Episode 9: The Rise and Fall of Happy Homes
On this page: Exploring the themes | Curriculum areas | Key competencies | Links
This episode tells the story of New Zealand in the years immediately following the First World War. For a while the country recovered and prospered, only to face collapse when the Great Depression began. It was a time of hope and despair, a period marked by "the rise and fall of happy homes".
Screening: Saturday 19 November 2005, 7.30pm, TV One.
(repeated Sunday 20 November at 10am)
NB: Please read the information on the Screenrights site http://www.screen.org if you are interested in recording this programme and using it in your classroom.
Exploring the themes
The themes lead towards questions such as:
- Disasters – the horrors of World War One were followed by the 'black flu' pandemic. Later in the era the Napier earthquake struck causing death and devastation. How well did society cope with these unforeseen disasters?
- Suburban growth – along with this was the development of the public transport and communications systems.
- The Depression – 1929 saw the arrival of talking movies in New Zealand. It also signalled the beginning of the Great Depression. How difficult was it for people to go through this?
- The popular culture – with the development of radio and movie technologies came developments in fashion and entertainment. What effect did these developments have on society?
back to topCurriculum areas
Essential Learning Areas that support these themes include:
- Social Studies in the New Zealand Curriculum
Social Organisation
Culture and Heritage Place and Environment Time, Continuity and Change Resources and Economic Activities - The Arts in the New Zealand Curriculum
The Arts in the New Zealand Curriculum - Technology in the New Zealand Curriculum
Technology and Society - English in the New Zealand Curriculum
Exploring and learning about language Oral Language: Speaking. Levels 3–4 Written Language: Reading. Levels 3–4
Oral Language: Speaking. Levels 5–6
Written Language: Reading. Levels 5–6
- NCEA: Geography
- NCEA: History
- NCEA: English
- NCEA: Technology
- Hangarau i roto i te Marautanga o Aotearoa
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/technology/curriculum/maori/contents_m.php - Tikanga ā Iwi i roto i te Marautanga o Aotearoa
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/tikanga/index_m.php
Key competencies
Relating to Others
This episode of Frontier of Dreams explores a time when the country was beginning to flourish and develop a national identity.
Discussions could centre around:
- Disasters - The horrors of World War 1 were followed by the 'black flu' pandemic. Later in the era the Napier earthquake struck causing death and devastation. How well did society cope with these unforeseen disasters?
Rich questions to support this area could include:
- New Zealand has ways of remembering either its war heroes, or others who have died through disasters.How do we do this? How could we do it better? What is available in our neighbourhood which relates to this?
- Why was the 1918 flu epidemic so devastating to New Zealand? Could this happen again today- and if so, how would we respond?
- What relationship did this have on the rise of the Ratana movement? What is the legacy of the movement today?
- How well prepared was New Zealand society for the effects of disasters such as disease and earthquakes? Are we any better prepared today? What communication avenues were available then? What is available now?
Participating and contributing
Suburban growth – along with this was the development of the public transport and communications systems.
Discussions could centre around:
- Suburban development where people had their own homes and a piece of land outside of the major cities depended - or gave rise to - the development of transport and communications systems.
Rich questions to support this area could include:
- Identify the suburban areas closest to you that were developed in the early 1900s. Are they still classed as suburbs? Is town planning the same today?
- How did people travel to and from work in these suburbs? What new technologies helped them to cope with living away from the cities? What transportation trends emerged during this time, and are they still the same today?
- Identify the suburban areas closest to you that have been recently developed. What provisions do they have for public transport? How is public transport factored into our thinking today?
- How have cell phones changed the way people in communities interact with each other?
- How did people receive their information in the start of the century? Today we have multiple sources of information what was it like then?
- What inventions and firsts were attributed to New Zealand during this time? Did they all survive? How have these changed our lives today?
Making meaning
- The Depression - 1929 saw the arrival of talking movies in New Zealand. It also signaled the beginning of the Great Depression. How difficult was it for people to go through this?
Rich questions to support this area could include:
- People in New Zealand just seemed to be finding their feet when the Great Depression hit in 1929. What were the causes of the Depression? Could this happen again today?
- With high unemployment rates, more people had to cope with unemployment. What circumstances did people have to deal with? Are these conditions still experienced in New Zealand, and in the world today?
