Te ropu awhina: A model for building post-secondary maori and pacific STEM Capability in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Abstract

Between 1999 and 2015, Te Ropu Awhina Whanau (Awhina) at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) substantially increased numbers of Maori (indigenous New Zealanders) and Pacific undergraduate and postgraduate students in the STEM disciplines. Underpinning Awhina's success was its kaupapa and the creation of an inclusive whanau (family) environment that normalised high expectations, aspirations and achievements, collective success and reciprocity. The kaupapa (goal) of Awhina was to produce Maori and Pacific STEM professionals who would contribute to Maori and Pacific community development and leadership. Importantly, the Awhina kaupapa enabled non-Maori and non-Pacific students to contribute as whanau members. Awhina included concepts and ideas suggested for indigenous and minority student success in tertiary institutions. Given expected demographic changes over the coming decades, the future wellbeing of all New Zealanders will depend on the success of Maori, Pacific and other minority groups. Central to that is strengthening the STEM capability of Maori and Pacific students and the communities they come from. In this chapter, we describe what Awhina was, what it did and why. We provide evidence that Awhina had a positive influence on Maori and Pacific success in STEM disciplines at VUW, and demonstrate that Awhina almost closed the equity outcome gap in metrics such as degree completion rates. We also document Awhina's history, including its struggle for survival, factors that threatened its successful continuation, and ways to mitigate those threats.