Mātauranga Tiriti: Treaty Education in New Zealand Schools

• In Event: Witnessing From/Within Intimately Critical Perspectives

Abstract

A lack of education about the Treaty of Waitangi has seen poor understanding amongst our citizenry about the Treaty, race, and ethnicity. This paper examines new/beginning social science teachers’ delivery of Treaty education in New Zealand secondary schools. Research conducted with six new/beginning Māori and non-Māori social science teachers explored, from their perspective, their ability to deliver Treaty and citizenship education based on teacher training, the New Zealand Curriculum, teaching resources, and professional development. Mōteatea and whakatauāki and critical education formed a theoretical base for this work. Research findings revealed that Treaty education receives little attention in schools, and teachers, little support to deliver it, emphasising a renewed effort on Treaty education and greater support for teachers.

Author

• Hona Black, Massey University