Land Wars Perspective Writing
📚 Part 1: Historical Figure Selection
1. Choose ONE historical figure from the New Zealand Land Wars to write about:
Hone Heke - Ngāpuhi chief who cut down the British flagstaff at Flagstaff Hill
Wiremu Tamihana - Waikato chief known as the "Kingmaker"
Te Rangihaeata - Ngāti Toa chief and military strategist
Governor George Grey - British colonial governor during the Land Wars
Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki - Māori leader and founder of the Ringatū faith
Major Thomas McDonnell - British military officer
2. Why did you choose this figure? What interests you about their story?
🗺️ Part 2: Planning Your Perspective
3. Key facts about your chosen figure (background, role in the Land Wars):
4. What significant event or decision will you write about from their perspective?
5. What emotions might your figure have felt during this event?
Anger
Fear
Determination
Sadness
Pride
Confusion
Hope
Betrayal
6. What challenges or difficult decisions did your figure face?
✍️ Part 3: Vocabulary and Language Planning
7. Match the historical terms with their meanings:
1. Tangata whenua
2. Pākehā
3. Kīngitanga
4. Confiscation
5. Sovereignty
A. Māori King Movement
B. People of the land
C. Government seizure of land
D. Supreme authority or power
E. Non-Māori New Zealanders
8. List 5 historical vocabulary words you could use in your narrative:
1. _________________ 2. _________________ 3. _________________
4. _________________ 5. _________________
9. Your narrative should be written in which tense?
Present tense (I am walking...)
Past tense (I walked...)
Future tense (I will walk...)
📝 Part 4: Narrative Structure Planning
10. Plan your narrative structure:
Introduction: How will you introduce yourself as this historical figure?
Main Event: What key event will you describe?
Reflection: How will you end with your figure's thoughts or feelings?
11. Write three sentence starters you could use to show your figure's perspective:
Example: "As I stood on the hill overlooking my ancestral lands..."
🎭 Part 5: Writing Your Perspective Narrative
12. Write your narrative from your chosen figure's perspective (approximately one page). Remember to:
Write in first person ("I", "me", "my")
Use past tense consistently
Include historical facts and details
Express emotions and personal viewpoint
Use appropriate historical vocabulary
Include introduction, main event, and reflection
🤔 Part 6: Reflection
13. How did writing from this historical figure's perspective help you understand the Land Wars differently?
14. Whose voices might be missing from the historical records of the Land Wars?
15. Why is it important to consider multiple perspectives when studying historical events?
