Description

Our This Week in New Zealand History resource explores key moments within Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. This resource serves as a bite-sized piece of Aotearoa’s history to stir discussion, pique interest, and get you started.

In this set, our Discussion Google Slides and Posters explore 16 events from the month of August (see the full list below). The resource has clear links to the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum for Year 4-6 and Year 7-8.

Each of our 16 slides contains:

A brief paragraph explainer
A discussion question
An inquiry prompt
Two “Dig Deeper” links to websites, videos, and photos.

NEW UPDATE: We’ve added QR posters for each event. This gives you the option to use this resource as digital slides or as interactive posters displayed around your classroom/learning space.

The events highlighted in our This Week in New Zealand History: August set are:

1 August 1987: Te reo Māori recognised as official language.
4 August 1965: The Cook Islands Achieves Self-Government
7 August 1991: Death of Billy T. James
7 August 1997: Beatrice Faumuina Wins Athletics World Championship Gold
8 August 1915: The Wellington Battalion Captures Chunuk Bair
8 August 1995: Shakti Begins in New Zealand
9 August 1930: George Nepia Plays His Final All Blacks Test
10 August 1840: British Proclaim Sovereignty as French Head for Akaroa
17 August 1839: New Zealand Company Ship Tory Arrives in NZ
19 August 1944: Kiwi Pilot’s Sacrifice Saves French Village
20 August 1904: First Use of Kiwi as an Unofficial National Symbol
20 August 1940: Turakina Sunk by German Raider in Tasman Sea
23 August 1947: Assisted Immigration Resumes After World War Two
26 August 1866: Telegraph Line Laid Across Cook Strait
26 August 1894: Death of the Second Māori King
29 August 1914: New Zealand Force Captures German Samoa

Links to Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum:

Year 4-6 and Year 7-8: Whakapapa me te whanaungatanga | Culture and identity
Year 4-6 and Year 7-8: Tino rangatiratanga me te kāwanatanga | Government and organisation