Introduction
The Aotearoa/New Zealand seminar is a demanding intellectual, physical
and metaphorical journey that will offer participants a new understanding
of the South Pacific and its peoples. Participants will acquire a broad
understanding of the history, geography, environment and cultural development
of New Zealand, the current challenges of bicultural and multiculturalism,
and how they are being addressed in the New Zealand education system.
Participants will trace the migratory journey made by Polynesian peoples
over hundreds of years. With special emphasis on the diversity of innovative
educational approaches to bi-cultural and multi-cultural opportunities
and issues, the seminar will explore ways of addressing the needs and
enriching the lives of young people, with a focus on Māori and Polynesian
peoples and the challenges they face in New Zealand today.
Culture
An understanding of New Zealand's history and heritage will be developed
alongside the exposition of contemporary issues and approaches. The programme
will weave cultural, economic, historical, geographical, environmental,
linguistic, visual, creative, social and developmental strands together.
The programme will explore the Treaty of Waitangi and the development
of cultural identity in New Zealand. Participants will learn Māori dance
and song, and will participate in practical workshops on flax weaving,
games and woodcarving.
 Education
Along with a new understanding of the peoples, history, culture and environment
of Aotearoa/New Zealand, participants will take home with them practical
ideas that can be implemented in the classroom and curriculum.
A wide range of educational topics and initiatives will be explored,
including:
- education reform and self-managing schools
- the national Curriculum Framework and assessment
- environmental and adventure education; multi-cultural education
- literacy and the teaching of reading and English for speakers of
other languages.
Visits to primary and secondary schools will demonstrate the diversity
of teaching and learning styles found in New Zealand.
Resources
Academic and cultural learning will be interwoven through lectures, presentations,
guided tours, workshops, meetings, and other activities. Access to resource
centres, libraries and archives, as well as opportunities for individual
research are also built into the programme. Academic and research institutions,
universities and colleges of education support the academic component
of the seminar.
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