Social Sciences

Me tiro whakamuri, kia anga whakamua
If we want to shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s future, start with our past

Social sciences encourage ākonga to observe, to wonder and be curious about people, places, and society, and to take an interest and engage in social issues and ideas. The social sciences learning area is about how societies work and how people can participate as critical, active, informed, and responsible citizens. 

Why study the Social Sciences?
Through the social sciences,MWPS students develop the knowledge and skills to enable them to: better understand, participate in, and contribute to the local, national, and global communities in which they live and work; engage critically with societal issues; and evaluate the sustainability of alternative social, economic, political, and environmental practices.

Students explore the unique bicultural nature of New Zealand society that derives from the Treaty of Waitangi. They learn about people, places, cultures, histories, and the economic world, within and beyond New Zealand. They develop understandings about how societies are organised and function and how the ways in which people and communities respond are shaped by different perspectives, values, and viewpoints. As they explore how others see themselves, students clarify their own identities in relation to their particular heritages and contexts.