- Why did some people escape the effects of the Depression while others were less fortunate?
- Popular culture - with the development of radio and movie technologies came developments in fashion and entertainment. What effect did these developments have on society?
- With the provision of a range of entertainments also came the development of advertising, firstly in poster format, and later in the form of radio advertising. Find out about these early forms of advertising. Compare them to the forms of advertising used today. How have styles and messages changed and why?
- Music, dance, and entertainment in the early-mid 1900s were very much influenced by America. Why would this have been so? Is it the same today? Why or why not? What influences are seen today in modern music and films?
- How much influence does New Zealand have on its own music and culture? With global media available to us, how will we retain our own culture and identity? Is local culture and identity still relevant in a global world?
Links
Online materials
TVNZ Frontier of Dreams programme page
This area provides images and video clips from the series and background reading relating to the themes.
http://www.tvnz.co.nz/view/fod_index_skin
Archives New Zealand - Te Whare Tohu Tuhituhinga
This is the official website of Archives New Zealand. It gives background information about role of the chief archivist, what the archives contain, and how they are dealt with. It holds documents such as the Treaty of Waitangi and the Women's Suffrage Petition, and has links to information about holdings in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.
http://www.archives.govt.nz/index.html
Christchurch Online
This section of Archives New Zealand website has two virtual exhibitions: 'Past Caring', a purely 'digital' display of records held by Archives New Zealand's Christchurch office and 'The Fabric of Christchurch 1850–1880', which has images of some of the steps early Christchurch residents took in rendering the swamp into the city.
http://www.archives.govt.nz/exhibitions/currentexhibitions/chch/ index.html
Christchurch – A Chronology
http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Heritage/Chronology/Year/1913.asp
Celebrating Women's Suffrage 106 Years On
This page from the NZine website provides information about the history of women's suffrage in New Zealand. Includes information about Kate Sheppard who was instrumental in getting the vote for women.
http://www.nzine.co.nz/features/suffrage2.html
City of Dunedin; Historical Interest
This link to the history pages of Dunedin City Council's website has information on the historical buildings, city property, memorials, transport, and interesting facts about notable people, and events of the city. It includes an account of 19th century cycling in Otago by William H. Thimble, and is suitable as a resource for upper primary and secondary students.
http://www.cityofdunedin.com/city/?page=feat_historical
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
This website contains over 3000 biographies of New Zealanders who have 'made their mark' on this country. It has a basic and 'advanced' search facility, and a section containing snapshots of New Zealand history with maps and images to support text. The site also includes a glossary of Māori words that are used in the English language biographies, and are in general usage in New Zealand speech. The site is viewable in reo Māori and English language.
http://www.dnzb.govt.nz
Department of Statistics Tatauranga Aotearoa
The site of Statistics New Zealand contains facts and figures about life in New Zealand.
http://www.stats.govt.nz
Department of Statistics Tatauranga Aotearoa – Timeline of Main Events in New Zealand's History: 1850–1899
http://www.stats.govt.nz/quick-facts/people/history-1850-1899.htm
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Adelaide Hicks (1845-1930)
A biography of Adelaide Hicks - New Zealand stewardess, homemaker, midwife, and nurse. This biography was originally published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Volume 2 (1870-1900), 1993.
http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=2H34
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography – One Land, One People – The Great War
Through snapshots of places, times, events, and trends in New Zealand history, this section of the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography site offers some windows into our past. It contains maps, images, graphs, and accompanying text derived in part from the New Zealand Historical Atlas.
http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/olop_content/OLOP_FLASH.htm
History Detective
This year 11 history activity is designed to help students make biographical notes on key people in New Zealand's history. It is assumed that the background to a specific topic will have been taught and that the students have developed a list of names to research.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/dnzb/doc/his_dect.doc
Earthquake: Napier
A fact sheet from Christchurch City Libraries
http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Childrens/NZDisasters/Napier.asp
Hawke's Bay Earthquake
This page of the Hawkes Bay Art Deco website gives a brief history, a photo, and some statistical data on the Napier Earthquake of 3rd February, 1931.
