Mātauranga Māori constitutes concepts and principles that are richly detailed, complex, and fundamental to Māoridom. It is important to remember that the practice of these are wider and more varied than their use within the proposed NCEA Achievement Standards and supporting documentation.

We also recognise that the cultures, languages, and identities of the Pacific Islands are diverse, varied, and unique. Therefore the Pacific concepts, contexts, and principles that have been incorporated within NCEA Achievement Standards may have wide-ranging understandings and applications across and within the diversity of Pacific communities. It is not our intention to define what these concepts mean but rather offer some ways that they could be understood and applied within different subjects that kaiako and students alike can explore.

The intent of the Standard

This Achievement Standard gives ākonga the opportunity to engage with the Significant Learning centered around how historical and social contexts influence the development of significant religious or spiritual narratives and texts. It stems from the Big Idea that religious and spiritual traditions are influenced by significant narratives and texts. There is the opportunity within this Achievement Standard to engage with the Significant Learning regarding the exploration of Māori and Pacific understandings of religion and spirituality, including pūrākau.

The purpose of this Achievement Standard is to assess ākonga understanding of a significant narrative in relation to a religious or spiritual tradition. Ākonga will be able to show understanding of the key messages that are communicated through the narrative and examine how the identified key messages from the narrative can be applied within a religious or spiritual tradition. Ākonga will develop an understanding that significant narratives can have diverse interpretations and can influence how people express religious or spiritual beliefs and practices.

Making reliable judgements

‘Relates to’ means ‘to make or show a connection between’. For this Achievement Standard, ākonga make a connection between a significant narrative and a religious or spiritual tradition. Before choosing a narrative, ākonga are encouraged to consider what makes a narrative significant in relation to a religious or spiritual tradition. When describing how key messages from the chosen narrative are applied within a religious or spiritual tradition, ākonga will support their claims with examples from the chosen narrative and the religious or spiritual tradition. For example, Judaism and Christianity have different interpretations of the Bible. A Christian interpretation of the Bible can be defined as a narrative about God, humanity, and salvation through Jesus. Whereas within Judaism, the interpretation focuses on God, people, and the land.

It is important to note the dynamic relationship between narratives and religious or spiritual traditions. Kaiako may ensure through teaching and learning that ākonga are aware that religious or spiritual traditions also inform the development of narratives over time. The diverse interpretations of these narratives can inform how religious or spiritual traditions express beliefs and practices.

Collecting evidence

This Achievement Standard provides an opportunity for ākonga to show their understanding of how significant narratives are connected to religious or spiritual traditions. Kaiako may guide selection of a narrative and key messages, including how to select relevant examples to support making connections between a narrative and a religious or spiritual tradition.

The term ‘narrative’ is inclusive of a range of oral and written sources/accounts/commentaries that religious and spiritual traditions deem to be significant. Significant oral and written narratives can be of varied genre, and define and guide the followers of a tradition. For example, in Māori tradition this is encapsulated in karakia, wairua, hīmene, waiata, whakapapa, and tikanga. In other traditions, narratives can be found in revelations, genealogies, histories, commentaries, debates, laws, and creation myths. In Islam, this includes the Qur’an and Hadith. In Catholicism, this includes the Bible, Encyclicals, and the Catechism.

Possible contexts

Ākonga are encouraged to access their own cultures and identities in their understanding of these significant narratives in the context of religious or spiritual traditions. Ākonga could find connections between te ao Māori spirituality and a narrative’s key messages. For example, ākonga may find key messages with a pūrākau that connect with te ao Māori spirituality. Connections with te ao Māori spirituality may include references to the significance of atua, mauri, mana, and tapu. Interpretations of te ao Māori spirituality through pūrākau should be guided and consulted with local kaumātua, as appropriate, and include supporting evidence.

Literacy and Numeracy Requirements

This Achievement Standard has been approved for literacy in the transition period (2024-2027). 

Full information on the co-requisite during the transition period: Standards approved for NCEA Co-requisite during the transition period (2024-2027).