Tuesday 28 July 2015 2:18pm
Senior Lecturer Mick Strack and 3rd year student Sarah Duggan shared in facilitating a Science Wananga at Maungatapu Marae, Tauranga from 22 to 24 July in conjunction with Te Runanga o Ngai Te Rangi.
Science Wananga offers two-three day interactive science experiences for Maori students, based at a particular marae. Science is presented alongside matauranga Maori, encouraging students to understand connections and actions through science that is relevant to their lives.
We presented a Resource Management theme, with hands-on practice with Total Stations and hand-held GPS units to measure and map the land. A strong focus for the Hapu is the threat of oil spills (including the wreck of the Rena) and dredging the harbour which impacts on the kai moana resources.
A useful resource was an overlay map showing the original Tauranga harbour survey in 1852 over the 2003 charts – this shows the extent of the reclamations and loss of Pipi gathering areas.
Maori students from Tauranga Girls’ College, Tauranga Boys’ College, Katikati College and Te Wharekura o Mauao were excited to engage with science, and we hope some students are inspired to come surveying.