http://www.hb.co.nz/artdeco/earthquake.htm
Health Shakers
This year 11 history activity is designed to help students focus on an outstanding woman as an agent of social change and to consider the impact of outstanding women in public, community and family health care.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/dnzb/doc/health_shakers.doc
Hot Shots
A series of video clips with up and coming Kiwi creative talent, filmed by students of Wellington Girls College
http://www.hotshots.org.nz
Identity
This page on the Montage New Zealand website contains information about the online collaborative project 'Identity'. The project explores what identity means to an individual and gets students to capture an image to express this. The images will be shared around the world through a virtual gallery. Teaching resources, privacy, and entry forms are included.
http://www.britishcouncil.org/montagenz-identity.htm
Kool Kiwis
The Kool Kiwis theme contains activities that relate to famous New Zealanders both past and present. The wide range of activities are focused on the curriculum areas of social science, mathematics, literacy, and technology. This page was developed for the wickED website as part of the Digital Opportunities project.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/wick_ed/themes/kool_kiwis.php
Monumental Stories
This level 5 social studies resource, intended for years 9–10, teaches students about significant events in New Zealand which have affected important advances for women, allowing them to play significant roles in New Zealand's development. Includes an interactive timeline, interactive student activities, teachers' guide, landmarks, biographies, and glossary.
http://www.monumentalstories.gen.nz
Outbreak: The Influenza Epidemic in New Zealand in 1918
In this level 4 unit, intended for years 7–8, students study the causes of the 1918 influenza epidemic in New Zealand, and the effects it had on people's everyday lives. [ Metadata record ]
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/SSOL/outbreak/index_e.php
Timeframes
This web site is an online database of heritage images from the Alexander Turnbull Library, at the National Library of New Zealand. It provides access to the images, information about them and options for ordering copies. Visitors to the site may either search or browse for material.
http://timeframes1.natlib.govt.nz/
Kilbirnie-Lyall Bay Community Centre Oral History Project
This site contains descriptions of life history interviews with seven long-term residents of Kilbirnie and Lyall Bay. You can access audio clips and video excerpts from each interview. The residents talk about the dramatic physical and social changes they have witnessed in this area since the 1920's.
http://kilbirnie.natlib.govt.nz
New Zealand Disasters: Influenza Epidemic
This web page from the Christchurch City Libraries website gives information about the influenza epidemic which affected all of New Zealand in October 1918. It includes what happened, how many people died, other events and outcomes, and links to further resources>
http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Childrens/NZDisasters/InfluenzaEpidemic.asp
New Zealand Edge
This web site has a positive New Zealand focus and provides biographical profiles of a wide range of famous New Zealanders. It also contains picture collections and reports on how New Zealand is featuring in the world's media. The site includes a collection of motivational speeches given by Kevin Roberts to audiences in New Zealand and overseas.
http://www.nzedge.com/intro/index.html
NZHistory.net
Anzac Day
From NZhistory.net, this website provides a recollection of Anzac Day, 25 April 1915. It includes maps, biographies, sound archives, paintings, and photographs. Has a section on war memorials of the First World War and links to a list of fatalities collated from Commonwealth War Graves Commission records.
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Anzac/Anzac.htm
The 1918 Flu Pandemic
From NZHistory.net, information, audio files, and images about the 1918 flu epidemic - that claimed the lives of 8600 New Zealanders, including at least 2160 Māori.In two months New Zealand lost about half as many people to influenza as it had in the whole of the First World War(WWI).
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/flu/index.html
New Zealand Women and the Vote: Suffrage and Beyond
This site provides an introductory essay focusing on the New Zealand suffragists and their fight to win womens right to vote from the first letter of appeal in 1869 to winning the right to vote in 1893. It includes links to a timeline with key events, biographies, documents and sound files, and student activities. The site is suitable for upper primary to secondary levels.
