Ramblings

Project Concept:

Stories of New Zealand history told in graphic novel format. 

Background:

Presenting history in an entertaining and educational format.  Stories from history make up the seven chapters. Each story includes the following:

• historical event with real-life individuals
• secondary story with a fictional character presented as part of the history
• a link with the stories presented in the other chapters
• legacy and impact of the historical event

Children have access to school text, library books and numerous websites from which they can access information about New Zealand history. The proposal is an additional way to engage and interest children in the history of New Zealand. 

• visual presentation of the historical event
• engagement in characters and linkage of the different stories
• provisions of additional education information and resources (footnotes)
• a modern day example of the historical legacy and impact of the event

The proposal is for seven stand-alone stories to be collected in a book format. The seven stories are connected through the family lineage of a secondary character in each chapter.

1769 - 1893: Two Degrees

Seven stories covering significant events in this period. Each story is connected through the family relationship of a secondary character (a member of the Tanner family). The objective is to show linkage of historical events through this family connection.

Each Chapter is presented in the following format:

• Cover picture (full page image)
• Graphic story; the historical event and the secondary story
• Legacy / Impact story; modern event (full page image)
• Footnotes (expansion of the historical events)

See below for further explanation of project and alternative presentation approaches.

To be continued ..... 

Legacy: 

Impact of James Cook on aspects of NZ 

• Bicentennial Parade for Cook’s landing in NZ in the town of Gisborne
• Crowd of cheering children includes a Tanner family descendant

• Map of New Zealand listing places that were named during Captain Cook's voyage and showing HMS Endeavour's circumnavigation of NZ and where the crew made land.

Chapter 1: 1769 - Captain James Cook and HMS Endeavour

• cover image (full page) - Land Ho, first sighting by Young Nick
• graphic story - historical event and secondary character story
• legacy image (full page) - Bicentennial Parade HMS Endeavours landing sights and places that were named by Cook during the voyage.
• Footnotes 

Chapter 2: 1790 - Whalers and Sealers (exploiting natural resources - commercial ventures)

• cover image (full page)
• graphic story - historical event and secondary character story
• legacy image (full page)
• Footnotes

Chapter 3: 1815 - Establishing a dynasty - new generations / families

• cover image (full page)
• graphic story - historical event and secondary character story
• legacy image (full page)
• Footnotes

Chapter4: 1839 - Colonists - influences from the old country

• cover image (full page)
• graphic story - historical event and secondary character story
• legacy image (full page)
• Footnotes

Chapter 5: 1848 - Dunedin and Canterbury

• cover image (full page)
• graphic story - historical event and secondary character story
• legacy image (full page)
• Footnotes

Chapter 6: 1859 - Gold Rush (opportunities for all)

• cover image (full page)
• graphic story - historical event and secondary character story
• legacy image (full page)
• Footnotes

Chapter 7: 1893 - The Vote for Woman

• cover image (full page)
• graphic story - historical event and secondary character story
• legacy image (full page)
• Footnotes

Note: The seven stories tell a British perspective of NZ history, which is partly based on the linkage devise of the secondary character in each chapter (Tanner family). To tell a more complete story of NZ history it is necessary to present more stories and events.

Book-2: 1300 - 1600

Seven stories presenting Maori culture and establishment in NZ. Each chapter looks at a different region and tribal history.

Book-3: 1791 - 1915

Seven stories that deal with the interaction of Maori and the European settlers in the 19th Century.

Note:

I like the idea that the books are not linear but overlap. I have drawn draft of pages for Chapter 1 and have begun story outlines for the other chapters.  I would be not be the person to draw the actual chapters for publication and part of the proposal would be to find a graphic artist(s).

I originally envisaged the pages in black & white (rather than colour) and drawn in format that enables a child reader to access the stories. 

For example I like the black& white drawing styles used in:

• Summit of the Gods - Book-3 Everest Mystery (Yumemakura Baku, Jiro Taniguchi)
• Bourbon Island, 1730 (Lewis Trondheim, Olivier Appollodorus)

For easy access to the stories and to enable them to be read for fun I have not presented as a single collection or in chronological order.  A child reader can access each Chapter as a single story and through their own interests, or that of the classroom, search out additional stories and historical information through the links provided.  

• A chronological listing of the stories could be presented on a website
• Individual chapters could be printed or accessible (website) in a printed comic format for promotions purposes

ALTERNATIVE PRESENTATION:

The NZ historical stories could be presented in a single graphic format volume.

A) Books 1-2-3-4 could be presented as four parts of one book

B) Select specific stories and present in a chronological order

If select B) need not retain the connections between the stories of the secondary characters.

OUTLINE

Book-2:  1300 - 1600

Each chapter presents a story on a Maori tribe and the region that they inhabit.

• cultural aspect 
• legend and origins of the tribe
• significant event

Chapter: Ngāpuhi (Bay of Islands)

• cultural aspects: Pa construction
• legend: founding anchestor - Rāhiri
• legacy: Culture and carving

Chapter: Ngāti Porou (East Coast, Gisborne)

• cultural aspects: ocean fishing
• legend: ancestor came to NZ on a whale
• legacy: Whale Rider book and film

Chapter: Ngāi Tahu (South Island)

• cultural aspects: greenstone
• legend: traveling from the north island to the south
• legacy: Maori artifacts and museum exhibitions

Chapter: Waikato

• cultural aspects: Moa hunting and other NZ birds
• legend: ancestor stories
• legacy: Carving and 

Chapter: Ngāti Tūwharetoa (Lake Taupo)

• cultural aspects: freshwater species (crayfish, eels and fish)
• legend: legends of the mountains
• legacy: Tongariro National Park

Chapter: Ngāti Maniapoto (central north island)

• cultural aspects: yams - cultivation and introduced species
• legend: ancestor Maniapoto 
• legacy: Lakes and water ways

Chapter: Tūhoe (Te Urewera)

• cultural aspects: uses of native flora and fauna
• legend: name of the tribe 
• legacy: forestry

OUTLINE:

Book-3: 1791 - 1914

Each chapter presents a story of NZ history in the 19th Century with emphasis of Maori and European interactions. The linkage of the individual chapters could be through specific exhibitions at NZ museums.

Using same format as previous:

Chapter: 1841 - Samuel Marsden and the Christian church

Chapter: 1820s - Musket Wars

Chapter: 1840 - Treaty of Waitangi

Chapter: 1845-1872 NZ Land Wars

Chapter: 1870-1880s -  Taranaki peaceful protest

Chapter: 1880s - King Movement

Chapter: 1914 - WWI and the Maori Pioneer Battlion