New Education Resource On Ōtūmoetai Pā Released

A new multi-media education resource highlighting the unique heritage features of Tauranga’s Ōtūmoetai Pā has been launched and is now available to check out.

The learning module can be found on the LEARNZ website (see link below) and features video interviews and a wealth of historical and other information that will be useful for students and those who have an interest in the history of Ōtūmoetai Pā and its surrounding area. It also covers the role of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga with archaeology.

The series of videos include interviews with kaumatua Koro Des Tata (Ngāi Tamarāwaho), kaitiaki Barry Ngatoko (Ngāi Tamarāwaho) and Dean Flavell, the Pouarahi for the Tauranga Heritage Collection. Together they look after an important archaeological collection including taonga from excavations at Ōtūmoetai and the wider Tauranga Moana district until the new museum is built.

Tauranga-based archaeologist Ken Phillips is also interviewed along with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga staff based in Tauranga, including archaeologists Dr Rachel Darmody (Ngāi Tahu) and Eleanor Sturrock; and Pouarahi Te Haana Jacob (Te Arawa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui).

"This is a teaching resource that is perfect for the classroom as well as home research and learning," says Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Director Regional Services Pam Bain, who coordinated the education initiative.

"The content relates to different strands of the curriculum including Te Ao Tangata - Social Science; Pūtaio - Science; Ngā Toi - Arts; and Hangarau - Technology, to name a few. The stories are readily accessible and targeted to students, though people who may not have been in a classroom for many years should check out the link for sheer interest value. The material is fascinating."

Every year LEARNZ offers a variety of online field trips allowing students to connect with people and places around New Zealand and beyond. The online trips incorporate video, audio and written materials providing interactive experiences for students that aim to spark curiosity, activate prior knowledge and build learning.

The LEARNZ online field trips have generated a huge amount of interest according to Clive Francis, LEARNZ Project Manager at Tātai Aho Rau Core Education.

"It shows there is a real appetite for schools and kura to learn about Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories," he says.

"We are very grateful to the interviewees, the Ministry of Education and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga for their support to enable the field trip to happen."

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga cares for 46 historic places around the country - many of which are open to the public and tell diverse stories. These range from New Zealand’s oldest building, Kemp House in Kerikeri to Totara Estate near Ōamaru, the farm that sent the first shipment of frozen lamb to Britain in 1882 - and almost everything in between.

"Ideally students are able to visit these places for themselves, though realistically not everyone can do that," says Pam.

"LEARNZ provides wonderful alternative learning experiences for students that are the next best thing to being there."

The most recent Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga field trip organised through LEARNZ reached about 12,000 students through 98 educators around the country - an amazing result that shows the power of online learning and the widespread interest in heritage.

"Tapping into this technology can bring our history alive and straight into classrooms around New Zealand - and even the world," she says.

Check out the Ōtūmoetai Pā learning experience for yourself: https://www.learnz.org.nz/Otumoetai251

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