Sunday, August 29, 2010
Cybrospace launch @ Porirua
Maori and Pacific Island students from all year groups and whanau were invited to Porirua for the launch of the second booklet in the "Cybrospace - Journeys to Success" series. Students participated in interesting activities provided by the science, engineering, architecture and design departments hosted by Victoria University and Awhina Whanau mentors.
Year 11 HVHS Awhina Whanau students hosted a hands-on Science workshop on Maori Dyeing. This explored the black, brown and yellow dyes used to dye harakeke fibres in the making of the taniko boarders of the kahu or cloak.
Making flubber in the chemistry deparment.
Students win the tallest building competition at the School of Architecture and Design.
Year 11 HVHS Awhina Whanau students hosted a hands-on Science workshop on Maori Dyeing. This explored the black, brown and yellow dyes used to dye harakeke fibres in the making of the taniko boarders of the kahu or cloak.
Exploring the hidden world of rocks in the Geology Department.
Students extract DNA from strawberries at the School of Biological Sciences.
Making flubber in the chemistry deparment.
Students win the tallest building competition at the School of Architecture and Design.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Testing anti-microbial properties of harakeke
Students grow soil microorganisms on agar plates and test for anti-microbial of pia harakeke (flax leaf exudates) and munuka honey.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Year 11 day out at Victoria University 2010
Year 11 Awhina students visited Victoria University with their mentors to learn about the science of Maori dyes and to have a guided tour of the mentors' research projects.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Awhina visit to Te Papa 2010
Students took part in the ‘Tumeke harakeke’ (awesome flax) programme at Te Papa. They explored treasures (taonga) from the Maori collection and looked at the role harakeke played in the manufacture and construction of these items. After a great presentation by the Te Papa staff Year 9 students had a ‘hands on’ examination of traditional Maori tools and clothing. Year 10 students learnt about the science of Maori dyes used in the making of cloaks (kahu).
Harakeke (flax) project - muka preparation 2010
Year 9 students work with their mentors on stripping the fibre (muka) from flax (harakeke) leaves. Once the muka is prepared, students will test the tensile strenght of the fibres.
Student resources
Traditional uses of flax (harakeke)
Tuwiri (drill)
Waka kereru
Whao (chisel) 
Piupiu.jpg)
Patua (bark basket).jpg)
Toki (adze)
Waka kereru.jpg)
Tuwiri (drill).jpg)
Turuke (crayfish)Leaf cross-section
Awhina Whanau at HVHS
Awhina Whanau promotes science education to Maori and Pacific Island students through mentors at Victoria University with the view that students will eventually consider studying science at university.
Maori and Pacific Island Year 9 students from Hutt Valley High School have been selected because they are academically able and interested in Science. Students will meet about three times a term during class teaching time. Each meeting will take one hour and students will be involved in project work. These students will work with Maori and Pacific Island science students from Victoria University as their mentors. Mentors will visit the school two to three times a term in order to give the students guidance and encouragement during their project spells. The students will also visit Victoria University to carry out a practical investigation with their mentor.
During Term Two students will work on a science project. At the end of their projects, students will produce a poster and give a presentation. In Term Three the students will work on a CREST (Creativity in Science and Technology) project as directed by the RSNZ. Students will investigate an aspect of the science and technology from their own cultural background. In Term Four students will have special revision classes for their science exams.
Link to Awhina at Victoria University http://www.vuw.ac.nz/science/awhina/
Maori and Pacific Island Year 9 students from Hutt Valley High School have been selected because they are academically able and interested in Science. Students will meet about three times a term during class teaching time. Each meeting will take one hour and students will be involved in project work. These students will work with Maori and Pacific Island science students from Victoria University as their mentors. Mentors will visit the school two to three times a term in order to give the students guidance and encouragement during their project spells. The students will also visit Victoria University to carry out a practical investigation with their mentor.
During Term Two students will work on a science project. At the end of their projects, students will produce a poster and give a presentation. In Term Three the students will work on a CREST (Creativity in Science and Technology) project as directed by the RSNZ. Students will investigate an aspect of the science and technology from their own cultural background. In Term Four students will have special revision classes for their science exams.
Link to Awhina at Victoria University http://www.vuw.ac.nz/science/awhina/
Harakeke project outline for students
FLAX HARAKEKE
With special flax ropes, Maui and his brothers snared the sun …
Introduction
Using plants to weave as well as making ropes and cloth has been part of all cultures for a long time. Many of these plants are still used today such as cotton, flax, hemp and sisal.
