National events and The New Zealand Curriculum

January

Chinese New Year from Saturday January 28 2017
By examining this celebration students can explore values such as diversity and respect, and develop conceptual understandings about culture, identity, and customs.

February

Waitangi Day Monday 6 February 2017
Waitangi Day provides an opportunity for students to examine social science concepts and values, and develop key competencies. Schools can also consider how the Treaty of Waitangi principle is used as a foundation for curriculum decision making.

April

Earth Day 22 April 2017
Earth Day is a global event where people honour the natural environment and raise awareness of environmental issues that trouble the world. By taking part in Earth Day students have the opportunity to learn about the future focus issue of sustainability.

Anzac Day 25 April 2017
By examining this national event students can develop key competencies, explore values such as respect and honour, and examine the social science concepts of identity, continuity, and change.

May

New Zealand Music Month
By focusing on New Zealand Music Month you can explore the values of diversity and community and participation with your students. New Zealand Music Month provides a useful context for students to develop understandings in the arts and social sciences. 

New Zealand Sign Language Week from 8 May 2017
New Zealand Sign Language Week provides an opportunity for schools to reflect on the inclusion principle and explore the values of diversity and respect. Students can make use of key competencies, especially using language, symbols, and text and relating to others. Students will achieve learning outcomes described in the learning languages learning area.

Sāmoa Language Week from 28 May 2017 
Sāmoa Language Week / Vaiaso o le gagana Sāmoa helps all New Zealanders journey towards shared cultural understandings. Learning a new language gives us insight into new ways of thinking, and to different beliefs and cultural practices. Everyone who learns gagana Sāmoa helps to preserve it as a living and rich language.

June

Matariki from 25 June 2017
The pre-dawn rise of Matariki can be seen in the last days of May or early June every year. By celebrating Matariki at your school you can bring a range of NZC principles to life. Students can explore values, develop key competencies, and examine social science concepts.

July

Cook Islands Language Week from 30 July 2017
Cook Islands Language Week /Te 'Epetoma o te Reo Kūki Airani celebrates the identity, languages, and culture of students from the Cook Islands and students whose families are from the Cook Islands; supporting this group of learners to engage and achieve success.

August

Money Week from 14 August 2017
Money Week provides the opportunity to integrate numeracy with other learning areas, such as literacy, social sciences, learning languages, and the arts. It also offers the chance to engage parents, whānau, and local businesses with learning experiences and conversations.

International Languages Week 14 to 18 August 2017
International Languages Week provides an opportunity to showcase and promote languages and cultures in your school and communities.

September

Tongan Language Week from 3 September 2017
Tongan Language Week / Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e Lea Faka-Tonga gives students of all ethnicities the chance to learn some basic Lea Faka-Tonga, and gives your students of Tongan origin the chance to be experts in the classroom.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori /Māori Language Week 11 to 17 September 2017
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori provides an opportunity to celebrate and learn te reo Māori, helping to secure its future as a dynamic and rich language.

2017 General Election Saturday 23 September 2017
The General Election provides a useful context to build students' understanding of Parliament and the voting process. 

October

Tuvalu Language Week from 1 October 2017
This special week gives speakers of the Tuvalu language the chance to be experts in the classroom, and allows whānau and the wider Tuvalu community to see their language and culture being treasured in New Zealand schools.

Fiji Language Week from 8 October 2017
Fiji Language Week helps all New Zealanders journey towards shared cultural understandings. Learning a new language gives us insight into new ways of thinking, and into different beliefs and cultural practices.