PACIFIC 214 : Pacific History: New Zealand in the Pacific from 1900

Arts

2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores the historical relationship between New Zealand and the Pacific from 1900 onwards. Traces the central importance of New Zealand in the history of the Pacific from the rise of New Zealand’s colonial empire, through the world wars, and towards the movement for decolonisation. Examines the continually evolving place of New Zealand as a nation in the Pacific Ocean.

Course Overview

New Zealand’s colonial past and active empire building in the Pacific is frequently overlooked. However, starting with the colonisation of the Cook Islands in 1900, New Zealand went on to colonise Niue, Samoa, Nauru and Tokelau, amassing an empire that spanned a vast area of the Pacific Ocean.

This course will trace the impact of New Zealand in the Pacific, analysing motivations and justifications for New Zealand’s empire building. It will analyse the impact of colonisation and the tangible benefits NZ had from maintaining a significant base of power in the Pacific Ocean. It will examine the impact New Zealand had on the development of the Pacific through demands for labour and economic benefits, cultural and social changes, and the experiences of the first and second world wars. It will also consider the deconstruction of this empire after WWII in the face of the global drive for Indigenous self-determination, and the reality of this for Pacific peoples. Finally, this course will examine the evolving dynamics of New Zealand’s place in the Pacific from this point until the end of the twentieth century. New Zealand as a settler-colony and the relationship between Māori as tangata whenua and Indigenous Pacific Peoples will also be a point of discussion in this course.

This course will prioritise primary sources both written and oral, and give validation to Indigenous ways of telling history. It will discuss the methodological challenges inherent in utilising primary sources and provide models for students that will enhance their abilities to interpret and weave together primary sources with established scholarly arguments. It will encourage critical analysis of existing interpretations of New Zealand’s place in the Pacific in light of primary sources and through different worldviews, to create new interpretations and perspectives.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 15 points at Stage I in Pacific Studies or History and 30 points passed Restriction: PACIFIC 314

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically analyse the historical interpretations of New Zealand’s place in the Pacific (Capability 1.1 and 2.2)
  2. Examine the development of the relationship between New Zealand and the Pacific; power dynamics, social and cultural influences, economic and social benefits, and the place of Pacific peoples in the history of New Zealand (Capability 1.3 and 6.2)
  3. Assess and interpret written primary sources (Capability 2.1)
  4. Assess and interpret Indigenous ways of recording history (Capability 2.3 and 4.2)
  5. Expand and enhance critical thinking skills and skills in communication through innovative written and oral assessments (Capability 4.2)
  6. Build expertise in analysing academic readings and building arguments through utilising primary source evidence (Capability 2.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 30% Individual Coursework
Coursework 30% Individual Coursework
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including tutorials.
Attendance on campus is not required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

This course is not available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2023.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Comments from previous SET evaluations have led to some changes to the assessments in this course. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 26/10/2022 10:58 a.m.