NZHTA Pānui Start of Term 4, 2025

Tēnā koutou katoa,

I hope you have all had a safe and relaxing break with whānau and friends and are ready for the term ahead. No doubt everyone is highly focused on preparing ākonga for the upcoming NCEA assessments - only a few weeks left before the exams begin! All the very best for the pro studying tips, last minute revision and tutorials ahead!

In this pānui:

• NZHTA Term 4 Reflection and Planning Workshop Series 2025

• KWLF World Congress in Queenstown

• NZQA Marking approach guidelines – making holistic judgements

• Reviewed Achievement Standards and assessment materials for 2026

• He Rau Ringa e Oti ai: Many Hands Make History NZHA Conference

• Missed a pānui?

• Kōrero Mai | We'd love to hear from you!

As always, please just reach out with any history related matters and I will do my best to help.

Ngā mihi

Nick Fitness

nzhtaexec@gmail.com

NZHTA Term 4 Reflection and Planning Workshop Series 2025

We have locked in NINE workshops across the motu for Term 4. These will be a chance to reflect and share on the year that’s been, and plan for the year ahead! A full day of NZHTA PLD to share, learn & inspire. Don’t miss it! This workshop is tailored for history teachers who want to strengthen their practice, connect with colleagues, and maybe even a chance to share your expertise with others!

Why Attend?

Grow – expand your knowledge and skills.

Connect – build meaningful relationships with history teachers from across the region.

Lead - We’d love for you to contribute! If you have a session idea, or topic you’re passionate about, this is your chance to take the lead. Together, we can create an enriching, supportive space that benefits everyone. Email me if you want to get involved at nzhtaexec@gmail.com

If your region is missing off this list, let me know and we can always look to add more!

TE TAI POUTINI/WEST COAST - Thu 30 Oct – (venue: TBC) 9.30am- 2.00pm REGISTER HERE

ŌTAUTAHI/CHRISTCHURCH - Fri 31 Oct - (venue: TBC) 9.30am- 2.00pm REGISTER HERE

TE TAI TOKERAU/NORTHLAND - Fri 7 Nov - (venue: Kerikeri High School) 9.30am - 2.00pm REGISTER HERE

ŌTEPOTI/DUNEDIN - Mon 10 Nov - (venue: TBC) 9.30am -2.00pm REGISTER HERE

TIMARU – Tue 11 Nov - (venue: Timaru Girls’) 9.30am -2.00pm REGISTER HERE

WAIKATO – Thu 13 Nov - (venue: Rototuna High School)9.30am - 2.00pm REGISTER HERE

TĀMAKI MAKAURAU/AUCKLAND - Mon 17 Nov - (venue: Manurewa High School) 9.30am - 2.00pm REGISTER HERE

NGĀ MOTU/NEW PLYMOUTH – Tue 18 Nov – (venue: Puke Ariki Museum) 9.30am - 2.00pm REGISTER HERE

TE WHĀNGANUI-Ā-TARA/WELLINGTON - Wed 19 Nov - (venue: TBC) 9.30am - 2.00pm REGISTER HERE

KWLF World Congress in Queenstown

The 6^th Annual World Congress of Teachers of the Korean War is being held this coming weekend 9-12 October in Queenstown. NZHTA and the Korean War Legacy Foundation look forward to welcoming teachers and university students to this conference and to the launch of a new curriculum resource on the Korean War. Kiwis in Korea – Teaching about New Zealand’s Involvement in the Korean War through Inquiry will be made available after the conference to all social studies and history teachers in New Zealand. More information on how to access this resource will be provided in the next pānui and on our website soon! All of the writers are super proud of it. This unique gathering is not only a time for international collaboration and professional growth – it is also a moment to reflect on the enduring legacy of the Korean War and the profound sacrifices made by those New Zealanders who served.

NZQA Marking approach guidelines – making holistic judgements

Following NZQA’s release of guidelines about the use of top-down and bottom-up approaches to marking, we received a further request for advice about making holistic judgements. NZQA have developed additional guidance to support teachers in making holistic judgements when assessing against internally assessed standards. You can access this here.

Reviewed Achievement Standards and assessment materials for 2026

Review and Maintenance Programme (RAMP) work has been undertaken by NZQA for all three levels of NZC NCEA for 2026. Based on feedback, selected Achievement Standards and supporting materials have been amended for 2026 assessment. Further to the RAMP changes for History for 2025 there is only one very minor change for 2026 to one standard at L3.There are no further changes to any L1 or L2 history Achievement Standards.

The change affects AS91434 – History 3.1. It is a change to Explanatory Note 2: Excellence criteria for appropriate levelling. From 2026, students will now need to critically evaluate the research process. We will get some more information on this for next year to pass through to you all.

The Conditions of Assessment across all internal standards have also been updated to provide clearer guidance around authenticity.

He Rau Ringa e Oti ai: Many Hands Make History NZHA Conference

To tell the many and varied stories of our past we need many and varied storytellers in the present. Histories are made and told in multiple ways in Aotearoa today: by and within whānau; families, marae; kura; schools; libraries; museums; archives; public service agencies; wānanga; universities and other communities and institutions. Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato and Waipapa Taumata Rau are excited to be hosting the 2025 Biennial NZHA Conference in Tāmaki Makaurau at Waipapa Taumata Rau. This year the theme of our conference celebrates the many different people, organisations, modes, topics and approaches of history-telling in Aotearoa, and aims to foster connection across our history community. Here is the link to the conference page.

Missed a pānui?

You can find all our previous pānui on our website: https://nzhta.org.nz/

Kōrero Mai | We'd love to hear from you!

At NZHTA, fostering connections with our history community is at the heart of what we do. Whether you have questions, feedback, or ideas to share, we’re here and ready to listen. Your input helps us continue to support educators, enhance our resources, and advocate for quality history education across Aotearoa New Zealand. Reach out to us and let’s keep building a strong, supportive network together.