Pūhoro STEMM Academy

Our Land and Water is a primary sponsor of the Pūhoro STEMM Academy, a mentoring and support programme for Māori high school students.

What We Are Doing

Our Land and Water is a primary sponsor of the Pūhoro STEM Academy, a mentoring and support programme for Māori high school students to support pathways to science, technology, engineering or mathematics careers. There were 800 Pūhoro students in the 2019 academic year, affiliated to 85 iwi, across 27 high schools and 7 universities.

The Pūhoro STEM Academy is hosted by Massey University. It starts at Year 11 and provides sustained support for Māori pupils, through their NCEA levels onto university and ultimately into the workforce.

The students get an hour of mentoring a week and attend a full-day wānanga (seminar) each term, gaining access to university laboratories and teaching. The programme's curriculum results have exceeded the national averages at the NCEA level.

Students that have completed high school in the programme have been accepted to many New Zealand universities. Tertiary students in the programme tutor the high school students.

In 2019, ESR commissioned an analysis of the Pūhoro programme. This report focused on the potential economic value from increased tertiary education at a bachelor's degree level. Based on the increase in enrolments and accounting for the average pass rates, the net potential economic benefits for one cohort of the Pūhoro programme (at its most conservative level) are $13,380,000.

The Academy welcomes contact from potential partners, sponsors, and organisations wishing to host a summer intership or work experience opportunity.

Contact:

Naomi Manu, Pūhoro STEM Academy

Connect:

Pathways to Transition Projects

Rural Professional Fund 2021 22

Rural Professionals Fund 2021–22

There were 12 successful projects in the second funding round for the Our Land and Water Rural Professionals Fund.
View Project

Implementing Te Mana o Te Wai

Supporting iwi, hapū, water users, and decision-makers to understand and implement policy that prioritises Te Mana o te Wai
View Project
Taiao Manawa Ora Purpose Led Change Turquoise Small Scaled

Revitalise Te Taiao

Place-based research to develop evidence-based examples of how agribusinesses and communities can make enduring changes in land use, management, value chains, and market focus to…
View Project
Next Generation Influencers

Next Generation Influencers

This was a one-year programme to develop the capability of influential, innovative future leaders.
View Project

Trust and Social Licence

Investigating the importance of trust and approval by the community of the primary sector’s practices, and the connection to productivity and sustainable growth in New…
View Project

Whenua Life Values

An online tool to assist Māori agribusiness in making strategic decisions within a kaupapa Māori framework
View Project
Scroll to Top