This course brings together Māori perspectives and decades of scholarship into an accessible 2-hour introduction to the history of Māori–Crown relations in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a story that people from other countries with a history of colonisation will find familiar. From land ownership to keeping a native language alive to complex relationships with “the Crown” and private companies, Māori experiences often mirror the stories of people elsewhere. Without context, it’s easy to get caught up in stereotypes. This course enables users to see Aotearoa with fresh, informed eyes.
To preserve the storytelling style of a ‘live’ Wall Walk, this condensed online version omits detailed references and image credits; most sources are available on the self-guided study page of this website. Our aim is to balance historical accuracy with creative license in a way that sparks curiosity.
If you are doing this course at the same time as one or two others, use a larger screen and pause periodically to discuss a question from this PDF. You don’t need to agree or answer everything. Just talk. Move on when ready.
