Write a proposal for a new historical memorial to an event or development that occurred between 1840 and 1914. If you’re not sure where to begin choosing an event or development, here is a list of some options. This is just a list of ideas! You can choose any event in that period that relates to Aotearoa and our course theme of nationhood-and-the-problems-with-it. I’ve added Te Ara & NZ History links too so you can browse info about these suggested events/developments if you don’t know what they are.
- The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/treaty-of-waitangi (Links to an external site.)
- The Wairau Incident/Affray in 1843 https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/wairau-incident (Links to an external site.)
- The felling of the flagstaff at Kororāreka in 1844-1845 (see below link for Northern War)
- The Northern War, 1845-6 (or any battle within it) https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/northern-war (Links to an external site.)
- The arrival of the first New Zealand Company immigrants 1839-1852 https://teara.govt.nz/en/history-of-immigration/page-3 (Links to an external site.) and https://teara.govt.nz/en/history-of-immigration/page-4 (Links to an external site.)
- The passing of the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 https://teara.govt.nz/en/document/34377/constitution-act-1852 (Links to an external site.) https://nzhistory.govt.nz/proclamation-of-1852-constitution-act (Links to an external site.)
- The establishment of Te Kīngitanga/ the Māori King Movement in the 1850s https://teara.govt.nz/en/kingitanga-the-maori-king-movement (Links to an external site.)
- The New Zealand wars 1860-1872 (or any battle within them) https://teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-wars (Links to an external site.)
- The raupatu/’confiscation’ of Māori land in the 1860s https://teara.govt.nz/en/te-tango-whenua-maori-land-alienation/page-4 (Links to an external site.)
- The operation of the Native Land Court between 1860 and 1900 https://teara.govt.nz/en/te-tango-whenua-maori-land-alienation/page-5 (Links to an external site.) (and following 2 pages)
- The establishment of the Māori seats in Parliament in 1867 https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/maori-and-the-vote/setting-up-seats (Links to an external site.)
- The Vogel programme of increased immigration and infrastructural development in the 1870s https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/the-vogel-era (Links to an external site.)
- The abolishment of the provincial governments in 1876 https://teara.govt.nz/en/colonial-and-provincial-government (Links to an external site.)
- The introduction of refrigerated shipping in the 1880s https://teara.govt.nz/en/sheep-farming/page-5 (Links to an external site.)
- The development of Parihaka, and its invasion in 1881 https://nzhistory.govt.nz/parihaka-ploughing-campaign-begins (Links to an external site.)
- The Liberal Government reforms of the 1890s https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/history-of-new-zealand-1769-1914#heading7 (Links to an external site.)
- The suffrage movement and women’s inclusion in voting in 1893 https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/womens-suffrage/brief-history (Links to an external site.)
- The emergence of the “Young Māori Party” https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/33918/young-maori-party (Links to an external site.)
- The 1905 All Black tour of Britain https://nzhistory.govt.nz/originals-kick-off-all-black-tradition (Links to an external site.)
- The “Great Strike” 1913-14 https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/1913-great-strike
You might be interested in proposing a replacement or an alteration to a memorial that already exists. Here are a few suggestions for local memorials (you do not need to choose a local memorial, though it does need to be in New Zealand!) that often receive attention for their problematic nature:
- Statue of George Grey in Albert Park
- New Zealand wars memorial at junction of Symonds St and Wakefield St
- Statue of Marmaduke Nixon in Otāhuhu
What is a proposal?
A proposal is a piece of writing that suggests something and makes a case for it. It is usually written for an audience who has the power to make change, but is not yet convinced they should do so, and tries to give them persuasive information to help them decide that they should do the thing proposed.
You should aim your proposal at the body of people who would have the power to make your memorial happen (perhaps a local council, or the NZ government, or the owner of the land on which you would like a memorial to be sited…) Describe the events this memorial is commemorating. Who/what/when/where/how/why. You should aim to show that you understand the events, and describe them in a factual and impactful way (remember you are trying to make a case for their importance).
The main part of your proposal should be focused on explaining the importance of these events. Did they change Aotearoa? If so how? If not, why do you think it is so important that we remember these events? Use the scholarly sources you have read to back your ideas up. Make sure you reference those sources in footnotes (see below), and list them in a bibliography at the end of the proposal. Please use footnote references in the Chicago Style.