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Suffragists/SuffIntro.htm
Lest We Forget – War Memorials of the First World War
The website from NZHistory.net provides information about the many different types of memorials that have been erected around New Zealand to commemorate those who fought in World War One. [ Metadata record ]
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Anzac/memorial/index.htm
Our Land Our Future – New Zealand Timeline
This website is provided by MAF (Minisitry of Agriculture and Forestry). It has a timeline about New Zealand from before 1840 to 1990. It covers land ownership and settlement, land use, commerce, social change, and government policy.
http://www.maf.govt.nz/MAFnet/schools/kits/ourland/timeline/timelin1.htm
Prime Ministers of New Zealand
A historical look at past Prime Ministers of New Zealand
http://www.primeminister.govt.nz/oldpms/index.html
Population and Sustainable Development
This Population and Sustainable Development website is part of the Sustainable Development for New Zealand: Programme of Action. It provides access to New Zealand population statistics published by a wide range of government departments and agencies.
http://www.population.govt.nz/default.htm
Puke Ariki
This is the website of Puke Ariki, a knowledge centre where library, museum, and visitor information unites to tell the stories of Taranaki – past, present, and future – through exhibitions, displays, collections, and technology. It contains interactive activities for students and archives of historic photographs and information. The site can be read in English or Māori.
http://www.pukeariki.com/en/
Te Ara: the New Zealand Encyclopedia
Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand takes you on a journey of discovery. Beginning with the theme of peoples, it will eventually present a comprehensive guide to New Zealand – its natural environment, history, culture, economics, and government. The site can be viewed in English and Māori.
http://www.teara.govt.nz
Made in New Zealand: Ko au te whenua, te whenua ko au – Stories of art and identity
This web page from Te Papa's online Tai Awatea Knowledge Net profiles the museum's 'Made in New Zealand' collection. Tai Awatea Knowledge Net explores the stories, people, and themes behind treasures from current and past exhibitions at Te Papa. The 'Made in New Zealand' collection features samples of notable sculpture, furniture, silverware, jewellery, photography, musical recording, Māori carving, and other works with a New Zealand identity. Profiles can be read in English or Māori.
http://tpo.tepapa.govt.nz/ViewExhibitionDetail.asp?Language=English& ExhibitionID=MINZ
Matapihi
This website provides facilities for searching the online heritage collections of New Zealand's archives, galleries, libraries, and museums. The site is available in Māori and English and includes photographs, drawings, paintings, sculpture, and some 3D virtual museum objects, as well as sound files and textual items. It features the arts, geography, history, the natural environment, people, and events.
http://www.matapihi.org.nz/
Patterns of Identity
This site provides profiles on New Zealand textile artists and their art works, pages on Māori and Pacific textiles, a look at the Auckland Museum textile section, shirts found at Pasifika festivals, and examples of techniques such as tie dye and batik. It is suitable for use with ESOL students
http://www.textiles.org.nz/index.html
Te Papa – Collections Online
Visit the growing rich collection of online images in the Te Papa Collections Online.
http://test.tepapa.govt.nz/col/ObjectSearch.aspx?sm=aco
NCEA
Eng/1/9 – A version 3
This assessment material, entitled 'Aotearoa', supports internal assessment for New Zealand English achievement standard 1.9, AS90060 – Research and present information. It focuses on the student's own New Zealand background or interest as a basis for research. The assessment requires planning and recording the research process undertaken, recording and analysing findings, and presenting the research as a written or oral report.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/eng1_9Av3_4feb03.doc
Eng/2/7 – A version 3
This assessment material, entitled 'I Know Where You're Coming From', supports internal assessment for New Zealand English achievement standard 2.7, AS90374 – Deliver a presentation using oral and visual language techniques. It involves students preparing and delivering a presentation to the class about some aspect in their history that has had a significant influence in shaping their lives.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/eng2_7Av3_30april03.doc
Hist/1/1 and Hist/1/2 – E version 4
This assessment material entitled 'Museum Display Brochure' supports internal assessment for New Zealand history achievement standards 1.1, AS90209 version 2 – Carry out an historical investigation, and 1.2, AS90210 version 2 – Communicate historical ideas. It involves students conducting research to select exhibition items and create a museum exhibition brochure about a selected person.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/hist1_1_1_2Ev4_11feb04.doc
Hist/1/1 and Hist/1/2 – L version 4
This assessment material entitled 'Magic Minutes: Our Community Yesterday' supports internal assessment for New Zealand history achievement standards 1.1, AS90209 version 2 – Carry out an historical investigation, and 1.2, AS90210 version 2 – Communicate historical ideas. It involves students conducting research into a particular building, monument, or other structure in the local community and presenting results as a taped radio broadcast.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/hist1_1_1_2Lv4_11feb04.doc
