ANZH Interagency Group Terms of Reference
Background
In August 2019 Cabinet agreed to initial actions arising from the Curriculum, Progress and Achievement Ministerial Advisory Group’s June 2019 report. One of the initial actions was to establish an agreed process for updating the National Curriculum.
The Education Conversation | Kōrero Mātauranga and wider public discussions identified that many felt the education system was not meeting New Zealanders’ expectations in relation to teaching Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories. This particularly includes Te Tiriti o Waitangi, colonisation, the Land Wars and waves of migration.
As a consequence of this, the Minister of Education has prioritised updating the national curriculum – The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa – to make learning New Zealand’s histories explicit.
The update will provide a national framework that ensures all learners are aware of key aspects of New Zealand’s histories, and the ways they have influenced and shaped our nation.
The Ministry of Education will draw on the knowledge and skills of a wide range of people to collaborate with them to design, develop and implement a New Zealand Histories curriculum that is representative of the histories of all New Zealanders and is fit for purpose for teachers, leaders, ākonga and their whānau.
On 12 September 2019 the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, and the Minister of Education, Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, made a joint announcement that the national curriculum will be updated to make explicit the expectation that New Zealand’s histories is taught to all students in New Zealand schools and kura from 2022.
The Purpose of the New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group
The Interagency Group will support the work to ensure that kura and schools are able to access quality curriculum.
Members of the Group will draw on the expertise from their individual organisations and provide advice and support to the Ministry of Education.
Objectives
The New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group will:
- bring their particular knowledge and expertise to the design work, and the perspective of their agency,
including through:- reaching diverse groups and audiences
- supporting the capability of the Ministry of Education
- contribute their expertise to the work of the curriculum design and curriculum supports working groups as
appropriate - align other government work programmes that intersect with this work programme.
Functions of the New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group
The New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group’s role is subject to these Terms of Reference.
Members of the New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group will consult with appropriate people within their organisations and provide a specialist view from their organisation’s perspective to contribute to the work.
Members will usually contribute through the Ministry of Education and, with agreement, may also contribute directly through the curriculum design and/or the curriculum support subgroups as appropriate.
Membership
Members of the New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group have been selected to provide representation of key government agencies that can contribute critical information in the design, development and implementation of the New Zealand’s Histories curriculum update.
Fees
New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group members will not be paid although agreed related expenses such as
travel and accommodation will be paid or refunded.
Secretariat
The Ministry will provide the secretariat role, and will ensure there is appropriate support for the New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group.
Media
The New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group will not make media statements without the prior agreement of the Ministry of Education.
If the New Zealand’s Interagency Group is asked to provide comment on any issue relating to education by a third party (i.e. other than the Minister or Ministry), that Interagency Group will forward the question or request to the Ministry of Education through the New Zealand Histories mailbox.
Meetings
Meetings of the New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group will be held in Wellington, unless there is as specific reason to meet outside of Wellington. The Interagency Group will meet every six weeks as required.
If Interagency Group representatives are unable to attend a meeting, they may nominate an alternative representative from within their organisation.
The agenda and papers for meetings of the New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group will be circulated to members, six working days in advance of each meeting, and draft notes from the meeting will be circulated no later than five working days after each meeting.
Conflicts of interest
If a member becomes aware of a conflict of interest, they will advise the Ministry of Education immediately.
Confidentiality
The work of the New Zealand’s Histories Interagency Group is confidential, unless otherwise agreed by either the Ministry of Education. Members of the New Zealand Histories Interagency Group will maintain this confidence, and will not disclose information about the operations of the New Zealand’s Histories interagency Group to any person without the agreement of the Ministry of Education.
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