Living Heritage

Have you checked out Living Heritage lately ?

Everyone has their own heritage story to tell about the place where they grew up. Living Heritage, a free online bilingual (Mäori-English) initiative, captures special stories through the voices of New Zealand students to ensure these unique insights into our culture and heritage are not lost. Check out http://www.livingheritage.org.nz/ which is hosted by the National Library of New Zealand. More than 70 stories from 50 schools are currently available on a heritage taonga in their community - this page gives some examples of the sort of aspect which students might research locally - http://www.livingheritage.org.nz/Participate/Story-ideas

Give it a go and publish your special story on Living Heritage! The team at CWA New Media will provide your school with technical support, story ideas and curriculum advice.

Some of my favourite stories are :

Te Hononga O Ngā Wai Westmere School - Primary – Published 08/12/2008
The students in the teina class of a Māori Bilingual Whānau - Ngā Uri O Ngā Iwi and in their classroom called Te Hononga O Ngā Wai, The Meeting of the Waters wanted to find out what the name of their class meant. They decided to research their local waterways in memory of their first kuia, Whaea Dianne, who also composed waiata for them so they would remember the Māori place names and tupuna of their local area. Read this story

Mangroves: asset or pest?
Hauraki School - Primary – Published 25/07/2008
A school science project gave four students from Hauraki Primary School a chance to explore their local mangrove forest. They studied the plants, trying to decide if mangroves are good for the environment or whether they are a pest. They also investigated local opinion through questionnaires and interviews. Explore their website to find out more. Read this story

Stellin Memorial Park Northland School - Primary – Published 22/08/2008
Stellin Memorial Park is situated near Northland School in Wellington. A group of year 7 and 8 students researched the story behind the naming of the park. Browse their website to find out the history of James Kingston Stellin, a young New Zealand fighter pilot who was killed in France during the Second World War. Read this story

Opiki Toll Bridge St Peters College - Secondary – Published 03/09/2003
A St Peter's College student in Palmerston North has created a website that contains a brief history of the Opiki suspension bridge, from the draining of the Makurerua Swamp, through the swamp's flax industry, the construction of the bridge, its conversion to a toll bridge, to the closing of the old toll bridge, and the opening of the new bridge at Opiki. Read this story