Using a place-based approach to learning acknowledges that history occurs in a specific local context. Even events that are seen as globally or nationally significant will have different effects and consequences at a local level.

A place-based approach helps students to develop new perspectives on where they are and allows them to personalise their historic learning. They have an opportunity to look beyond written stories or academic articles about, for instance, colonisation, to personalised individual accounts and whānau experiences.

Local landmarks, memorials, archeological sites, marae and buildings can give students a place to start. How might these be seen through a Māori lens? Even something as simple as a local street name could give insight into the Māori history of the local area to start students thinking about “What happened here?”