📚 Unit Plans → 🌍 Unit 3: STEM Through Mātauranga Māori → 📖 Unit 3 Lesson 4: Technology & Innovation | Mangakōtukutuku College
Years 9–10Hangarau / Technology

Unit 3, Lesson 4: Technology & Innovation

Be creative, be alert, be beautiful - innovation principles from our tīpuna

Innovation Connections

Discuss: How do traditional innovations show us that our tīpuna were sophisticated engineers and scientists? What principles from traditional innovation could enhance modern technology? What does this tell us about the future of sustainable innovation?

Material Science: Harakeke Engineering

Nature's Carbon Fibre

Harakeke (NZ Flax) is not just a plant - it's a high-performance engineering material. The fibre (muka) extracted from the leaf is one of the strongest natural fibres in the world, historically used for everything from ropes to sails, and now being investigated for modern biocomposites in cars and surfboards.

The Science of Muka

Traditional Extraction (Hāro)
  • Technique: Using a mussel shell to scrape away the green epidermis.
  • Engineering: Removes the weak fleshy material, leaving only the strong internal fibres.
  • Treatment: Boiled and beaten (Patupatu) to soften and strengthen bonds.
Modern Material Properties
  • Tensile Strength: Exceptional resistance to being pulled apart.
  • Sustainability: Biodegradable alternative to fiberglass and carbon fibre.
  • Biocomposites: Mixed with eco-resins to create light, strong manufacturing materials.

Innovation Principles: Traditional Wisdom Meets Modern Design (15 minutes)

Integrated Innovation Framework

Successful innovation happens when we combine the best of traditional wisdom with modern capabilities. Our framework integrates mātauranga Māori principles with contemporary design thinking:

Traditional Principles

  • Whakatōhea: Holistic thinking about impacts
  • Whakapapa: Understanding relationships and connections
  • Mauri: Preserving life force and vitality
  • Taonga Tuku Iho: Creating lasting value for future generations

Modern Methods

  • Empathise: Deep understanding of user needs
  • Define: Clear problem definition
  • Ideate: Creative solution generation
  • Prototype: Rapid testing and learning

Integration Outcomes

  • Sustainable: Environmentally responsible
  • Culturally Appropriate: Respects values and protocols
  • Community-Centred: Serves real human needs
  • Technologically Sound: Uses best available methods

Innovation Mindset

Today you'll work as innovation teams, combining traditional wisdom with modern methods to create solutions that honour our values while addressing contemporary challenges. Remember: the best innovations serve both people and planet.

Design Challenge Introduction (15 minutes)

The Challenge: Local Solutions for Global Problems

Working in teams, choose ONE local environmental challenge and design a technology solution that integrates traditional wisdom with modern innovation. Use the Sustainable Technology Design Challenge handout as your guide.

Challenge Options

  • Water Quality: Monitoring and protecting local waterways
  • Waste Reduction: Innovative recycling or upcycling systems
  • Food Security: Sustainable growing or distribution methods
  • Energy Access: Renewable energy for community needs
  • Biodiversity Protection: Technology to support native species

Design Requirements

  • Traditional Element: Incorporates mātauranga Māori principles
  • Modern Technology: Uses contemporary STEM knowledge
  • Community Focused: Addresses real local needs
  • Sustainable: Environmentally responsible
  • Prototype-able: Can be built and tested with available materials

Team Formation & Planning

Form teams of 3-4 students with diverse skills. Spend 10 minutes:

  1. Choose your environmental challenge
  2. Research the traditional knowledge relevant to your challenge
  3. Identify the modern technology you could integrate
  4. Define your target users and their specific needs

Design Challenge: Eco-Innovation (20 minutes)

The Brief: Solve a Realm Challenge

Work in groups to design a solution for one of the Atua domains using both modern technology and traditional values.

Tangaroa (Water)

Challenge: Plastic pollution in local waterways.

Goal: Design a device or system to collect waste without harming marine life.

Thinking: How would a hīnaki (eel trap) design inform a modern waste collector?

Tāne Mahuta (Forest)

Challenge: Predator pests destroying native birds.

Goal: Create a smart-trap that identifies pests vs native species.

Thinking: How can bird calls or sensor tech distinguish between friend and foe?

Step 1: Empathise & Define

Use the Design Thinking Handout to:

  1. Map out who is affected (people, animals, environment)
  2. Define the core problem clearly
  3. Brainstorm 10 rapid ideas (no judgment!)
  4. Select your best idea to prototype

Prototype Building & Development (30 minutes)

Step 2: Build Your Solution

Bring your chosen idea to life! Remember, a prototype is a working model, not a finished product. Focus on demonstrating your core concept.

Available Materials

  • Cardboard & construction materials
  • Arduino & basic electronics
  • Natural materials (wood, stone, etc.)
  • 3D printing access (simple parts)
  • Basic tools and fasteners

Prototype Goals

  • Demonstrate core functionality
  • Show integration of traditional & modern elements
  • Enable user testing and feedback
  • Identify areas for improvement
  • Communicate your concept effectively

Success Criteria

  • Addresses chosen environmental challenge
  • Shows clear traditional knowledge integration
  • Functions as intended (even if simplified)
  • Can be tested and evaluated
  • Demonstrates team collaboration

Building Protocol

Testing & Iteration (20 minutes)

Step 3: Test & Refine

Real innovation happens through testing and iteration. Now test your prototype, gather feedback, and identify improvements.

Testing Protocol

  1. Function Test: Does your prototype work as intended?
  2. User Test: Have another team try using your solution
  3. Integration Test: How well are traditional and modern elements combined?
  4. Impact Test: Would this solution actually help with the environmental challenge?
  5. Sustainability Test: Is this solution environmentally responsible?

Feedback & Iteration

  1. Gather Feedback: What works? What doesn't? What's missing?
  2. Identify Improvements: What would you change if you had more time?
  3. Cultural Check: Does your solution honour traditional values?
  4. Scale Considerations: How could this work for the wider community?
  5. Next Steps: What would be needed to develop this further?

Step 4: Prepare Your Pitch

Prepare to present your solution to the class. Focus on: your chosen Atua challenge, how you integrated traditional and modern knowledge, what your prototype demonstrates, and what you learned through testing. You have 3 minutes per team!

Whakaata - Reflection & Assessment (5 minutes)

Innovation Assessment

Reflect on your design process:

  1. Integration: How did you use both traditional knowledge and modern technology? (e.g., "We used the shape of a hīnaki trap but used solar sensors to trigger it")
  2. Sustainability: Why is your solution good for Papatūānuku?
  3. Values: Which Māori value (kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, etc.) drove your design choices?

Success Criteria

Extension Activities

3D Modelling

Use Tincercad or similar software to create a digital 3D model of your solution, refining the engineering details.

Biomimicry Hunt

Research three modern technologies inspired by nature (e.g., Velcro from burrs) and present them to the class.

Community Pitch

Prepare a Shark Tank-style pitch to present your innovation to local iwi or council representatives.

Material Science

Test the tensile strength of different natural fibres (flax, cabbage tree, grass) vs synthetic strings. Record data and graph results.

Whakakapi - Closing Reflection

"Kia māhaki, kia mataara, kia atahua" - Innovation is not just about function; it is about creativity, awareness, and beauty. Today you have walked in the footsteps of ancestral innovators, using your hands and minds to solve problems.

As you go forward, remember that true technology serves life. It does not dominate nature but works with it. You are the next generation of kaitiaki innovators.

Haere tū, haere ora - Go with purpose, go with health!

Curriculum alignment