You are to design a poster on the uses of flax by Maori. In your poster you will include the science and technology in the harvesting of flax, rope making and weaving. Where possible try to find out the names in Te Reo.
Harvesting flax
• Use the booklets provided to draw a diagram of a flax plant. Label the new and old leaves in English and Maori. Show on your diagram which leaves are used for weaving and rope making and explain why they are chosen. Also show how the leaves are cut so as not to destroy the plant. Describe how new flax plants are grown.
Making rope
• Draw diagrams with captions to show how the leaves are made into rope.
• Draw a picture showing the structural parts of the flax leaf that form the rope fibres (muka). You will need to look back at your Green Machine notes.
• Make a piece of rope using only one flax leaf and find out how much force is needed to break your rope. Find out if the strength of the flax is changed when the rope is wet. Stick a sample of your rope on your poster. Draw a diagram of how you tested the breaking force along with your results and conclusion.
Uses of flax rope
• Using the booklets provided, draw diagrams of some of the objects that can be made from flax rope. Explain how these objects are used by Maori and any special properties of the flax rope that make it a good natural material for its use. You may like to make some of these objects and demonstrate their use to the class.
Flax weaving
• Weave some flax using either your own pattern or one of the patterns provided. Fasten your weaving to your poster.
• Draw diagrams of some of the objects that can be woven from flax. Find out any special properties of flax that make it a good natural material for weaving.
Other uses of flax
• Using the resources provided, research other uses of flax. Describe each use and where possible illustrate with diagrams. You may like to make some of these items and include them on your poster.
Life on a flax bush
• Use the resource sheet to describe how at least four living things feed on flax. Include drawings of these animals and explain which part of the flax they feed on. For each animal explain whether it is harmful or helpful to the flax.
With special flax ropes, Maui and his brothers snared the sun …
Introduction
Using plants to weave as well as making ropes and cloth has been part of all cultures for a long time. Many of these plants are still used today such as cotton, flax, hemp and sisal.
You are to design a poster on the uses of flax by Maori. In your poster you will include the science and technology in the harvesting of flax, rope making and weaving. Where possible try to find out the names in Te Reo.
Harvesting flax
• Use the booklets provided to draw a diagram of a flax plant. Label the new and old leaves in English and Maori. Show on your diagram which leaves are used for weaving and rope making and explain why they are chosen. Also show how the leaves are cut so as not to destroy the plant. Describe how new flax plants are grown.
Making rope
• Draw diagrams with captions to show how the leaves are made into rope.
• Draw a picture showing the structural parts of the flax leaf that form the rope fibres (muka). You will need to look back at your Green Machine notes.
• Make a piece of rope using only one flax leaf and find out how much force is needed to break your rope. Find out if the strength of the flax is changed when the rope is wet. Stick a sample of your rope on your poster. Draw a diagram of how you tested the breaking force along with your results and conclusion.
Uses of flax rope
• Using the booklets provided, draw diagrams of some of the objects that can be made from flax rope. Explain how these objects are used by Maori and any special properties of the flax rope that make it a good natural material for its use. You may like to make some of these objects and demonstrate their use to the class.
Flax weaving
• Weave some flax using either your own pattern or one of the patterns provided. Fasten your weaving to your poster.
• Draw diagrams of some of the objects that can be woven from flax. Find out any special properties of flax that make it a good natural material for weaving.
Other uses of flax
• Using the resources provided, research other uses of flax. Describe each use and where possible illustrate with diagrams. You may like to make some of these items and include them on your poster.
Life on a flax bush
• Use the resource sheet to describe how at least four living things feed on flax. Include drawings of these animals and explain which part of the flax they feed on. For each animal explain whether it is harmful or helpful to the flax.
Tungia te ururoa, kia tupu whakaritorito te tupu a te harakeke
Burn the undergrowth so the flax will shoot up.
(Clear away what is bad and the good will flourish.)
Resources
• ‘Flax – harakeke’ colour booklet, Christchurch City Council
• ‘Te Ao Kohatu – Maori Technology’ Auckland Museum www.akmuseum.org.nz
• ‘Flax – harakeke’ sheet p30,31
• ‘Preparing flax for weaving and rope making’ www.alibrown.co.nz/preparing-flax
• ‘Flax – The enduring fibre”, New Zealand Geographic, Number 42, April – June 1999
• ‘Fun with flax”, Mick Prendergast, Reed
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