Tauranga and Bay of Plenty Māori students to step into scientists' shoes for day at University of Waikato's Coastal Marine Field Station

The Science of Māui will see the rangatahi working alongside scientists to try to unlock some of the secrets of the Tauranga and Bay of Plenty coastline. Photo/File

Year 10 Māori students from six local colleges and kura kaupapa will participate in a day of science at the University of Waikato Coastal Marine Field Station next week.

On July 26, The Science of Māui will see the rangatahi [youth] working alongside scientists both in the field and the lab to try to unlock some of the secrets of the Tauranga and Bay of Plenty coastline.

Aquinas College, Otumoetai College, Tauranga Boys' College, Tauranga Girls' College, Te Kaupapa Māori o te Kura Kokiri and Te Wharekura o Mauao will participate in the pilot programme.

The science day was a collaboration between the University's Faculty of Science and
Engineering and Tauranga iwi with facilitation support from Manaaki Te Awanui.

The programme will include a glimpse into the history of Tauranga Moana and will aim to uncover some of the consequences of climate change – specifically ocean acidification and how crustaceans were adapting to the region's changing waterways.

Coastal Marine Field Station scientist Dr Phil Ross looked forward to sharing his knowledge and passion for the coastal environment.

"This is a great opportunity to get our young people involved in science," he said.

"Everyone has an interest in the health of our environment and in this wānanga we'll be teaching the skills needed to delve into the environmental history of Tauranga Harbour and to plan for its sustainable future."

Ross said he and his colleagues had planned to give the students a tour of the field station to encourage some of them to consider a career in science.

Buddy Mikaere from Ngāi Tamarāwaho supported the initiative.

"It is a subject which the hapū believes makes best use of location, local hapū and iwi traditional knowledge and, of course, the expertise that the university brings," Mikaere said.

"We look forward to the initiative becoming a pathway for our rangatahi to a greater participation in environmental science and biodiversity studies which is clearly an area of study for future expansion."

Mikaere said the initiative was especially important to Tauranga Moana because of its coastal location.

"[It is also because of] the need to ensure that the continuing expansion of the city
is not at the expense of our environment and of our traditional cultural values."

Ngāi Te Rangi spokeswoman Whaea Kiamaia Ellis emphasised the importance of reaching rangatahi at an early age.

"We have seen first-hand through our taiao and mātauranga focused rangatahi programme, 'Koi Ora' that our kids are passionate and keen to learn more," she said.

"There is certainly a lot of potential for rangatahi of Tauranga Moana to follow marine and environmental science careers."

Ellis said creating the pathways in science was a key initiative that provided local rangatahi with high-quality local options for tertiary study once they complete their college years.

The Science of Māui pilot programme was limited to six schools, but the university and iwi hoped the programme will expand and similar opportunities will be enjoyed by more Bay of Plenty rangatahi in the future.