Māori legends inspire students
Manawatū students are being encouraged to learn science through the use of Māori legends.
Massey University’s Pūhoro science, technology, engineering and maths academy, held a young Māori minds session for more than 150 teenagers at IPU New Zealand on Friday.
The students did six challenges related to different Māori legends.
One legend was the battle between Māui and the sun, which tells the tale of Māui slowing down the sun to make the days longer.
Students created a maze to slow down the journey of a marble so it would reach the bottom of its path at specific times.
Another project involved creating a hydraulic arm that could grab and lift a figurine. It connected to a story of how Rona became Rona-whakamau-tai, or Rona the controller of tides, after she offended the moon and was picked up and carried to the skies.
Pūhoro’s Leland Ruwhiu said by celebrating these stories it brought back the legendary enquirer or navigator status of their Māori ancestors.
The day was part of the Āmua Ao programme, designed to raise Māori participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering and maths.
Riuwhiu said the connection of young Ma¯ ori to their culture should be helping them to stand out in science, their studies and careers.
Hato Paora College students Te Mana Karaka, 13, Ihaka Komene, 14, and Reihana Tipoki-hansen, 15, were trying to build a hydraulic arm powered by syringes.
Tu Toa students Lanae Whaanga, 13, and Dallas Chase, 13, were building the marble maze, and were challenged to guide the marble to the bottom in a minute or more.
Lanae said learning about science was cool.
‘‘We haven’t done this stuff before and we were keen to get into it,’’ Dallas said.