Event to commemorate the death anniversary of Governor Hobson

Auckland City Early Heritage Group seeks to revive the tradition of showing respect to the founder of Auckland and father of modern New Zealand, Governor William Hobson. This month marks 177 years since he died of stroke complications in the city he created. Today his remains are buried in Grafton Cemetery.

At least up until 1965 his death anniversary was officially commemorated but the practice seems to have fallen into abeyance. Auckland City Early Heritage Group wishes to revive this tradition by convening at his grave site on the morning of Saturday, September 14, 2019. We are asked to first meet up at a nearby location at 10 am and walk to the site (total duration of the event approximately 1 hour). If you would like to participate, please email Michael Coote for further details: [email protected]

To join the conversation with Auckland City Early Heritage Group, please like their social media page here, or search "Auckland City Early Heritage" on Facebook.

Michael Coote writes about Governor Hobson and his place in New Zealand's history at 'Breaking Views'. To read please click HERE

History

Go back to the September 2019 newsletter

Start From Scratch: The New Zealand Histories Curriculum

May 06, 2022

Sean Plunket recently asked one of our top historians, Dr Paul Moon, Professor of History at Auckland University of Technology, for his view on the new history curriculum to be taught in New Zealand schools. His answer? Start from scratch. Continue reading

More on our highly unsatisfactory new NZ history curriculum

Nov 04, 2021

Haka performed in front of the Ōhinemutu pā, which withstood the assault by Te Waharoa in 1836. PUBL-0014-53, Angas, George French, 1822–1886: War dance before the Pah of Oinemutu, near Rotorua Lake. J.W. Giles lith., 1847. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. Following the comments we made last month about the inexplicable decision by the Ministry of Education not to release for public viewing submissions made on the proposed new history curriculum, look at what noted historian Dr Paul Moon says about how the exercise was handled. Continue reading

No real changes to the radical draft New Zealand ‘histories’ curriculum

Oct 01, 2021

A recently released report on the draft curriculum content for teaching New Zealand’s ‘histories’ in our schools points to a determination to continue down the path of foisting upon our children an ideologically driven lop-sided version of our history. This is despite much criticism about the lack of balance in the draft content from historians, educationalists, parents/family, and community members. Continue reading

Another Media Council Fail

Apr 09, 2021

Recently a member sent a letter of complaint to Stuff regarding a comment made by Labour MP Arena Williams as guest columnist in newspapers published throughout New Zealand during February. The Williams commentary trotted out the oft-repeated lie about the Rangiaowhia affray - saying that “Colonel Nixon… was famous for razing unfortified Rangiaowhia while men, women and children burnt in their church.” The member writes: “That would certainly be a callous act if it were true. But it is not. Continue reading

New history curriculum - thumbs down from some

Mar 16, 2021

The Government has recently released their draft New Zealand history curriculum, which has been circulated for public feedback. The main themes include the arrival of Māori, early colonial history, the Treaty of Waitangi, the New Zealand wars, and New Zealand's role in the Pacific. Continue reading

The indoctrination of our children through fake history

Feb 21, 2020

Many of us have grave reservations about the content the new, soon-to-be-compulsory history curriculum. As political commentator Chris Trotter writes in Taking Control Of The Nation’s Story: “If Maori nationalist historians can seize control of the new, soon-to-be-compulsory, history curriculum, then the necessary ideological preparations can be made for a radical constitutional transformation”. We have a right to expect a fair view of our history that it will be taught in a factual and unbiased manner. However, our hopes are already being dashed - the indoctrination of children through fake history is already being realised. Continue reading

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Event to commemorate Governor Hobson