History was made at Parliament on Thursday when the Prime Minister announced that New Zealand history would be made a compulsory subject in all primary and secondary schools by 2022.
It left iwi leaders - who thought they were there solely to unveil a New Zealand Wars plaque - completely overwhelmed.
There too was former Otorohanga College student, Leah Bell, who took a petition to parliament in 2015 demanding a day of remembrance for the New Zealand Wars, and for it to be included in the national curriculum.
Four years on and her dream has been realised.
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui and visual journalist Ana Tovey filed this report.
