Year 9 Social Studies visit to Toitu
On Wednesday, the 12th of May the first students arrived at 7.30am at Toitu for our visit to find out about encounters between Maori and Pakeha in the early 19th century. Luckily tables and chairs were there and card games entertained most of the students.
Chris Manley, the museum educator let us in a bit early and then we were off at 9am! After an introduction to some parts of the exhibition and the telling of one of the stories of Maori and Pakeha interactions, we were invited to the dressing room to select costumes to enact one of the stories in a group. We had time to practise and then performed our story to the rest of the class. In this way we became really familiar with personalities such as the local chiefs Taiaroa and Karetai, Edward Weller and others. Like Ovita and Maia commented:
”This was fun and educational at the same time, as we now feel much more connected to these people and their stories.”