Mel Thompson
Mel is part of the Learning Team within Te Papa Tongarewa. She has a background in science, education & communication and has worked with researchers and curators to create these courses for you.
Location Aotearoa New Zealand
Activity
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Mel Thompson replied to Karen Middlebrook
Kia ora Karen, music to my ears! We love that this course supports teachers in teaching the multifaceted history of Aotearoa. That's one of our goals so please do let me know if you have any questions as you go or would like any other support or resources :)
This course is a really valuable way for you to deepen your own knowledge (SO much of this history...
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Mel Thompson replied to Vera Reina
Oh thank you so much Vera! I'm really glad these courses gave you an accessible entry-point into understanding AoNZ culture, past and present) -- that's just what we hoped for!
Thank you also for the recommendation, that's really appreciated! Wishing you all the best for your immigration here :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Michaela W
Yes! There is an exhibition outside the entrance to the museum where you can go down and see them and learn about them :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Michaela W
Te Papa is one of the top attractions for visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand!
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Mel Thompson replied to Michaela W
Our kids start learning earthquake/disaster preparedness very young, as soon as they start school, if not before. It's a conversation that's always bubbling away in the public sphere and in the media. Not in a fearmonger-y way, but in an empowering one (make sure your grab bag is ready and stocked, make sure you know where your community hub is etc)
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Mel Thompson replied to Michaela W
I think you'd really enjoy the other courses in this series after this one, as they expand much more on these subjects. While our history was 'typically' colonial, it did happen much later than most other British settlements, so some of those attitudes were really starting to change in England... though those ideals didn't always make it to the ground...
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Mel Thompson replied to Ella Q
Well said Ella!
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Mel Thompson replied to Ella Q
Truly such a unique place!
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Mel Thompson replied to Ella Q
I agree! We so often view ourselves as separate from the entire rest of the living (and non-living) world, despite being entirely reliant upon it. If it collapses, so too do we!
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Mel Thompson replied to Ella Q
Yes, we all learn from a very young age what to do when we feel a shake!
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Welcome Jennifer! Brilliant to have you here :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Long SD
Please do! Or try one of our other history courses if you haven't yet, they all work brilliantly together :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Long SD
A huge amount of parallels between the things you've described in Wales and the story here in AoNZ.
Māori was made an official language here in the 70s (after a period where māori children were put in 'native schools' where sometimes their language was beaten out of them (more on all that in our Protest course --...
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Mel Thompson replied to Long SD
The shortcut is only available if you change your keyboard's default language to Māori, which may not be appropriate for everyone!
But alternately, you can use a double-vowel in place of the macron-vowel in Māori, and in fact many iwi use this variant preferentially (it is pronounced the same way - an extended vowel. So 'Māori' can also be 'Maaori' :) Hope...
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Oh what a beautiful way to put it! Your program sounds fascinating too.
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Mel Thompson replied to Stephanie Schaar
How wonderful! Yes there is so much more depth to these topics than these short courses can address but I'm glad to hear they have triggered your curiosity to learn more. Dive into all the additional resources, there's lots there!
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Mel Thompson replied to Heyujuan H
Very true!
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Mel Thompson replied to Peter Sandford
No, you're correct that it was orally. Navigational knowledge was passed through things like waiata (song), karanga (chants), and purākau (stories).
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Mel Thompson replied to Heyujuan H
I totally agree!
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
I'm so glad you enjoyed your time here Linda! Thank you for your kind words, and for sharing your reflections. See you again! <3
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
Thanks for letting me know! I've fixed the link :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Heyujuan H
Great summary!
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Mel Thompson replied to Heyujuan H
Fascinating, thanks for sharing!
