, students discuss the questions in Part 3 of their worksheet, focusing on the impact and ongoing relevance of the treaty.
Class Debrief (10 minutes)
Each group shares one key insight from their discussion. The teacher can guide the conversation with questions like:
- "Why is it important to understand both versions of the Treaty?"
- "How did the podcast change or confirm your understanding of this event?"
- "Why is Te Tiriti o Waitangi still so important in Aotearoa today?"
📚 Resources & Materials
Required Materials
- Device with internet access to play the podcast
- Podcast Analysis Worksheet (1 per student)
- Whiteboard or chart paper for mind map
Connected Resources
Curriculum alignment
- Do: Explore perspectives, use evidence to form conclusions, and share ideas: Compare systems, map decisions, present new solutions.
- Text Studies — Knowledge: Discussions have different purposes (e.g. sharing ideas, asking questions, giving feedback, and solving problems) and ways of participating (e.g. offering suggestions or opini…
- Language Studies — Knowledge: Discussions have different purposes (e.g. sharing ideas, asking questions, giving feedback, and solving problems) and ways of participating (e.g. offering suggestions or opini…
- Text Studies — Knowledge: Text specifications — Text forms and range: - In each year, students must engage meaningfully with at least one novel, a selection of poetry³, and a selection of non-fiction t…
- Language Studies — Knowledge: Text specifications — Text forms and range: - In each year, students must engage meaningfully with at least one novel, a selection of poetry³, and a selection of non-fiction t…
Te ao Māori enriches this learning area. Whakapapa (thinking in relationships), tikanga (purposeful protocols), and manaakitanga (caring for all learners) are frameworks that apply as much to literacy and writing as to any other domain. Centre these alongside Western frameworks to honour the full range of students' knowledge systems.