Te Wharekura o Manurewa granted $16,000 for Research

Te Wharekura o Manurewa granted $16,000 for Student-led Research into the Puhinui awa

August 2016

The students of Te Wharekura o Manurewa are the first kura cohort to lead a Participatory Science Platform project in the country, via the South Auckland pilot, locally called SouthSci.

The students want to determine the health status of the Puhunui awa near the marae, and analyse the impact on marine organisms of the unhealthy awa discharging into the Manukau harbour.

Maahia Nathan, Tumuaki o Te Wharekura o Manurewa, explains “Ehara i te mea he painga nahe anō tēnei kaupapa mo mātou o Te Wharekura o Manurewa, engari ko te titiro whānui kē mātou hei ā pēhea e taea te waihanga i tētahi tauira hei whāngai atu ki ngā kura kaupapa Māori me ngā wharekura huri noa te motu. Ko te tino tūmanako kia kaha ake a tātou tauira te uru atu ki roto i ngā mahi Pūtaiao nei, kia ako ai rātou me pēhea te tiaki i te taiao me te rapu huarahi e ora ai a Papatuanuku me Tangaroa. This project is not only important for Te Wharekura o Manurewa but it’s also about developing a template for other kura kaupapa and wharekura to engage their students to learn about their environment and find solutions to better protect Papatuanuku and Tangaroa”.

The Wharekura was successful in their application to SouthSci for $16,000 to carry out the work. South Auckland PSP Manager, Dr Sarah Morgan says “we’re really excited to trial a project in a kura where the science planning, investigation and reporting will be in Te Reo. These students study math and science from year 9 to year 13: weaving a participatory science research project into their learning journey is such a great opportunity for wider citizen science”.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with Waikato University researcher, Associate Professor Ian Hogg, and Angela Dalton from the Auckland City Council Environmental Services.

Ataahua Nathan, a Y13 Tauira Pūtaiao no Te Wharekura o Manurewa explores the impact of the project “I tīmata ai mātou te kohikohi raraunga i ngā tau e whā kua pahure ake nei, hei āta tirotiro e pēhea pū te kounga o te wai o te awa o Puhinui. Mai i taua wā, kua kitea e mātou te whānuitanga o te mahi rangahau nei. Haunga anō ngā akoranga te taha ki te Pūtaiao engari me te pātai noki, hei a pēhea e taea te hono i ēnei akoranga kia pai ake tā tātou tiaki i te taiao whānui o Manurewa. We started this project four years ago by gathering data and testing the water in the Puhinui Stream. Since then, we’ve realised and learnt that this project is more than just learning about science. But in fact it’s about learning about how we can protect the environment for the benefit of the community of Manurewa”.

The students will be using experimental methods and equipment as used by top New Zealand scientists in this field of study. Morgan explains “we hope that by showing students what actual STEM careers are like early on, they can be better prepared and plan for a career of their choice, where STEM skills and innovation are key to success –over and above our goals of environmental sustainability and Mauri restoration”.

ENDS

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