NZ History Teachers’ Association chair Graeme Ball talks to the Maori Affairs select committee about the need for teaching the country’s colonial history in schools.

Underlying racism is dictating how New Zealand's history is being taught in schools, members of the Māori Affairs Select Committee have heard.

It's up to schools how much colonial history is taught but teachers have called on the Government to change the way the country's children are taught our histories to better represent Māori.

The plea comes after Northcote College history teacher and NZ History Teachers' Association chair Graeme Ball told MPs at a June briefing there was no data to represent what was being taught in schools, which could be fixed if the subject was compulsory.

STUFF Parihaka, a key moment in Māori history, which is not being taught as wide as it should.

However, University of Canterbury School of Teacher Education senior lecturer Dr Richard Manning said at this week's select committee compulsion was "distracting from the real elephant in the room, and that is racism".

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Manning said teachers were not providing students with a well-rounded history if they did not teach Māori perspectives on New Zealand's histories through the curriculum.

JASON DORDAY/STUFF Teachers have called on the Government to change the way the country's children are taught New Zealand's colonial history to better represent Māori.

"We're not necessarily fans of compulsion but it just seems like it is the simplest thing to do."

Difficulties arose because of "perceived white backlash". He had encountered history teachers who pushed back on teaching Māori history saying it was "all political correctness".

"This is well documented ... but we would question the professionalism of those teachers who would hide behind that excuse when we have this code of standards."

SUPPLIED University of Canterbury School of Teacher Education senior lecturer Dr Richard Manning.

Many teachers were striving to teach Māori heritage, history and language but when others actively chose not to, Central Government needed tools to audit schools.

"That, for me, is a hole in the legislation, that's the gap.

"I don't buy the argument that it's that difficult. It is not that difficult to teach about our histories. There's plenty of support out there. There's plenty of resources, and the guidelines give us the permission to do that. I think there are some hard conversations that have to be had."

Supplied Māori Affairs select committee chair MP Rino Tirikatene said he was keen to look how legislation could help when teaching New Zealand's history.

University of Canterbury School of Māori and Indigenous Studies senior lecturer Garrick Cooper said thorough teachings of New Zealand's history needed to be offered to children to produce "fully grounded, informed students for the 21st century".

Māori Affairs Select Committee chair MP Rino Tirikatene said he was keen to look at ways the legislation and codes could help keep teachers accountable when teaching New Zealand's history.

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