Tag: colonisation

To centre constitutional transformation for Asian ‘Tangata Tiriti’

Waitangi Day feels like a timely moment to reflect. In the last decade, we have seen increased interest from tauiwi Asians to understand Te Tiriti and our relationship to it. This is a huge positive change from the previously dominant perspective that Te Tiriti is between Māori and Pākehā, where Asians often saw Te Tiriti as irrelevant to us.

In Defence of Mātauranga

Late last year, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins chastised the Royal Society of New Zealand for not doing more to “stand up for science”, in what he described as a “ludicrous move to incorporate Maori ‘ways of knowing’ into science curricula in New Zealand.” Last month, he continued his rebuke, stating “If there is value in a Māori view of the world, then let it be taught worldwide.”

ASTR: Commentary on Aotearoa NZ Histories Draft Curriculum

Our ideal history taught in schools would be a full account of the ongoing colonialism in Aotearoa and clear understandings of why and how things happened centring indigenous truths. JJ Carberry has stated that a decolonised curriculum would mean that hapū would have direct influence on the information that is taught about the local region. Bringing in colonial history of Aotearoa can help young people connect the Aotearoa context to global colonialism in a deep and meaningful way.