Toi Ohomai and Pūhoro STEMM join forces to accelerate rangatahi participation in the sciences

Toi Ohomai has joined forces with Pūhoro to create opportunities for Rotorua-based secondary school ākonga Māori studying STEMM subjects. Photo / Supplied

Enabling rangatahi to be active participants in the STEMM economy of tomorrow is a key focus of Pūhoro, and Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology has joined the initiative.

Pūhoro STEMM Academy was launched in 2016. It was developed in response to national low engagement of Māori in STEMM-related (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and mātauranga Māori) subjects and career pathways.

In 2021, Pūhoro became a charitable trust - a by Māori, for Māori and with Māori independent entity.

Toi Ohomai has joined forces with Pūhoro to create opportunities for Rotorua-based secondary school ākonga Māori studying STEMM subjects.

Toi Ohomai Māori success manager Mel Katu says the institute firmly believes in the Pūhoro kaupapa and has partnered with Pūhoro as part of Te Tiriti Futures Workstream within Te Pūkenga.

"We have many Toi Ohomai courses which have STEMM components including nursing, animal care, vet nursing, environmental management, engineering, and sport and recreation to name a few.

"Our current students can also use this partnership to contribute their STEMM knowledge to our future ākonga."

Mel says this partnership also aims to normalise the tertiary environment for local rangatahi and their whānau.

"Toi Ohomai STEMM programmes will also be showcased to Pūhoro rangatahi and their whānau, and we will be building a learning community across the Rotorua area that includes Toi Ohomai, Pūhoro, schools, community, hapū, iwi, Māori, employers and industry."

Pūhoro Rotorua Kaihautū lead Erena Temara says the organisation aims to continue to open up vistas of the science, technology and innovation landscape to our rangatahi that have never been seen or contemplated before.

"We are working to develop a community of future Māori technologists, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, innovators and thought-pioneers.

"These leaders will excel in high-value careers and be the producers and developers of cutting-edge future innovation as our kaumātua have envisioned.

"These rangatahi are and will become self-determined, empowered leaders who can bridge both worlds simultaneously, armed with their unique whakapapa and Māori worldview."

She says it is great to partner with Toi Ohomai, as both organisations are focused on the success of local rangatahi.

During 2022, Erena is working with Year 11 rangatahi from Western Heights High School and John Paul College, and will follow these ākonga through as they transition into Year 12 and Year 13, then on to tertiary and ultimately employment in STEMM fields.

More information on Pūhoro can be found at www.puhoro.org.nz

*The term STEMM with the additional 'M' to represent the underpinning kaupapa of Mātauranga Māori was coined by the Pūhoro Charitable Trust Board in 2021.