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Sustainable Technology Design Challenge

Innovating for a Better Future, Inspired by the Past

The Challenge: Design with Purpose

Your challenge is to design a new piece of sustainable technology that addresses a local environmental issue. Your design must be inspired by the principles of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and integrate ideas from both mātauranga Māori and modern science. This is not just about creating something new; it's about creating something that cares for the environment and the community.

Design Challenge Options

Choose one of the following challenges, or propose your own with your teacher's approval.

Challenge 1: The Smart Pā Tūhā

Design a modern, small-scale composting or waste-sorting system for a school or community garden. It should be efficient, easy to use, and reflect Māori principles of returning nutrients to the soil.

Challenge 2: The Rainwater Guardian

Design a system for collecting, filtering, and storing rainwater for use in gardens or for non-drinking purposes. Your design should consider traditional water-saving techniques and use modern, sustainable materials.

Challenge 3: The Pollinator Palace

Design a habitat or "hotel" for native bees and other pollinators. Your design should use natural materials and be based on research into the specific needs of local insect species.

Challenge 4: The Greywater Gardener

Design a simple system to filter and reuse "greywater" (from sinks or washing machines) for watering fruit trees or ornamental gardens, reducing overall water consumption.

The Design Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Tautuhia te Raru (Identify the Problem)

Clearly define the environmental issue you are trying to solve. Who does it affect? What are its impacts?

2. Rangahaua (Research)

Gather information from both mātauranga Māori and modern science. How was this issue dealt with in the past? What modern technologies exist?

3. Whakaarohia (Brainstorm & Design)

Sketch out your ideas. How will you integrate traditional principles with modern design? Label your design and explain how it works.

4. Hangaia (Build a Model - Optional)

If possible, create a small-scale model or prototype of your design using recycled materials.

5. Whakaaturia (Present Your Solution)

Prepare a presentation explaining your design. How is it sustainable? How does it reflect kaitiakitanga? What are its benefits?

Design Canvas

Environmental Issue:

Mātauranga Māori Inspiration:

Sketch of My Design:

How it Works:

📋 Teacher Planning Snapshot

Ngā Whāinga Ako — Learning Intentions

Students will engage with this resource to explore the intersection of STEM disciplines and mātauranga Māori — understanding how Indigenous knowledge systems and Western science share complementary ways of knowing the world.

Ngā Paearu Angitū — Success Criteria

  • ✅ Students can identify connections between mātauranga Māori and STEM concepts in this resource.
  • ✅ Students can explain how dual knowledge systems strengthen understanding of natural phenomena.

Differentiation & Inclusion

Scaffold support: Provide concept maps or sentence frames to scaffold access for students at the entry level. Offer extension tasks exploring specific mātauranga Māori knowledge domains (e.g., tohu āhua rangi, rongoā, whakapapa o te taiao) in greater depth.

ELL / ESOL: Pre-teach key vocabulary in both te reo Māori and English — including domain-specific STEM terms. Bilingual glossaries and visual anchors support comprehension. Allow students to demonstrate understanding in their preferred language.

Inclusion: Tasks are designed for a range of readiness levels. Neurodiverse learners benefit from structured, chunked activities with clear success criteria. Use hands-on, inquiry-based formats where possible. Affirm the value of different ways of knowing.

Mātauranga Māori lens: Mātauranga Māori encompasses astronomy, ecology, navigation, agriculture, and medicine — systems of knowledge developed over centuries. This unit treats mātauranga Māori as epistemically equal to Western science, not supplementary. Bring kaitiakitanga as a guiding ethic: knowledge is held in relationship, not extracted.

Prior knowledge: Students benefit from baseline understanding of the relevant STEM domain. No specialist te reo Māori knowledge required — glossaries provided. Best used after introductory lessons or as a standalone exploration.

Curriculum alignment

  • Nature of Science — Knowledge: Science is a way of investigating, understanding, and explaining our natural, physical world; mātauranga Māori offers complementary systems of knowledge that enrich scientific understanding.
  • Identity, Culture, and Organisation: Understand how different knowledge systems — including mātauranga Māori — shape how communities relate to the natural world.