Episode 11: The golden Weather
On this page: Exploring the themes | Curriculum areas | Key competencies | Links
This episode tells the story of one of the most prosperous and stable periods in our history, the 1950s and early 1960s. It was a time of suburban growth, full employment and farming success, as New Zealand basked in 'the golden weather'.
Screening: Saturday 3 December 2005, 7.30pm, TV One.
(repeated Sunday 4 December 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:
- The Baby Boomers – by the end of WWII New Zealanders wanted to settle down, and settle down they did. Returning soldiers married, and couples produced babies at a very steady rate being responsible for what is today known as the 'Baby Boomer' generation. What effects did this have on society then and now?
- National security – after the end of WWII the prospect of a third world war became a reality. The New Zealand government needed to convince its people that they were safe from the threat of invasion from either Chinese and/or Russian communists. How real was this threat and what was done to prevent it?
- The arts – New Zealand began to produce its own brand of music with artists gaining international reputations. M?ori show bands were very popular at home and across the Tasman, as were other individual and group performers. What influenced them, and what influence did they have?
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/Māori/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
- Thinking (critically, creatively, logically)
- Relating to others
- Managing self
- Making meaning (multi-literacies and making meaning using movement, symbols and technologies)
- Participating and Contributing.
Relating to Others
This episode of Frontier of Dreams explores the period of time in New Zealand's history after WWII. During this time further social change took place from the birth of the baby boomer generation – to the establishment of teenage culture – bodgie, pop idols.
Discussions could centre around:
- Social change - what contributory factors led to social change at the time. What is their relevance today? What will influence social change in the future and why?
Rich questions to support this area could include:
- The increased population of the post war baby boom created a range of challenges for society at the time including housing and schooling. This group is nearing retirement. What issues is New Zealand going to face in the future as these people retire and get older? Populations across the world are changing – what does this mean for New Zealand?
- Post – war New Zealand perceived that teenagers were in 'moral decline'. What part could the war have played in causing these problems? How do the perceived problems of the time compare with today's youth? What do we mean by 'youth', and what shapes our attitudes to young people and their unique perspectives?
- Every generation experiences a world that is different from the previous generation. How can we understand the perspectives of each other when our experiences are so different? With the world's population changing, and global boundaries dropping, what will be the nature of our society in the future, and what processes do we need to help us to relate to each other?
Making meaning
National security – after WWII the new National government of New Zealand had to convince the country it was secure against threat of further war, especially a nuclear attack.
Rich questions to support this area could include:
- What measures did New Zealand take against in terms of ensuring that New Zealand was a 'secure' nation after WWII? How did the government bring the country on board in terms of support for its measures against communist influences? Discuss how successful you think today's government would be in terms of acquiring the same amount of support. What shapes our thinking and attitudes about our government and our security needs? What are the new security issues we face now and how can we respond to these?
- How did the ANZUS treaty provide security for New Zealand? Discuss what happened to the ANZUS treaty in January 1985 when David Lange's Labour Government banned nuclear – powered ships from New Zealand waters. Where does New Zealand stand today in relation to this? What other mechanisms do we have to represent our views as a nation on the world stage? How does New Zealand as a nation decide what it believes in and how do we communicate this within New Zealand and to the world?
Making meaning
- The arts began to take on a unique New Zealand flavour in terms of music and visual arts. Find out about musical, dramatic, dance, and visual artists of the time. Who were those who made it to fame? How did they get there? What influences did they have? What influences have they have had on the arts industry in New Zealand today?
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
Digital Conversations
On 1 November 2005 Vincent Burke, co – producer of Frontier of Dreams, and David Filer, director of research for the programme participated in a videoconference with five schools from around New Zealand to talk about the making of the television series. The conversation included:
- creating animations
- researching the histories
- coping with the challenges of covering everything important
- shooting the scenes.
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
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
Kiwi Mates
This year 11 history activity is designed to help students select relevant evidence for key personalities, their positions and viewpoint(s) over the ANZUS Treaty 1951 and to describe how ANZUS was important in changing New Zealand's international relations and identity.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/dnzb/doc/kiwi_mates.doc
Requires http://www.dnzb.govt.nz
Out in the Cold – Australia's involvement in the Korean War
This is an online exhibition from the Australian War Museum about the involvement of Australia in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Includes information on the formation of the Anzus treaty, a defence security pact between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States for the protection of the Pacific Ocean at that time.
http://www.awm.gov.au/korea/origins/anzus/anzus.htm
The Right Livelihood Awards (2003): David Lange
The Right Livelihood Award was awarded to Rt Hon David Lange in 2003 "...for his steadfast work over many years for a world free of nuclear weapons". This page profiles David Lange and his nuclear – free policy.
http://www.rightlivelihood.org/recip/2003/lange.htm
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
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
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Learning Activities
A collection of year 11 and year 13 history activities written by teachers for teachers using the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
http://www.dnzb.govt.nz
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
National Library
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/
Discover Te Kohinga Taonga
Discover Te Kohinga Taonga is an online resource of New Zealand art and music from the National Library of New Zealand. It provides all New Zealand schools with free online access to more than 2,000 multimedia items, arranged into 13 topic areas to support the visual arts and music disciplines of the arts/ngā toi curriculum. It includes photographs, paintings, drawings, posters, music, video clips, essays and bibliographies.
http://discover.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 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
New Zealand Centennial 1939-1940
This website from NZHistory.net gives the background to New Zealand's celebration of a century of European effort and progress in New Zealand. Local and provincial events plugged into a full diary of national events – unveiling memorials, staging historical re-enactments, and music and drama festivals. It has specially commissioned publications of recorded stories of progress.
