On September 9th - 13th Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (Otago University) delivered a 5 day long Wānanga Pūtaiao (Science workshop). The first half of the wananga took place on Rūnanga Marae and the second half took place on Ōmahu Marae. In attendance were akonga (students) from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Ara Hou, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Kahungunu, Karamu High School and Nga Tama Tāne o Heretaunga (Hastings Boys’ High School).
Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka were commissioned by Te Piringa Hapū, a collective of 4 local hapū namely Ngai Te Upokoiri, Ngāti Mahuika, Ngāti Hinemanu and Ngāti Honomōkai, to assess the health of the environment, specifically te hau (the air) and te wai (the water). This entailed taking and testing air samples from all sites and water samples from all the streams, rivers and lakes in the region.
To empower the hapū, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka invited all Hawke’s Bay secondary schools to learn about the science involved in determining the health of the environment as well as experience very valuable tikanga māori. With increased awareness of the environmental issues the hope is that the rangatahi (youth) can be better informed to make decisions when caring for the environment.
The tikanga māori involved learning about each other (whakawhanaungatanga) and the history of the wharenui (meeting house) where we slept on Omāhu marae, a waiata (song) about the whakapapa (origin) of water and mau rākau (māori weaponry). This was also the most productive time for whakahoahoa (making friends).
The science lessons taught the rangatahi about Chemistry, Biology and Physics concepts that scientists utilise to determine the quality of our air and water. In Chemistry, the students learnt that the sun can split water into hydrogen and oxygen and that action can generate electricity to power a car. They also learnt the process is less efficient if the water is degraded by sediment and fertilizers. In Biology students learnt about EDNA (Environmental DNA). They learnt that from a 100mL sample every single living organism from trees, animals and people down to bacteria and viruses can be detected. They also learnt that the more invertebrates living in freshwater the healthier it is. Lastly, in Physics, students learnt how light is used to determine air quality. Students learnt how particles in the air can scatter light and that the scattering can determine the size of particles. The amount and size of the particles helped scientists determine the quality of the air. Simply put the cleaner the air is the less particles there are present in it.
After a week of environmental science the week culminated in a presentation of skits to the haukāinga (locals of the marae) to thank them for their manākitanga (hospitality), before the traditional māori way to end and event…a hākari (a feast).
Mr J Mullany
Science Teacher
