Waka will be part of NZ history curriculum, PM pledges at Waitangi 4 Feb, 2021 09:28 PM 5 minutes to read Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hugs Tai Tokerau's oldest Māori Warden, Henare Hape, 82, of Whangārei. Photo / Peter de Graaf Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hugs Tai Tokerau's oldest Māori Warden, Henare Hape, 82, of Whangārei. Photo / Peter de Graaf Peter de Graaf is a reporter for the Northern Advocatepeter.degraaf@northernadvocate.co.nznorthernadvocat Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has pledged that waka — and the deliberate discovery of Aotearoa by Polynesian navigators — will form part of New Zealand's new school history curriculum. Ardern made the promise during a visit to the waka camp at Bledisloe Domain, near Paihia, which draws hundreds of kaihoe (paddlers) from around the country each year in the lead-up to Waitangi Day.