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/centennial/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
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
Te Papa: Māori Showbands
This online exhibition brings this musical phenomenon to life. Through stories, photographs, quotes, scrapbook memories, and music and film clips, the exhibition presents a fascinating insight into the sensational rise of the showbands. The parade of singers, musicians, and bands profiled includes such greats as the Māori Hi Five, the Māori Hi Quins, the Quin Tikis, the Māori Premiers, The Māori Volcanics, and the Howard Morrison Quartet.
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/TePapa/English/WhatsOn/ShortTermExhibitions/MāoriShowbands/
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
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
SocStud/2/3 – A version 2
This assessment material entitled 'Head to Head', supports internal assessment for New Zealand social studies achievement standard 2.3, AS90273 version 2 - Conduct an advanced social studies inquiry. It involves students researching a current conflict that has, as one of its main causes, cultural differences.
Metadata record
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/socstud2_3Av2_14apr05.doc
HasFormat http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/socstud2_3Av2_14apr05.pdf
SocStud/2/4 – A version 2
This assessment material entitled 'Generic', supports internal assessment for New Zealand social studies achievement standard 2.4, AS90274 version 2 - Describe responses to values position(s). It involves students carrying out a case study that includes values positions held by a person and/or people, and the ways others have responded to these values positions. .
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/socstud2_4Av2_14apr05.doc
HasFormat http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/socstud2_4Av2_14apr05.pdf
SocStud/2/3 – C version 2
This assessment material entitled 'Generic Inquiry', supports internal assessment for New Zealand social studies achievement standard 2.3, AS90273 version 2 – Conduct an advanced social studies inquiry. It involves students using a formalised framework to research a topic of general interest.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/socstud2_3Cv2_14apr05.doc
HasFormat http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/socstud2_3Av2_14apr05.pdf
SocStud/3/4 – A version 1
This assessment material entitled 'New Zealand – A Welfare State?', supports internal assessment for New Zealand social studies achievement standard 3.5, AS90692 version 1 - Examine a values system. It involves students examining the relationships between aspects of a values system. The values system examined in this assessment resource is that of Liberalism in the New Zealand context.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/socstud3_4Av1_19feb04.doc
HasFormat http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/socstud3_4Av1_19feb04.pdf
Art History/2/5–A version 4
This assessment material entitled 'Research and Present a Seminar,' supports internal assessment for New Zealand art history achievement standard 2.5, AS90231 version 2 - Research an art history topic. It involves students presenting a seminar on a researched topic.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/arthist2_5Av4_18feb05.doc
HasFormat http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/arthist2_5Av4_18feb05.pdf
Art History/3/5 – C version 2
This assessment material entitled 'The Artist Speaks', supports internal assessment for New Zealand art history achievement standard 3.5, AS90494 version 1 - Investigate an art history topic. It involves students analysing statements of two artists about a selected topic and presenting their findings as a slide presentation.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/arthist3_5Cv2_22jan04.doc
HasFormat http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/arthist3_5Cv2_22jan04.pdf
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/1/1 and Hist/1/2 – P version 4
This assessment material entitled 'Newspaper Education Page: Making a Mark', 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 significant twentieth century New Zealand woman and presenting the results for a newspaper's education page
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/hist1_1_1_2Pv4_11feb04.doc
Hist/1/2 – R version 4
This assessment material entitled 'Enemy of the State', supports internal assessment for New Zealand history achievement standards 1.2, AS90210 version 2 - Communicate historical ideas. It involves students writing a report showing how a significant person in history seriously challenged authority or government.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/hist1_2Rv4_11feb04.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
New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers
http://www.historymakers.co.nz/index.phpDigital Conversations
Video-based conversations featuring leading New Zealand historian and editor of the Te Ara collection - Jock Phillips, ,and Basil Keane, Māori editor of Te Ara are available as part of the Digital Conversations site.
Digital Conversations is a collection of video clips from conversations with local and overseas personalities and experts in their fields. and participating schools. Each conversation is supported by curriculum material and association information. Details about up-coming video-conferences are also provided, as well as the opportunity to join the conversation, and request a topic or expert.
http://www.digitalconversations.org.nz/
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
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.
Down Times – Teenage Depression in New Zealand
This book explores the causes of teenage depression in New Zealand, and suggests helping strategies for managing mental health problems.
1 86953 395X [ ISBN ]
Scene of the Crime
Learning Media item 97161. The audio cassette of Scene of the Crime features appropriate musical introductions for the items, which all focus on aspects of crime, from forensic science, to Crimewatch journalism, to the stories of two teenagers whose lives have been affected by crime. This audio cassette, produced to accompany the book of the same name (item 02844), provides a clear, uncomplicated reading of the stories. The reading is entertaining while providing good models of spoken language for ESOL students at a pace that will accommodate slow or reluctant readers.
[Metadata Record]
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