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Mel Thompson replied to Heyujuan H
Kia ora and welcome, Heyujuan H! Wonderful to have you learning with us :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
Oh I'm so sorry to hear your daughter had to go through that. Hopefully the next phase of their life is kinder once they can operate more on their own terms <3
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
@LindaBamford The new run is considered a new course by FutureLearn, so you should be able to start fresh! Some of my other free learners have done this :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
@LindaBamford I will add an extra week of time if you need it, as this run is now 'closed' (note there is already an additional empty week after week 4 for catch ups!)
On the bright side though, as there is now a new live run, you'll be able to enroll in that one again immediately after this if you like and have a second chance to go through anything you...
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
Let me know if you're going to be timed out, I'll do my best to help!
And yes, the unfairness that it will be those who have contributed the least to climate change being the first to be so harmed by it is really striking.
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
We are facing misinformation and propaganda wars on a scale never seen before. The rise of unregulated social media 'news' and the decline of traditional media news is totally unprecedented, and we're woefully unprepared for it!
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Yes, it has the feel of "out of sight, out of mind" about it.
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Mel Thompson replied to Sara Williams
Thank you so much for your kind words Sara!
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Mel Thompson replied to Sara Williams
We have a new course coming soon all about the whales and dolphins of Aotearoa and the ways they have impacted our culture and history. Keep an eye out!
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Mel Thompson replied to Sara Williams
Tuatara are such a fascinating species. Not like anything else on earth!
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Mel Thompson replied to Sara Williams
Yes! It's there, revamped and still much loved!
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Mel Thompson replied to Sara Williams
Tēnā koe Sara! Great to have you here, I'm so glad you found our courses :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Kim Ferens
Ka pai ki te reo, Kim! Awesome to have you here :)
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Absolutely devastating.
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Mel Thompson replied to Greg Holtmeyer
New Zealand is doing well compared to many countries in terms of renewables -- over 80% of our power supply is from renewables, with a goal to get to 100%.
However we are still extracting, using, and exporting coal. As you'll see more in upcoming steps, renewables can also be quite environmentally destructive too so it's going to depend on future tech...
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They certainly got caught out for it much faster than they probably expected!
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Mel Thompson replied to Greg Holtmeyer
While violence certainly brings attention, I think we can see from all of the examples in this course just how impactful non-violent protest can be!
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Mel Thompson replied to Greg Holtmeyer
New Zealand is having it's own media struggles at the moment, but different to that in the states. Many of our major media organisations are folding... raising questions about where the public will end up getting their information from.
While there can be some level of bias in MSM, it is nothing compared to the misinfo present on alternative sources like...
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
It's a shame we keep repeating these awful patterns :(
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
While it was technically criminalized prior to that, it wasn't enforced in any way and was, and remains, accessible. The 2020 decision was more an acknowledgement of that, and a tidy up of the law to recognize practice.
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Kia ora Clarence, welcome to the course!
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Mel Thompson replied to Justine Foster
Kia ora Justine, haere mai! We love seeing teachers here, there is a lot of scope to adapt some of the materials in this course for the classroom and we're very interested in how else we can support the teaching of this important history!
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
A very inspiring woman, indeed.
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
@LindaBamford My apologies, the new run actually starts next week! The link should be live now. So if you do get kicked off this run, you can jump back in over there :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Greg Holtmeyer
Correction - the new run starts next week!
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Mel Thompson replied to Patricia M
I'm so glad you enjoyed your time here Patricia, thank you so much for learning with us!
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Mel Thompson replied to Lydia Sariak
I agree, RNZ really knocked this series out of the park!
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
Yes, a too familiar story!
To view the captions, move your mouse over the video, then click on the small "CC" sitting in the bottom right hand corner. If the "CC" has a little red line under it, the captions are turned on!
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Exactly!
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It's a shame the virtual tour couldn't capture the exhibition audio. It had projections and soundscapes, and the works of Rongowhakaata composers, such as Tama Waipara, and Rob Ruha. Very immersive.
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Mel Thompson replied to Lydia Sariak
Kia ora and welcome Lydia! I love hearing that overseas visitors are using these courses to deepen their understanding of the culture before they visit, or to connect with their loved ones. So cool to see!
