Conducting a Social Studies Inquiry

Students may work individually or in pairs. Click on the link and print off the Inquiry Planning Template.

The Task

Students choose one event or series of events that have lead to a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal and/or have caused conflict between Maori and the Crown (Government).

1. Describe actions that lead to The Treaty not being honoured.

2. Outline ways in which Te Tiriti was not honoured.

3. Explain in depth how (your selected event) affected relationships between Maori and the Crown in the past.

4. Explain in depth how it continues to affect these relationships today.

Resources

- New Zealand Wars videos;

- Orakei (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/school/orakei.html)/Bastion Point and the Waitangi Tribunal Report (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/reports/wai9.html).

- Motonui-Waitara (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/school/motu_wai.html)and the Waitangi Tribunal Report (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/reports/wai6.html)

- Kaituna River (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/school/kaituna.html)and the Waitangi Tribunal Report (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/reports/wai4.html)

- Te Rorora (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/school/teroroa.html) and the Waitangi Tribunal Report (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/reports/wai38.html)

- Raglan Golf Course (see http://home.xtra.co.nz/hosts/tearaway/lifestyle/rickard_profile.html)

- Manukau Harbour (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/reports/wai8.html)

- Tainui-Waikato (see http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/24/007.html)

- Claims in your local area (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/claims/district.html) can be checked out

Inquiry Focus

Explain how actions that resulted in Te Tiriti not being honoured have affected relationships between Maori and the Crown, in the past, and today.

Research Questions

Possible questions could include:

- What happened that lead to The Treaty not being honoured?

- In what ways was Te Tiriti not honoured?

- How has (your selected event) affected relationships between Maori and the Crown?

- How does it continue to affect these relationships?

Communicating Information

Present your conclusions and supporting evidence in a format of your choice. Remember to observe the conventions of your mode of presentation.

Examining Differing Values Positions

How do New Zealanders view the Treaty of Waitangi, the Waitangi Tribunal and the Claims Process today?

The Waitangi Tribunal's values position is clearly outlined in its explanation of What the Treaty Means Today (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/school/towe9.html) (Te Aronga o te Tiriti Inaianei (see http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/waitangi/school/towm9.html)).

How do others view it?

a. Prepare a brief report outlining the key values of the Waitangi Tribunal

b. Students construct a questionnaire (see http://www.statpac.com/surveys/index.htm)to survey members of the community about their points of view regarding The Treaty, the Waitangi Tribunal and the Claims Process - decide on the best five (or thereabouts) that the whole class will use.

Questions need to identify:

- How many people are in favour of, or not in favour of, or are neutral about, The Treaty, the Claims Process, the Waitangi Tribunal.

- Why they feel as they do - that is, have differing values positions on this issue.

Consider how the questionnaire responses will be collated and analysed - "by hand", using a spreadsheet or database or some other method.

d. Students administer their questionnaire and collate the results.

e. Combine the class results and make them available to each student.

f. Students discuss the likely consequences of people holding differing values positions about The Treaty, the Claims Process, and the Waitangi Tribunal.

g. Each student prepares a Report on their findings and presents it to the rest of the class.

The Report will:

1. Explain why people have differing points of view about:

-The Treaty of Waitangi

-The Waitangi Tribunal

-The Claims Process

2. Identify consequences for New Zealand and New Zealanders of people holding differing values positions about these issues.

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