Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere.
Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ao.
‍
The bird that partakes of the miro berry, theirs is the forest.
The bird that partakes of knowledge, the world is their oyster.
- Te Kere Ngātaierua

Nōku Te Ao is an initiative to raise Māori participation and achievement in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, maths and mātauranga Māori) by providing an overseas experiential learning trip.

The purpose of these trips is to use a global lense to showcase the important value and qualities that indigenous people bring to STEM and to expose our rangatahi to the numerous career paths that exist across these fields. In-turn this experience expands their career horizons beyond what they may have previously considered and motivates them to stick with STEM in school.

The programme was previously known as Āmua Ao and has seen Pūhoro rangatahi journey to the Silicon Valley, Hawai'i, NASA in Houston, Texas, and Singapore and Taiwan. They have engaged with the indigenous peoples of those lands and been exposed to the incredible breadth of science and innovation abroad. Many of these tauira have gone on to tertiary study and into the workforce as engineers, doctors, researchers and other well esteemed STEM careers. They also continue to be ambassadors of our programme and are carving new STEMM pathways for many generations to come.

Upcoming Trips

Silicon Valley, San Francisco, USA

NoVEMBER 30 - December 9, 2024

Applications for positions on our Silicon Valley trip will open on Thursday 30 May until Thursday 13 June. Applications are open to Year 13 tauira (13 positions) and Te Urunga Pae tauira (3 positions).

As part of the application process we will ask you to submit a video talking about your career aspirations and what a position on this trip would mean to you. You'll also complete a series of questions through an online form.

Succesful applicants will be selected early-July.

TE URUNGA PAE APPLICATION FORMYEAR 13 APPLICATION FORM

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"Seeing NASA particularly behind the scenes refuelled my desire to become and engineer. Seeing the incredible science behind it all was the best experience."

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Female, Houston

"

“It was cool listening to the way they do karakia here. After blessing the food we handed over the taonga that many of us had been wearing over the past few days and sang them a waiata which brought tears to one of the peoples eyes. That was a beautiful thing to see”

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Female, Hawaii

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“I couldn’t stop smiling. This experience made me want to learn my language and understand my culture. For so long I felt empty in a cultural sense because I didnt feel strongly connected to my culture or have a real sense of identity. Now I feel like I am starting that journey and I am so excited.”

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Female, Houston

"

"We also had to say goodbye to Mana Vautier, I just think that it is awesome that a man of his status in the world of science (NASA) is interested in us. I aspire to be like him one day."

Male, Hawaii

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“I think that this experience has changed my life forever and has also left me wanting to learn more about my Māori culture and where I come from. It has enlightened something inside of me to want to keep fighting and protecting my culture.”

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Male, Houston

"

"At the Wai’ope tide pools we got some kisses from the ocean (scrapes and bruises) and we got to see coral, kina and fish. It was awesome learning about peoples indigenous research methods about the loko’ia (fish ponds) and tidal pools."

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Male, Hawaii

"

“This trip has changed my perspective on so many things. I love my culture and my land. I am so proud to be Māori. I’ve grown so much and want to immerse myself in my Māoritanga as much as I can.”

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Female, Houston

Contact Us

Nōku Te Ao

Upcoming Trips

"

"Seeing NASA particularly behind the scenes refuelled my desire to become and engineer. Seeing the incredible science behind it all was the best experience."

"

“It was cool listening to the way they do karakia here. After blessing the food we handed over the taonga that many of us had been wearing over the past few days and sang them a waiata which brought tears to one of the peoples eyes. That was a beautiful thing to see”

"

"

"We also had to say goodbye to Mana Vautier, I just think that it is awesome that a man of his status in the world of science (NASA) is interested in us. I aspire to be like him one day."

"

“I think that this experience has changed my life forever and has also left me wanting to learn more about my Māori culture and where I come from. It has enlightened something inside of me to want to keep fighting and protecting my culture.”

"

"At the Wai’ope tide pools we got some kisses from the ocean (scrapes and bruises) and we got to see coral, kina and fish. It was awesome learning about peoples indigenous research methods about the loko’ia (fish ponds) and tidal pools."

"

“This trip has changed my perspective on so many things. I love my culture and my land. I am so proud to be Māori. I’ve grown so much and want to immerse myself in my Māoritanga as much as I can.”

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