Wharenui
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Approach:  One to one
ACCESS
Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Reflecting cultural heritage  
Resources:
Picture [simulated resource]
188Kb
Questions/instructions:  

Show picture to the student.
Have a look at this picture of a building.

   
 
% responses
2009 ('05)
y4
y8
1. Where might you see a building like this?    
on a marae/ in a Mäori community
29 (32) 18 (21)
mentioned a specific location
28 (33) 54 (50)
educational institution
(school, university, museum)
14 (13) 14 (14)
If student answers “At Te Papa” or similar, say “Where else might you see a building like this one?”    
2. What kinds of things might people do inside this building?    
discuss important issues, have hui
22 (23) 33 (44)
socialise/ talk
10 (9) 14 (9)
welcome visitors/gift giving
5 (9) 13 (13)
cultural ceremonies (e.g. tangihanga)
31 (33) 51 (49)
teach/learn (e.g. story telling/histories)
17 (16) 11 (13)
sleep
21 (17) 21 (37)
worship/pay respect to and acknowledge ancestors
22 (21) 23 (16)
sing/perform 21 (21) 13 (15)
3. Can you think of anything that you shouldn’t do inside this building?    
wear shoes
14 (18) 52 (58)
eat/drink/smoke
15 (15) 21 (23)
be disrespectful/muck about/ play around/jump/fight/shout
68 (69) 65 (57)
hang clothes/belongings on the carvings/pictures
1 (0) 1 (1)
make a mess
7 (4) 4 (4)
run (i.e. always walk)
8 (5) 4 (10)
walk over people’s legs/bodies
1 (0) 1 (2)
walk/talk in front of speaker
4 (5) 4 (2)
sit on pillows/climb through the window/wear a hat
3 (2) 3 (8)
take photographs 0 (0) 0 (4)
4. Why are buildings like this one important to many New Zealanders?    
place where special events take place 8 (5) 7 (5)
unique to Aotearoa/New Zealand; special to Mäori/Mäori tradition/culture 31 (44) 59 (51)
represents the body 1 (2) 1 (0)
represents local Mäori history 2 (0) 4 (8)
türangawaewae (place where one has rights of residence and belonging)/ spiritual place/ancestors 10 (9) 25 (29)

Total score:
9–25
2 (3) 9 (11)
7–8
13 (11) 25 (33)
5–6
24 (32) 39 (24)
3–4
38 (39) 21 (22)
0–2 23 (15)
6 (10)
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 4


Year 8


Commentary:
Although some students at both year levels were successful on this task, overall performance was not strong. About 60% of year 4 and 70% of year 8 students recognised that a wharenui would be found on a marae or in a Mäori community, or could name a specific place. In general, year 8 students had a better understanding of what kinds of things people might do inside this building. About two thirds of students at both year levels understood the importance of being respectful within the building. More year 8 students knew that it was inappropriate to wear shoes in the wharenui. Just over half of year 8 and about a third of year 4 students understood the significance of this type of building for Mäori. Mäori students at both year levels showed a significantly better understanding than Pakeha or Pasifika students. The 2005 and 2009 results were very similar.