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Mel Thompson made a comment
Tēnā koutou, my name is Mel and I'll be your facilitator throughout this course. I'm based in Wellington, New Zealand and am part of the Learning Team at Te Papa.
I'm so excited to share this fascinating look at our protest history with you!
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Mel Thompson replied to Linda Bamford
Kia ora Linda, I'm not sure if you'll see this or not, but this course has just started a new run, so if you find yourself locked out you can join back up here:
https://www.futurelearn.com/admin/courses/mautohe-i-aotearoa-the-history-of-protest-in-new-zealand/2 -
Mel Thompson replied to Greg Holtmeyer
Kia ora Greg, I'm not sure if you'll see this or not, but this course has just started a new run, so if you find yourself locked out you can join back up here:
https://www.futurelearn.com/admin/courses/mautohe-i-aotearoa-the-history-of-protest-in-new-zealand/2 -
Mel Thompson replied to Ruth Tanner
Kia ora and welcome Ruth! It does feel a very important time to refresh our collective understanding of our history. I look forward to seeing your reflections :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Greg Holtmeyer
'Going bush' is a great way to get to know Aotearoa!
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Mel Thompson replied to Greg Holtmeyer
I agree! There is so much to be learned from indigenous cultures.
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Mel Thompson replied to Greg Holtmeyer
How wonderful! I hope you enjoy the course Greg. There are more that follow it if you do!
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Mel Thompson replied to Donna Leckie
Funny you say that, I just added an article to this section about Kupe, incorporating the 'photographic journey'! Go back to make sure you don't miss it!
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Mel Thompson replied to Patricia M
Ecotourism/tourism seems to have proven a boon to many indigenous cultures around the world in protecting their cultures and way of lives in the face of many pressures.
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Mel Thompson replied to Sue F
@DonnaLeckie I have had a similar experience. Writing my pepeha turned out to be a bit of a catalyst for discovering my genealogy which I'd never been prompted, as NZ European, to think about that much.
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The intimacy the concepts (and whetū) of Matariki have with the natural biodiversity and rhythms of this land has made a big impact on me, personally.
I find I am viewing the passage of time very differently, connecting it with my life and land in a new way. I've been realizing for the first time how arbitrarily I have viewed it for most of my life.
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Mel Thompson replied to Donna Leckie
Kia ora Donna, brilliant to have you here. It sounds like you're likely already be aware of a lot of the course content but I'm looking forward to seeing your thoughts as you go through!
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Mel Thompson replied to Greg Holtmeyer
And the way it was reported on is very telling too.
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This is a bit of an explainer on the concerns of the protestors. Basically, provisions within the TPP agreement would allow a foreign corporation to take legal action against the government for introducing legislation that harms their investment.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/295605/will-tpp-undermine-nz's-sovereignty
Essentially, concessions...
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Mel Thompson replied to Greg Holtmeyer
Welcome Greg, great to have you learning with us! What important and difficult work you do. Thank you for it.
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Mel Thompson replied to Ella Eriksson
The Mixing Room is a permanent exhibit at Te Papa focusing on the stories of young refugees to Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Mel Thompson replied to Ella Eriksson
Sky puppies!
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Mel Thompson replied to Ella Eriksson
Kia ora Ella, nau mai haere mai, wonderful to have you here!
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Mel Thompson replied to Patricia M
Yes, there are parallels of our colonization story all over the world. Lots of connections to be made!
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Mel Thompson replied to Stephanie Schaar
Oh what an interesting learning journey you've had with Aotearoa! Great to have you here to expand your knowledge :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Patricia M
I'm so glad you're enjoying the learning experience, Patricia!
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I'm with you -- it's all about connections!
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Mel Thompson replied to Sue F
Thank you so much Sue, it was wonderful having you learn with us! Hopefully we'll see you again on another of our courses :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Patricia M
It's a mind-blowing journey!
