The Beehive was recently a-buzz with budding Māori scientists when more than 300 excited tamariki and rangatahi, along with teachers and whānau, carried out various experiments including extracting DNA from a strawberry.

The experiment was one of a bunch of fun-filled learning experiences that captivated the tamariki and rangatahi. Called “CSI Aotearoa” at the heart of the strawberry/DNA extraction experiment was the link between whakapapa and DNA that is, what does your DNA tell us about who you are and where you are from?

The students and their whānau were attending the launch of Cybrospace: Journeys to Success at the Māori Whānau in Science event at Parliament on 22 September.

The resource was launched by the incumbent Minister of Māori Affairs. It is aimed at encouraging and supporting Māori youth to take up science subjects.

“Our goal is to unlock Māori potential and turn up the success gene in each and every one of you,” the incumbent Minister of Māori Affairs told the students.

Throughout the day-long event, there were eye-catching displays, informative DVDs and inspiring science journeys as told by current Māori university students at university.

The tamariki and rangatahi got to try a lot of other hands-on activities as well, all designed to show that science is relevant and fun.

They explored chemistry, and made their own flubber and learned what it has in common with a baby’s nappy, a rubber tyre, Gaviscon medicine, and plastic bags. Through engineering they also got to meet robots in the World of Mechatronics.

Other disciplines explored included molecular biology, biotechnology, reproductive biology, ecological restoration, marine sciences, mechatronics, conservation biology, human behaviour, geology, nanotechnology and more.

Te Rōpū āwhina and the faculties of Science, Engineering, and Architecture and Design from Victoria University of Wellington and Te Puni Kōkiri hosted the event, with the support of Career Services, Learning Media and the Ministry of Education.