STEM Programme For Māori Learners Wins National Diversity Award

A programme that’s addressing inequitable access for Māori learners to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, creating positive generational impact for Māori, has won a national diversity award.

Pūhoro STEMM Academy (extra M for Mātauranga) took out the Supreme Award at the 2022 Diversity Awards NZ™ announced in Auckland tonight.

“This is a by-Māori-for-Māori organisation that is delivering a programme in 48 schools throughout the country and supporting 1500 young Māori to actively pursue STEM pathways,” says Diversity Works New Zealand Chief Executive Maretha Smit.

“The mahi Pūhoro do will address the disproportionate under-representation of Māori in science. Māori make up less than two per cent of the scientific workforce, and Māori and Pacific youth, more than any other population group, are streamed out of science education early in secondary school.”

The judges were impressed by Pūhoro’s commitment to ensuring te ao Māori, tikanga and core Māori values are woven into the heart of the organisation. 

“By applying a Māori perspective to everything they do, they can support their people and their learners through a te ao Māori lens.

“It’s a great example of how science and mātauranga Māori integrate and complement each other. They need not stand in competition.”

Pūhoro is also helping the organisations it partners with to be better workplaces for Māori by ensuring they are rangatahi ready and can support interns in a culturally appropriate way, Smit says.

Pūhoro STEMM Academy was also the Small-Medium Organisation Winner in the Ngā Āhuatanga o te Tiriti category at the awards.

This year was the 25th anniversary of the Diversity Awards NZ™ programme, which offers organisations an opportunity to showcase a variety of innovative people initiatives and publicly commit to being held accountable for tangible progress in building work environments where everybody is safe to bring the best version of themselves.

Here is a full list of 2022 winners: 

Supreme Award

Winner: Pūhoro STEMM Academy 

Leadership Award

Small-Medium Organisation Winner – Yellow

Medium-Large Organisation Winner – New Zealand Intelligence Community

Medium-Large Organisation Highly Commended – Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission 

Diverse Talent Award

Small-Medium Organisation Winner – Deaf Aotearoa

Medium-Large Organisation Winner – KPMG 

Inclusive Workplace Award

Medium-Large Organisation Winner – HEB Construction

Medium-Large Organisation Highly Commended – Ministry of Social Development Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora

Medium-Large Organisation Highly Commended – Education Perfect

Small-Medium Organisation Highly Commended – Southern Cross Travel Insurance

 Ngā Āhuatanga o te Tiriti Tohu

Small-Medium Organisation Winner – Pūhoro STEMM Academy

Medium-Large Organisation Winner – Otago Polytechnic Ltd 

Impact Award

Winner: Upskills 

Diversity Champion

Winner: Dellwyn Stuart, YWCA Auckland

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