In front of a packed whare at Ngāraratunua Marae, Pūhoro officially announced it’s launch into Te Tai Tokerau.

Supported by Associate Minister of Education (Māori Education) Hon Kelvin Davis and representatives from our funding partners The Tindall Foundation, Foundation North and the Ministry of Education, the announcement was well received by local hapū, kura, whānau and stakeholders and excitement is building for the launch in 2023.

“The manaaki the Pūhoro kaupapa has received from the Te Tai Tokerau community has been really positive and has reaffirmed our decision to expand into this region. As we prepare for our launch in 2023,it is critical that we work with the local hapū, kura and the wider community to ensure we are supporting their aspirations for rangatahi Māori,” said Kemp Reweti acting manahautū.

“Thanks to the generous support of our funding partners the Ministry of Education, The Tindall Foundation and Foundation North, Pūhoro will be able to continue to lift Māori achievement and representation in STEMM,” he said.

Established in 2016 to improve Māori engagement in STEMM, Pūhoro uses mātauranga Māori to support learning and development and, through strategic partnerships, provides pathways into high value careers.

“Supporting more rangatahi Māori to succeed in science, technology and innovation is not only important to this Government – it is important to us as a people, and to Aotearoa,” Kelvin Davis said.

“For too long the system has not served Māori well. The current under-representation of our people in the sciences, despite the skills of our tupuna in these areas, attests to this. That needs to change.

“The Pūhoro way is a by Māori for Māori way. Its expansion into Tai Tokerau is a significant milestone for a kaupapa Māori approach that seeks to improve equitable access for rangatahi Māori into science and technology related pathways. This also fits with this Government’s approach to Māori education, asset out in Ka Hikitia – Ka Hāpaitia, the Māori Education Strategy.” Kelvin Davis said.

Ngātiwai CEO Huhana Lyndon said, “We are excited to welcome the Pūhoro kaupapa into Te Tai Tokerau. With Māori making up just 2% of the STEMM workforce, services like Pūhoro’s are integral in creating more opportunities for our rangatahi to engage with STEMM. Māori are natural scientists and by integrating mātauranga Māori into their learning, rangatahi are able to connect with what is a significant part of their culture.”

Rangatahi within the Pūhoro kaupapa have higher than average NCEA pass rates and are five times more likely to transition into tertiary education at degree level than other Māori school leavers.

“It has been a privilege to support the Pūhoro team over the past 5 years to establish the Programme for students in Auckland,  and to watch it spread to over 1500 students nationwide. Supporting rangatahi Māori to achieve success in science and technology is important for Aotearoa as a whole and the academic results that Pūhoro is helping students achieve are incredibly impressive, as is the unique way the Programme brings together the two knowledge systems of Mātauranga Māori and Western Science,” said John McCarthy, Manager, The Tindall Foundation.

Pūhoro will continue engagement with iwi and hapū, community groups and whānau. Engagement with local high schools will soon commence as will recruitment for local kaimahi. Kaihautū will begin school visits in Term 1 2023.

If your kura is interested in partnering with Pūhoro please send an expression of interest to l.ruwhiu2@puhoro.org.nz.

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