A Māori Modern
Learning Environment This kaupapa Māori project investigates the ways that two Māori-medium pathways (bilingual and immersion) work together in a newly built Flexible Learning Space (FLS) to progress Te Reo Māori and the aspirations of whānau. Ko te akā Pūkaea kita ita, koe te akā Pūkaea kia eke!

About this project

This study explores the notion of the Māori Modern Learning Environment (MMLE), and explores how this ‘space’ is understood and utilised by Maori teachers, students and whanau of the two Māori-medium pathways, and within the wider English-medium primary school context. This pūrākau (case-study style project) takes a strengths-based approach, and is based on the experiences, pedagogies and the potential of Te Akā Pūkaea, Newton Central School.

Pictured below:
MOKO Team hui with Marae-based Research Coordinators held at Mataatua Marae, Māngere, November 2020. MOKO Launch at Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae, Unitec Mt Albert, Auckland, March 2020. Each of the five marae representatives are holding copies of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in partnership with the Research Centre.

Key Insights

Coming soon

The Goal

To provide an in-depth pūrākau (case-study) of Te Akā Pūkaea as a MMLE that facilitates dual Māori-medium pathways.

To develop success indicators of a MMLE in relation to Māori-medium education, including key Māori pedagogies that enhance Māori language and educational development for all learners (in both pathways).

To better understand Māori concepts of ‘space’, and the way this is practiced in a MMLE context, and its impact in the wider English-medium school (spatial bi-culturalism).

Our Research Team

Prof Jenny Bol Jun Lee-Morgan (She/Her)

Waikato, Te Ahiwaru, Ngāti Mahuta

Rau Hoskins (He/Him)

Ngāti Hau, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai

Kim Himoana Penetito

(Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Tamaterā, Raukawa)

Dr Cat Mitchell (She/Her)

Taranaki, Ngati Tara, Ngati Haupoto

Waikato, Te Ahiwaru, Ngāti Mahuta

Prof Jenny Bol Jun Lee-Morgan (She/Her)

Professor Jenny Lee-Morgan has a distinguished background in teaching and kaupapa Māori research. Jenny has led and contributed to several large community projects, including the Endeavour MBIE-funded ‘Generation Kainga: Rangatahi building resilient and regenerative Aotearoa’, the Marsden-funded ‘Matike mai Te Hiaroa: #Protect Ihumātao’, and ‘Marae Ora Kainga Ora’, among others. In 2016, she received the Te Tohu Pae Tawhiti Award from the New Zealand Association for Research in Education, recognising her high-quality research and significant contribution to Māori education. Jenny co-edited the award-winning book Decolonizing Research: Indigenous Storywork as Methodology (2019) with Prof Joan Archibald and Dr Jason DeSantolo. Her most recent book, Tiakina te Pā Harakeke: Ancestral knowledge and tamariki well-being (2022), was co-edited with Dr Leonie Pihama.

Ngāti Hau, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai

Rau Hoskins (He/Him)

Rau Hoskins is renowned practitioner, researcher, and educator with over three decades of experience in Māori architecture, housing and cultural landscape design. Raised in Whangārei, he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from the University of Auckland. Rau combines kaupapa Māori design principles with skills in iwi engagement, urban design, Māori heritage, and cultural consultancy. In addition to his role as a director of Pūrangakura, he is also a founding director of TRIBE Architects, an architectural practice which specialises in cultural, health, urban, and educational projects. Rau served on the Auckland Council urban design panel (2012–2020) and contributes to major developments like the City Rail Link and Aotea Over Station Development. He was the founding Chairperson of Te Matapihi he Tirohanga mo te Iwi, a national Māori housing network, and co-created the award-winning Māori architecture series “Whare Māori,” which won Best Information Programme at the 2011 Aotearoa Film and Television Awards.

(Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Tamaterā, Raukawa)

Kim Himoana Penetito

has a Masters in Māori Development, and a background in Kaupapa Māori community development, training and education. She is the co-director of Hauā Partnerships and a researcher at Pūrangakura.

Taranaki, Ngati Tara, Ngati Haupoto

Dr Cat Mitchell (She/Her)

Dr Cat Mitchell is a senior researcher at Pūrangakura, working on various projects related to te taiao, housing and homelessness. She holds a PhD in higher education from the University of Auckland and has more than fifteen years of experience as a lecturer in academic development. In her mahi, she utilises her expertise in postgraduate academic writing to aid in developing the scholarly publications of Pūrangakura. Her commitment to Kaupapa Māori underpins her work to share significant Māori stories and to support emerging Māori researchers.

Research Funders

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Funders

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Resources and Publications

Te Aka Pukaea exploring māori modern learning environments

Māori modern learning environments ko te aka

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