The Trust was formed in 2016 to increase Māori engagement with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) - related careers, ensuring an increasing future community of Māori technologist, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, innovators, and thought-pioneers. There are currently over 5,000 students from throughout the country who are studying through the Trust.

Te Wānanga o Raukawa was approached to provide mātauranga Māori content to rangatahi involved with their programmes. The current choices offered to rangatahi often meant they had to either forgo mātauranga Māori in favour of STEM subjects or vice versa. There was a need to change this so that rangatahi could undertake both without compromising the other.

To strengthen this relationship and to put in place tikanga arrangements, an MRA was signed in a small and intimate ceremony by Naomi Manu, Trustee for the Trust, Robin Hapi, Co-Chair for the Trust and Chair for Te Mana Whakahaere of Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Mereana Selby, the Tumuaki of Te Wānanga o Raukawa and Oriwia Raureti, Tumurua of Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

Mereana Selby spoke of hearing about the good things the Trust was doing with rangatahi.  “I am pleased Te Wānanga o Raukawa are joining with them to support rangatahi in this venture.”

“This partnership will benefit rangatahi with the goal that they will become equally competent in the STEM subjects and mātauranga Māori, and be culturally anchored in Te Ao Māori,” says Naomi Manu. The skills that these rangatahi will gain through this joint venture is set to give them an advantage from others competing in the same career space.



The collective of these fields will be known as STEMM, an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Mātauranga Māori.