Lesson at a Glance | He Tirohanga Whakamua
Ngā Whāinga Ako | Learning Intentions
Students will know
- Core Māori cultural concepts relevant to genetic technologies:
• Kaitiakitanga: Active guardianship and environmental duty.
• Mauri: Essential life force binding all species.
• Whakapapa: Interconnected ancestral lineage between humans and taonga species. - The significance of the Wai 262 Treaty Claim regarding indigenous flora, fauna, and genetic data sovereignty.
- That Māori perspectives are not monolithic: some iwi express deep concern over genetic alteration of mauri, while others support targeted genetic tools as kaitiaki to save taonga species from extinction.
Students will demonstrate
- By writing a culturally grounded analysis of gene editing under Te Ao Māori frameworks.
- By completing Section 4 of their Level 3 Biology Socio-Scientific Report Portfolio.
Do Now | Tīmatanga Whakaaro (10 min)
Cultural Perspectives Prompt:
"How might a kaitiaki (environmental guardian) view using CRISPR gene drives to eradicate stoats and possums from a sacred ngahere (forest)?"
Unpack: A kaitiaki faces a profound cultural dilemma: 1) Protecting the mauri of native taonga birds (kiwi, kererū) by removing invasive predators, OR 2) Protecting the mauri of natural genetic code from artificial human tampering. Both views reflect legitimate tikanga reasoning.
Māori Cultural Frameworks & Wai 262 (15 min)
Altering DNA permanently affects the mauri (life force) of a species line. Whakapapa links all living organisms through Tāne Mahuta.
Wai 262 establishes Crown obligations to protect Māori guardianship over taonga species and indigenous genetic data rights.
📁 Socio-Scientific Report Portfolio — Section 4: Te Ao Māori & Tikanga Analysis
Students open their Level 3 Biology Portfolio and complete Section 4:
Section 4 Requirements:
1. Cultural Concept Mapping: Define Kaitiakitanga, Mauri, Whakapapa, and Taonga in the context of gene drive pest control.
2. Wai 262 Alignment Evaluation: Write a 2-paragraph analysis detailing why Crown consultation and iwi co-governance are legally and culturally mandatory under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
3. Excellence Nuanced Perspective Synthesis: 1-paragraph explanation contrasting iwi concerns over genetic tampering with pragmatic kaitiakitanga urgency to save kiwi populations.
Exit Verification | Ka Mutu Hoki (5 min)
Exit Check:
"My Section 4 integrates Kaitiakitanga, Mauri, and Wai 262, showing how Te Tiriti requires iwi co-governance in any genetic trial."
Teacher Planning & NCEA Alignment
NCEA Level 3 Biology Alignment (3 Credits Internal):
- Cultural Perspectives: Integrate Te Ao Māori concepts, tikanga, and Treaty of Waitangi principles into socio-scientific analysis.
- Indigenous Data Rights: Analyse Crown obligations under Wai 262.
Vocabulary: Te Ao Māori, Kaitiakitanga, Mauri, Whakapapa, Taonga, Wai 262, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, indigenous data sovereignty.