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Ihaia Mulholland displays his scientific and academic poster summarising his experience through a mātauranga Māori lens.
The latest batch of summer graduates from the Pūhoro Stemm academy have celebrated completing their work through a mātauranga Māori lens.
Māori are under represented in science, technology, engineering and maths related careers, making up just 2% of the workforce and the Pūhoro internship programme was established five years ago to change this. The extra M in Stemm is for mātauranga Māori, the world of Māori knowledge.
“By creating opportunities for rangatahi Māori (youth) to engage in hands-on learning, build industry networks and improve their confidence we hope to bridge the gap between tertiary studies and careers,” Te Urunga Pae lead Arohaina Owen said.
“The programme helps improve the employability of our rangatahi and creates more entry points into the workforce.
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“We are committed to helping rangatahi realise their own innate abilities within the sciences, just like their tīpuna (ancestors), and we will continue to disrupt the narrative around Māori stem engagement.”
Since the formation of the programme, the demand for Māori interns studying in these fields has grown rapidly, from 38 students in 2021-22 to 73 this summer.
“This year our interns were hosted by 35 different organisations across the industry all of whom shared a passion for seeing more Māori in stemm-related careers.”
A foundation of the internship programme is ensuring partner organisations are well equipped to provide a supportive learning environment and meaningful mahi for rangatahi Māori.
In this intake Pūhoro hosted all interns and supervisors at a three-day noho (stay) at Te Wānanga o Raukawa with a focus on Te Tiriti o Waitangi training, whakawhanaungatanga (establishing relationships) and creating a safe place for a community of future stemm leaders.
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A group of interns celebrating completing the programme.
The event helped ease the transition between full time study and full-time work and allowed the supervisors to build relationships with the interns outside of work.
Intern Suraya Goss said the noho was a highlight of the programme.
“I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know my supervisor and to connect with the other interns who were on a similar journey to my own.
“This is my second time interning with Pūhoro and each year I have felt more confident about where my career path will take me and the value I can add as a Māori in stemm.”
Interns are required to put together a scientific and academic poster that summarises their experience and learnings through a mātauranga Māori lens.
Pūhoro welcomes expressions of interest from industry organisations for next summer at [email protected].
Formal intern and host applications open mid year.
