The Prow is a living heritage resource, which aims to develop interest in and knowledge about the Top of the South Te Tau Ihu. We aim to work with teachers to develop resources and information to support research and learning using the Prow.
Resources for teachers - Aotearoa New Zealand Histories
In 2023, Te Takanga o Te Wā and Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories became part of all kura and schools’ marau ā-kura and local curriculum.
- Lesson plans and presentations
- Curriculum guide and resources (by school year group)
To support the focus on the histories of our region and community, Hilary and John Mitchell have suggested a range of relevant topics and resources, as a proposed curriculum across the school Year groups. Hilary and the late John Mitchell are authors of the four-volume Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka" series, which charts the history of Māori of Te Tau Ihu. - Stories of Whakatū - stories written by Maui John and Hilary Mitchell to support the creation of information panels on sites of significance for Māori, around Whakatū/Nelson and a useful source of information for teachers in their exploration of local and Māori history for the new curriculum.
- Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum guide years 9 & 10
Produced by Rebecca Baird, HOLA Social Science/ HOD History at Nelson College for Girls. The guide is geared towards a secondary context and the implementation of the curriculum in schools in Te Tau Ihu. It has been developed for years 9 and 10, to assist students who may not have had much exposure to the new curriculum to gain the foundational learning they will need to successfully engage with the curriculum through their remaining secondary years. Last updated 2022.
Local research resources and organisations
Most libraries and museums in the top of the South Island have collections of local history materials that can help you with your local research. The following resources may also assist you with your research.
Local resources
These online resources will help you get started with your research.
- Top of the South Regional Repositories [PDF] - List compiled by the Nelson branch of New Zealand Society of Genealogists, last updated 2022
- Nelson Photo News - 1960-1972 editions of this popular monthly magazine
- Nelson Historical Society Journal - all issues from 1955 to 2012 are available online from NZETC on the National Library of New Zealand's NZ Web Archive
- Tasman Heritage - photographs, oral histories, council minute books, and other documents relating to Tasman's history.
- Many Answers Regional Resources - Marlborough/Te Tauihu-o-te-waka
- Many Answers Regional Resources - Nelson / Whakatū
- Many Answers Regional Resources - Tasman / Te Tai o Aorere
Local organisations
There are a number of libraries, heritage parks, historical societies, and museums in the Top of the South Te Tau Ihu. Here are some of them:
- Motueka District Museum
- Picton Heritage and Whaling Museum
- Murchison District Museum and Historical Society
- Nelson Historical Society
Local Iwi and Māori organisations
There are eight iwi or tribes in Te Tau Ihu/ Te Tauihu (Nelson/Tasman–Marlborough), links to the websites of Iwi authorities and Māori organisations of Te Tau Ihu/ Te Tauihu, and the Te Tau Ihu Statutory Acknowledgements are listed on the Māori section of this site. Part of Tasman, around the Murchison and Nelson Lakes National Park area, is situated in the northwestern part of the Ngāi Tahu takiwā (territory) - Ngāti takiwā and Ngāti Waewae rohe.
- Te Kāhui Māngai - Directory of Iwi and Māori organisations showing maps of the different Iwi rohe or areas.