Angela Pryor (left) with Waiariki's Dr Lynne Chepulis and Te Ao Leach. Photo / Supplied
Angela Pryor (left) with Waiariki's Dr Lynne Chepulis and Te Ao Leach. Photo / Supplied
Local Maori high school students visited Waiariki Institute of Technology on a day excursion to help them explore the wonders of science.
Organised by Te Taumata o Ngati Whakaue Iho Ake Trust, Matakokiri is a science and technology wananga based on matauranga Maori (Maori understanding) for ages 7-15.
The recentvisit to the Mokoia campus included working with the institute's nursing team in the science and clinical labs. Also involved were Year 9 and 10 students registered with Kia Ora Hauora - a district health board-funded team set up to encourage and support rangatahi into sciences and on to health and medical-related study.
Trust general manager Roana Bennett told the Rotorua Daily Post earlier the wananga was always popular with only 50 places available.
"We started Matakokiri because we wanted to inspire our tamariki and rangatahi to take science in schools. Maori students studying science is proportionally not that high. Seventy per cent of jobs now are science-based so we wanted to keep all options available to them," Ms Bennett said.
