New online Maori resource brings science alive

New online Maori resource brings science alive

13 June 2007
AUCKLAND, New Zealand

The latest resource, Whare Uku, from Nga Pae o te Maramatanga and developed by Rautaki Ltd is being launched at Waipapa Marae by Te Ururoa Flavell, Maori Party MP, this Thursday.

Whare Uku is an exciting web and DVD interactive resource in te reo Maori designed to engage Maori-medium students in Years 7-8 that provides cross curriculum activities, content and teachers’ notes with a focus on Putaiao (Science).

Professor Linda Smith, Joint Director of Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, the Maori Centre of Research Excellence, said, “This is of great value. Getting research to curriculum in schools generally has very long lead times, and Maori resources can take even longer so we are very enthusiastic about this research-based curriculum resource.”

Based on a project, Uku: Sustainable earth-fibre housing, conducted by Maori researchers Kepa Morgan and Rau Hoskins, this resource encourages students to investigate whare uku (earth-flax fibre housing) as a viable housing option for Maori whanau.

Whare Uku aims to build excitement about research in both teachers and students and at the same time, it will also show how Kaupapa Maori research can benefit communities and how ICT (information and communication technologies) can be used in research and in the classroom.

The team at Rautaki Ltd and Nga Pae o te Maramatanga will seek professional development funding to enable teachers to learn how to utilise this resource effectively and encourage more Maori students to participate in science and research.

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