Cultural interaction
The role of the Treaty of Waitangi
Aotearoa New Zealand is a multicultural society with bicultural foundations. People have different ideas about the role of the Treaty within New Zealand.
Tino rangatiratanga?
The Treaty of Waitangi was an agreement between Māori rangatira and British Crown representatives. It was intended to be the basis of a new relationship. The agreement outlined a sharing of power, with different roles and spheres of influence.
- Rangatira were to retain their authority over their hapū and territories.
- Hobson was given authority to govern Pākehā.
Māori tino rangatiratanga (absolute power and authority) was guaranteed. However, it didn’t take long for the British to impose a different balance of power. This shift promoted British ways of thinking and being that has shaped the way cultures interact in Aotearoa.
Inquiry focus
Key question: How does having a dominant culture in Aotearoa impact on the way different cultures interact?
The social inquiry focus of this resource is considering responses and decisions.
Achievement objectives
Understand how early Polynesian and British migrations to New Zealand have continuing significance for tangata whenua and communities (level 3 — social studies).
Understand how people pass on and sustain culture and heritage for different reasons and that this has consequences for people (level 4 — social studies).
Understand how cultural interaction impacts on cultures and societies (level 5 — social studies).
Understand how the Treaty is responded to differently by people in different times and places (level 5 — social studies).
Key conceptual understandings
Stories about places sustain culture and heritage.
Cultural interaction involves power relationships that impact on communities and societies.
People have responded differently to the Treaty of Waitangi, which was intended to formalise a relationship between Māori and the Crown.
Key concepts: Cultural interaction, sustaining heritage, impact, responses, tangata whenua.
Contents
Understanding the context — place names and collective stories
Our sense of place is shaped by stories, but who decides which stories are shared? Read how students can use place names and collective stories to explore cultural interaction.
Explore cultural interaction with your class
Explore cultural interaction with suggested activities that take you through 5 phases of the social inquiry process.
Supporting activities and resources
This section provides a suite of supporting learning activities and teaching resources to enrich your students' exploration of cultural interaction. You'll also find extra support for the 'considering responses' component of the social inquiry.