🏛️ Y8 Systems Unit Resources

Walking backwards into the future - learning from the past to build better systems.

Whakataukī | Proverb

"Kia whakatomuri te haere whakamua"

Walking backwards into the future - learning from the past to build better systems.

🏛️ Y8 Systems Unit Resources

Complete resource collection for the gold standard Y8 Systems methodology

📋 Assessment Rubric

Society design assessment with holistic evaluation criteria

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🌿 Cultural Framework

Indigenous feedback framework for culturally responsive assessment

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🏛️ Governance Systems

Traditional Māori governance examples and templates

Explore Systems

📜 Historical Examples

Living Tiriti examples and indigenous systems references

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Curriculum alignment

  • Te Mātaiaho (2025) · Social Sciences · Phase 3 (Years 7–8) · Civics and Society (Knowledge): “A constitution sets out the rules for how a country is governed.”
  • Te Mātaiaho (2025) · Social Sciences · Phase 3 (Years 7–8) · Civics and Society (Knowledge): “Types of government include parliamentary democracy (e.g. New Zealand), monarchy (e.g. Tonga), dictatorship (e.g. North Korea), and federal democracy (e.g. Australia, United States).”
  • NZC (2007) · Social Studies · Level 4: “Understand how formal and informal groups make decisions that impact on communities.”
  • NZC (2007) · Social Studies · Level 4: “Understand how people participate individually and collectively in response to community challenges.”

🧺 Ngā Rauemi Katoa | All Resources in this Collection

Resource 4.2A: Colonisation Timeline

High-quality resources from official New Zealand education sites to extend and enrich this learning content.

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Community Partnership Guide

Not yet written — this page states the gap honestly and points to the community-action material the unit does carry. Partnership with mana whenua is kaiako-led.

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Resource 5.2C: Personal Decolonisation Commitment

"Decolonisation is not a metaphor - it requires real action and ongoing commitment."

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Resource 4.2C: Decolonisation Today

High-quality resources from official New Zealand education sites to extend and enrich this learning content.

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Resource 5.2A: Decolonised Design Template

High-quality resources from official New Zealand education sites to extend and enrich this learning content.

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Resource 1.2A: Gallery Walk Statements

High-quality resources from official New Zealand education sites to extend and enrich this learning content.

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Resource 2.1A: Government Type Station Cards

High-quality resources from official New Zealand education sites to extend and enrich this learning content.

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Resource 5.2B: Indigenous Feedback Framework

This framework uses Indigenous consultation principles to provide respectful, constructive feedback on system designs.

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Resource 5.1B: Indigenous Governance Principles

Decisions made considering connections between people, land, and future generations. Leadership based on genealogical connections and proven wisdom.

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Indigenous Learning Systems

Indigenous Learning Systems: Ngā Pūnaha Ako Taketake • Traditional Knowledge as Systems Thinking Free NZ curriculum resource from Te Kete Ako.

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Resource 5.1C: Indigenous Systems Examples

High-quality resources from official New Zealand education sites to extend and enrich this learning content.

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Handout for Lesson 1.1: Society Stations

Who makes up the society? How are they connected? (e.g., whānau, citizenship, shared interests).

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Handout for Lesson 1.2: Draw Your System Template

Draw lines or write sentences to show how the parts are connected and work together.

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Handout for Lesson 2.1: Government Case Studies

In New Zealand, citizens over 18 vote every three years to elect members to Parliament. The political party with the most members, or a coalition of...

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Handout for Lesson 2.2: NZ Government Power Cards

Handout for Lesson 2.2: NZ Government Power Cards — free unit plan for New Zealand teachers and students. Part of the Te Kete Ako curriculum resource collect...

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Handout for Lesson 3.1: Council Services Card Sort

Teaching resource for this unit.

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Handout for Lesson 3.2: Campaign Plan Template

Who has the power to make this change? (e.g., the Principal, the Board of Trustees)

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Resource 4.1A: Living Tiriti Examples

High-quality resources from official New Zealand education sites to extend and enrich this learning content.

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Resource 4.1B: Traditional Māori Governance Systems - Sophisticated Political Organisation

Paramount chief with spiritual and political authority. Often hereditary through senior whakapapa lines.

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Resource 4.2A: Defending Tino Rangatiratanga - Māori Political Action

The Crown confiscated 1.6 million acres of Taranaki land after the Land Wars, violating Te Tiriti. Māori were left landless while settlers moved in.

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Resource 4.2A: Jigsaw Reading Protest Case Studies

In 1975, many Māori were angry that their land was still being taken and sold. Whina Cooper, who was nearly 80 years old, led a huge march (a hīkoi)...

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🛹 The Skate Park Campaign

Teaching resource for this unit.

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📊 Society Design Assessment Rubric

Teaching resource for this unit.

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🤝 Society Design Collaboration Framework

🤝 Society Design Collaboration Framework: There is one eye of the needle (through which the thread must pass). Free NZ curriculum resource from Te Kete Ako.

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Station 3: #BlackLivesMatter - Case Study Card

Station 3: #BlackLivesMatter - Case Study Card: • Young Black organizers refusing to wait for adult permission Free NZ curriculum resource from Te Kete Ako.

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Station 2: Ihumātao Protectors - Case Study Card

Station 2: Ihumātao Protectors - Case Study Card — free unit plan for New Zealand teachers and students. Part of the Te Kete Ako curriculum resource collection.

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Station 4: Local Youth Organising - Case Study Card

Station 4: Local Youth Organising - Case Study Card — free unit plan for New Zealand teachers and students. Part of the Te Kete Ako curriculum resource colle...

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Station 1: School Strike 4 Climate - Case Study Card

Station 1: School Strike 4 Climate - Case Study Card: • Students organised themselves, not adults organising for them Free NZ curriculum resource from Te Kete A

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Resource 1.1A: System Sorting Cards

High-quality resources from official New Zealand education sites to extend and enrich this learning content.

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Resource 4.1A: Simplified Treaty Articles

High-quality resources from official New Zealand education sites to extend and enrich this learning content.

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Resource 4.1A: Te Tiriti o Waitangi - Understanding Two Different Agreements

The Queen extends to Māori Royal protection and all rights and privileges of British subjects.

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Who Has the REAL Power? - NZ Government

Welcome! Your task is to match the 'Power' cards to the correct 'Role' in New Zealand's government. First, click on a role from the left column to...

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