Volunteer Assisted Our Histories

In 2019, the New Zealand (NZ) Government declared NZ Aotearoa history would be taught in all schools by 2022. Our Histories was formed with local historians, genealogists, a history teacher, and a Māori advisor to develop local resources to meet teachers and students’ needs. The main problem for teachers was having the time to gather history resources on a topic and from different perspectives and also knowing where to find these resources. Also of concern to them was how to manage conflicting accounts and how to even start to engage students in history.

As a pilot project, Our Histories wanted to begin the documentation of resources relating to a conflict in Lower Hutt in 1846 which involved three iwi – Ngāti Hāua-te-rangi, Ngati Toa, and Te Āti Awa Iwi Tribes, and the colonial government backed by British troops. The mission was that all students have access to their cultural history, and the history of others.

Silas Murray-Inskeep, a GISCorps volunteer from Washington, D.C. was selected to assist Our Histories in their mission. The goal was to build a landing page/website using ArcGIS Experience Builder that would house materials and serve as a teaching resource to different age groups. Silas helped Our Histories to explore various designs and templates that would best fit their needs. Silas also helped digitize maps from the region that will be included in the final application.

Project completed