Awhina @ HVHS

2011-10-03T14:57:00.001-07:00

Year 10 students test anti-microbial properties of pia harakeke and manuka honey

2011-10-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

Cybrospace 2011 - Year 11 students help students to 'Name that dye!'

2011-09-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

Year 9 Awhina Whanau students 2011 testing tensile strength of the muka

2011-09-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

2010-08-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

Cybrospace launch @ Porirua

2010-08-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

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.

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.

Testing anti-microbial properties of harakeke

2010-08-21T17:17:00.001-07:00

Students grow soil microorganisms on agar plates and test for anti-microbial of pia harakeke (flax leaf exudates) and munuka honey.

Year 11 day out at Victoria University 2010

2010-08-17T17:31:00.000-07:00

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.

Awhina visit to Te Papa 2010

2010-08-08T20:00:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-08T18:06:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-08T14:00:00.002-07:00

Traditional uses of flax (harakeke)

Tuwiri (drill)

Waka kereru

Whao (chisel)

Piupiu

Patua (bark basket)

Toki (adze)

Waka kereru

Tuwiri (drill)

Turuke (crayfish)

Leaf cross-section

Awhina Whanau at HVHS

2010-08-08T14:00:00.001-07:00

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/

Harakeke project outline for students

2010-08-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

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.

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

Awhina launch 2009

2009-05-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

Thank everyone for making it a wonderful launch for the Awhina Whanau 2009. It’s great to see our Maori and Pacific Island community supporting their students.

What the students say about Awhina 2008

2008-12-09T15:06:00.000-08:00

The students
Clark - Maori/ Italian/ Scottish/ Irish/ German
Lily - Chinese/ Tokelauan/ Pakeha
Christina - Maori/ Pakeha/ Chinese
Stamos - European/ Maori: Ngati Parou
Selwyn Maori - Tuhoe/ Ngati Parou
Shannon Maori - Ngati Rangitihi
Janice - Maori
Alisha - Maori
Maroussia - Samoan/ Tokolauan
Dexter - Samoan
Nick - Nuiean/ Pakeha
Lewis - Nuiean/ Pakeha

What are the things you like about the Awhina Whanau?
“Learning new things. All the Maori tools we used and using flax.” (Clark)
“The support you receive from other students and mentors. The sense of community.” (Lily)
“All Maori objects we have used and using flax.” (Shannon)
“The support from other students and mentors. The trips, like the one to Parliament.” (Christina)
“I like going on trips and doing fun things, like doing experiments at Parliament.” (Stamos)
“We get to do cool experiments and go on trips.” (Alisha)
“To learn more about science and be around more people of my ethnicity.” (Janice)
“Means a lot. The mentors help us with things that we don’t know about, so that I can strive to succeed.” (Maroussia)

What does mentoring mean to you? Are you inspired by the experience?
“I am inspired by the mentoring experience. They open up a world of opportunity and set great examples.” (Lily)
“Mentoring means to me – having someone who will help out. I’m extremely inspired by the trips and the fascinating people I’ve met through Awhina.” (Christina)
“Mentoring means you teach others about science. I am inspired by it.” (Selwyn)
“Awhina was good this year. Looking forward to next year. Dave and Cassidy were great mentors.” (Maroussia)
“It can be an awesome experience and it has inspired me to become a mentor.” (Nick)
“I was inspired by the Awhina Whanau because I found out what science can do for me.” (Dexter)

How has the Awhina Whanau changed your view of science?
“It made me more interested in science in learning new things in science. Can’t wait until next year.” (Clark)
“Made me more interested and want to learn.” (Shannon)
“It has opened a world of opportunities for me and got me interested. I enjoyed the experience this year and look forward to next year.” (Christina)
“I’m really determined to get the Silver CREST Award.” (Stamos)
“Awhina has changed my view of science – of all the different and wide varieties of science.” (Selwyn)
“It has made me more interested in science and I like doing experiments. Awhina is awesome. Looking forward to next year! Dave and Cassidy are good mentors.” (Alisha)
“It has made science easier and I actually concentrate. Awhina was great this year and the mentors were awesome.” (Janice)
“It has made my view that science can actually be really, really fun! Going to Parliament was really fun.” (Maroussia)
“The Awhina Whanau has changed my view of science by letting me take part in experiments that have rewarded me with awards and certificates which I thought were a lot harder to achieve. Awhina is fun and you still learn science. Awhina should definitely run for at least another decade.” (Dexter)

Launch of “Cybrospace, Journey to Success” at Parliament 2008

2008-09-25T15:24:00.000-07:00

Maori students from all year groups and whanau were invited by the Honourable Parekura Horomia , Minister of Maori Affairs and Associate Minister of Education to the launch of “Cybrospace, Journey to Success” booklet. Students celebrated Maori success in science and had the opportunity to participate in fun and interesting science, engineering, architecture and design activities provided by Victoria University and Awhina mentors.

Marine Biology

Engineering

Making bouncing balls from PVA and borax

Robots

Architecture challenge

Geology in Antarctica - preparing for the cold

Students and whanau extract DNA at Victoria University 2008

2008-08-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

Awhina students and whanau were invited by the School of Biological Sciences at Victoria University to an evening looking at DNA – the marvel of life. Awhina mentors gave presentations on what is DNA, what happens when there are mutations and how genetics has helped understand how people migrated to different parts of the world. Afterwards, students and whanau extracted DNA from strawberries, mussels, broad beans and flax. There was also a visit to the most advanced genetics lab in the country with state of the art robots and microscopes worth millions of dollars.

Filming of students for Te Reo Physics Resource Bank 2008

2008-06-12T21:26:00.000-07:00

Awhina students visit Victoria University to be filmed for the Te Reo Physics Teacher Resource Bank. This project uses Maori and Pacific Island students from the Awhina Whanau to produce online physics demonstrations in English and Te Reo.

Link to Te Reo Physics Teachers’ Resource Bank
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/scps-demos/Te_Reo_Maori_Physics_Project.htm