Hist/2/1 and Hist/2/2 – A version 4
This assessment material entitled 'An Historic Building' supports internal assessment for New Zealand history achievement standards 2.1, AS90465 version 2 – Plan and carry out an historical inquiry and AS90466 version 2 – Communicate historical ideas to demonstrate understanding of an historical context. It involves students conducting research on a local historic building and constructing a brochure that could be used to inform tourists.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/hist2_1_2_2Av4_10jan05.doc
Hist/3/1 – A version 2
This assessment material entitled 'Changing Neighbourhoods' supports internal assessment for New Zealand history achievement standard 3.1, AS90654 version 1 – Plan and carry out independent historical research. It involves students identifying, defining, and using relevant sources and historical evidence to research an aspect of continuity and change in their local community.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/hist3_1Av2_5feb04.doc
Hist/3/1 – B version 2
This assessment material entitled 'We Must Be Ourselves At All Risks' supports internal assessment for New Zealand history achievement standard 3.1, AS90654 version 1 – Plan and carry out independent historical research. It involves students identifying, defining, and using relevant sources and historical evidence to research an issue or problem that impacted on the lives of New Zealand men and women in the latter half of the 19th century.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/hist3_1Bv2_5feb04.doc
Hist/3/2 – A version 2 (Option 1)
This assessment material entitled 'Changing Neighbourhoods – Booklet', supports internal assessment for New Zealand history achievement standard 3.2, AS90655 version 1 – Communicate and present historical ideas clearly to show understanding of an historical context. It involves students preparing a section of a booklet on aspects of a local community's development over time.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/hist3_2Av2option1_5feb04.doc
Hist/3/2 – B version 2
This assessment material entitled 'We Must Be Ourselves At All Risks – Letter to My Grandchild', supports internal assessment for New Zealand history achievement standard 3.2, AS90655 version 1 – Communicate and present historical ideas clearly to show understanding of an historical context. It involves students writing a letter that presents a chosen aspect of 19th century New Zealand. [ Metadata record ]
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/hist3_2Bv2_5feb04.doc
HasFormat http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/hist3_2Bv2_5feb04.pdf
Media/2/5 – C version 3
This assessment material entitled 'Story Behind the Story', supports internal assessment for New Zealand media studies achievement standards 2.5, AS90280 version 2 – Demonstrate understanding of narrative conventions in media texts. It involves students viewing newspaper texts and explaining the links between narrative conventions, audience, and purpose. [ Metadata record ]
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/media2_5Cv3_14feb05.doc
HasFormat http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/media2_5Cv3_14feb05.pdf
Digital Conversations
This website supports Digital Conversations, a collection of video conference conversations with local and overseas personalities and experts in a range of fields. The website features video clips of previous conversations between participating schools and the personalities, including historian and editor of Te Ara Jock Phillips, and Basil Keane, Māori editor of Te Ara. Information about forthcoming video-conferences is also provided, as well as the opportunity to request a topic or expert.
http://www.digitalconversations.org.nz/
Offline resources
The following information provides examples of books and printed resources which may be available in the school library. While some of the following items are intended for younger audiences, they might provide springboard ideas for this initiative.
Women's Role in Colonial New Zealand Society
Learning Media item 91192. One of a selection of resources that facilitate the study of history through access to copies of primary New Zealand documents. These documents include photographs, tables, legal documents, and cartoons. The teachers' notes include an essay, 'Assessments of Women's Role', questions for study, and suggestions for further reading.
0 478 05601 X [ ISBN ]
Suggested Activity
In association with the screening of the Frontier of Dreams series, schools might like to consider investigating and publishing a Living Heritage story which explores one of the themes of the episodes
http://www.cwa.co.nz/frontierofdreams/series.html
Living Heritage is a free, online bilingual initiative that enables New Zealand schools to develop and publish an online resource, based on a heritage treasure in their community. Living Heritage preserves history and culture in a digital format for every generation, and allows our children's voices to present a view of New Zealand on the World Wide Web.
http://www.livingheritage.org.nz
Associated Publications
© Scholastic New
Zealand Limited, 2005
Scholastic New Zealand has published a set of four books to accompany the Frontier of Dreams series. Contact: http://www.scholastic.co.nz/contact.html
If you have suggestions as to additional resources which could support the exploration of this episode or series, please feel free to email us at frontierofdreams@learningchannel.org.nz