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Mel Thompson replied to Patricia M
Kia ora and welcome Patricia! It's always wonderful to have teachers here. I hope you enjoy the course, feel free to ask any questions that pop up as you go through :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Sue F
lol, best not to think about it...
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Mel Thompson replied to Caroline McGrath
It is a beautiful practice, and living in tune with the natural rhythms of the land you live on makes perfect sense!
Important to note that there is a fair bit of diversity within the Maramataka and Matariki (or other New Years practices) between iwi.
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Mel Thompson replied to Sue F
@SueF You are so welcome, I found it fascinating too!
And I'm with you, it's so hard to fathom the leap of faith (and the desperateness of their previous situation) to travel to a wilderness dominated land an entire world away, with no security of what you would find there. Very brave people.
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Mel Thompson replied to Sue F
It kicked off in around the 1840s, with the New Zealand Company advertising assisted migration to labourers in England and Scotland. The story expands from there to include more migrants from Ireland and elsewhere in Europe (like Scandinavia), Canada, South Africa and, from the late 1950s goldrush on, China too. The British continued to make up the bulk...
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Mel Thompson replied to Sharon Tavener
Thank you for your kind words, Sharon, I'm glad you enjoyed learning with us!
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Mel Thompson replied to Isla Crawford
Kia ora Isla, welcome! Great to have you here, feel free to ask any questions or share your thoughts as you go :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Finn Mc Carron
Kia ora and welcome Finn! This sounds like a perfect precursor to your trip. Aotearoa New Zealand is a very special and unique place from a conservation perspective, as you'll soon see!
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Kia ora, hello, and welcome Michelle. How exciting for you and your whanau (family)! These courses will be a great starting point to understanding the history of your new home :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Sue F
I have a shortcut because I have changed my keyboard to a Māori keyboard in Windows. That's probably a step too far for your needs, but you can actually just substitute the macron for a double vowel, it means the same thing and various iwi actually preferentially use one style or the other. So Māori can also be Maaori :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Sue F
Also, you can substitute the macron for a double vowel, it means the same thing and various iwi actually preferentially use one style or the other. So Māori can also be Maaori :)
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Mel Thompson replied to Sue F
@SueF Sadly, yes it was. Through the middle of the last century, special 'native schools' were set up, with the general intention of educating rural Māori children in the English language and integrating them into Pākehā (non-Māori) society.
Unfortunately, in many cases this also entailed beating them for speaking te reo Māori (the Māori language). The...
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Mel Thompson replied to Sue F
Kia ora Sue, so great to hear you're learning in order to connect with whanau (family). How marvellous.
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Mel Thompson replied to Sue F
The pronunciation isnot the same for all iwi Māori (Māori tribes), some pronounce it as a 'w' sound, but the 'f' pronunciation is very common.
Language is just such a fascinating subject! Thank you for sharing.
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Mel Thompson replied to Janet Cannon
Kia ora and welcome Janet, great to have you learning with us!
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Mel Thompson replied to Caroline McGrath
Wonderful to have you with us Caroline!
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
I'll note that although there is historical precedent for acceptance of varied sexualities and genders in several Pacific cultures, there was also a significant uptake of quite strict Christian morality after the arrival of missionaries (and the introduction of conservative commonwealth laws) to the region so as you can imagine, perspectives today can...
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
Yes, and we need robust support systems for settling them into their new communities. It's a huge adjustment and they need support.
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
Absolutely. We need to challenge the entrenched practice of creating a product/service/event and then having those with lived experience 'weigh in', and instead strive to have those people involved from conception and throughout every stage thereafter.
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
So true
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Mel Thompson replied to Jill Hind
It, like many other issues, has been co-opted as a tool for division rather than being a discussion about health, wellbeing, and practical accomodations.
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Mel Thompson replied to Sharon Tavener
Yes some of the Māori mythology around heroes, gods, demigods and their exploits reminds me of Greek stories too
