Sustainable Technology Design Challenge
Working Toward a Problem Together
Ngā Whāinga Akoranga · Learning Intentions
- Apply design thinking to a real local sustainability problem
- Move through the stages of Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test
- Connect technology design to principles of kaitiakitanga
Paearu Angitu · Success Criteria
- I can produce a labelled prototype sketch showing dimensions, materials, and how my solution works
- I can justify my material choices using sustainability reasoning
- I can explain how my design connects to taiao and community benefit
Hononga Marautanga · Curriculum Alignment
Curriculum alignment for this handout has not yet been verified against the live curriculum statements. A generated placeholder that stood here was removed on 2026-08-29 because it matched no real statement.
Te Kaupeka · The Challenge
Your challenge is to design a sustainable technology solution to a real local problem in one of these areas:
- Wai (Water): How might we reduce water waste, improve water quality, or collect rain more effectively?
- Para (Waste): How might we reduce, reuse, or transform waste in our school or community?
- Hiko (Energy): How might we generate, save, or share energy more sustainably?
- Kai (Food): How might we grow, share, or reduce waste of food in our community?
Before you design anything, you need to understand the problem. That begins with listening to real people.
Ngā Āhuatanga Hoahoa · Design Thinking Process
1. Whakamārama — Empathise
Interview at least 2 people (classmates, family, community members) who experience this problem. Record what they said:
Person 1 — what they told me:
Person 2 — what they told me:
2. Tautuhia — Define
Write a problem statement using this format:
"[User] needs [need] because [insight]."
3. Whakaarohia — Ideate
Sketch or describe 3 rough ideas below. Do not judge them yet — quantity over quality at this stage.
Idea 1:
Idea 2:
Idea 3:
4. Hoahoa — Prototype Sketch
Choose your best idea. Draw a labelled sketch below. Include: dimensions (roughly), materials used, and an arrow or note explaining how it works.
5. Whakamatau — Test
How would you know if your solution works? Write 2–3 specific tests or observations you could make:
Rārangi Rauemi · Materials Consideration
For each material in your design, consider whether it is sustainable. If not, suggest a better alternative.
| Material / What it's made of | Is it sustainable? (Yes / Partly / No) | Alternative if not sustainable |
|---|---|---|
Aronga Mātauranga Māori
Working on problems together was central to how Māori communities approached technological challenges. Engineering was never individual: rua kūmara (storage pits) were community achievements requiring collective knowledge of soil, temperature, and seasons. Pā design embedded defensive and sustainable food-growing principles together. Waka were built through shared expertise across generations of carvers, navigators, and weavers.
Technology that does not account for its relationship to taiao is not kaitiakitanga. Before you finalise your design: who benefits from this technology? What does it do to the environment? In how many generations will its effects still be felt?
How does my design connect to taiao and community?
Ngā Rauemi Tautoko · Support Materials
Provided with this handout:
- Design Thinking Process handout — the reference for the five-stage cycle this challenge runs on.
Supplied by the kaiako (this sheet does not include them, and they are not needed to start):
- A materials guide for whatever your kura actually has on hand — offcuts, recycled stock, the workshop's own supply — which is more useful than a generic list.
- Interview question starters, if ākonga are interviewing a real user. Two or three questions the class writes together works better than a printed sheet.
- A prototype labelling convention, so every design in the room is labelled the same way when they come to compare.
Aronga Rerekē · Differentiated Pathways
Tīmata · Entry Level
Choose a specific challenge option from the list above. Use sentence starters provided. Your sketch can be rough — focus on labelling materials and explaining one key feature.
Paerewa · On Level
Complete all five stages of the design process. Your sketch should include at least 3 labels and a brief note on how the design addresses the problem statement.
Tūāpae · Extension
Build a physical or digital prototype. Write a short evaluation: how would you test it with real users? What would you change after testing? Research one example of Māori engineering that used similar principles and compare it to your design.