Māori Voices in WWI

Name:

Date:

📚 Part 1: Multiple Choice & Matching

1. Which reason was commonly given by Māori who enlisted in the Pioneer Battalion?

To show loyalty to the Crown

To escape New Zealand

Because military service was compulsory for Māori

For tourism opportunities overseas

2. What was a main role of the Māori Pioneer Battalion during WWI?

Frontline cavalry charges

Engineering, labour and trench support

Naval patrols in the Pacific

Aerial reconnaissance

3. Check all conditions the Battalion commonly faced:

Harsh trench and labour conditions

Widespread discrimination and segregation

Immediate promotion to officer rank

Risk of illness and poor shelter

4. Match each motivation (left) with the example or explanation (right). Draw lines between matching items.

A. Mana and duty to whānau

B. Economic reasons

C. Loyalty to New Zealand / Crown

D. Protecting land and tikanga

1. Belief that service would keep land and rights safe

2. Desire to support family and community standing

3. Need for regular pay or work during wartime

4. Fighting alongside other New Zealanders as a sign of loyalty

✏️ Part 2: Short Answers & Creative Response

5. In one sentence, explain two motivations that might lead a young Māori person to join the Pioneer Battalion.

6. Describe two specific roles or tasks carried out by the Battalion and one difficulty they faced (one or two short paragraphs).

7. Reflection: What can we learn from the experiences of the Māori Pioneer Battalion? How does their story affect your understanding of New Zealand's history? (Write a short paragraph.)

8. Creative: Plan a two-minute group role-play showing a scene from Battalion life (e.g. trench work, caring for the sick, or facing discrimination). Give your scene a title and list three short actions or lines. You may sketch a simple scene map below.

Homework (optional): Find one primary-source quote or short story about a Māori WWI soldier. Write the soldier's name (if known) and one sentence about why their story matters.