Using ancestral Māori knowledge to understand the environment and its changing characteristics aligned to the Maramataka*
Indigenous experts consider the gravitational pull of the moon is a link to the level of water available in the soil. The amount of light coming from the moon may be another contributing factor. That is why, according to the Maramataka, there are specified times for harvesting, fishing and hunting.
Rereata Makiha (Ngāti Mahurehure, Te Aupōuri, Te Arawa) is the Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year 2022 and, a leading authority on the Maramataka (Māori lunar calendar). Rereata will speak to ancient traditions within a Te Ao Māori interface and will share his extensive traditional knowledge around the Māori lunar calendar and insights to planting, harvesting, fishing, and hunting using deeply seeded traditional understandings of the Maramataka as an expert and renowned Māori astronomer.
Matauranga Māori Space Satelitte Program*
As more satellites begin to orbit Earth, the likelihood of a collision between a roving satellite and space junk is increasing the threat to both current and future space missions. The opportunity to develop a reliable and effective space stabilization system that contributes to the problem of reducing space junk is vital for future space missions to be classified as successful.
In this way, creating a sustainable future for space missions requires ways that support acts of caretaker (kaitiaki) by implementing sustainable approaches towards solving such problems. This research is exploring the design of a space stabilisation system embedded within the aspects of Māori mātauranga and the ancient techniques used to stabilise waka, extrapolating those methods to satellite design.
Worlds 1st Māori Keyboard with Macrons
Kevin Shedlock is an assistant lecturer at the University of Victoria's School of Engineering and Computer Science. He said the keyboard was a step in the right direction for inclusive technology.
"It's a positive way forward and it's a progression to the next level of where te reo could be," he said. "Inclusive technology is really about eliminating the barriers that exist so that whānau can have a better experience, a more user-friendly experience, with technology. "The way we can build new technologies to help hearing impaired whānau, for example, to help them be self-dependent. So in this way technology can become an enabler for whānau." The keyboard will be rolled out at schools, kura and corporate entities first, and will be made available to consumers further down the track.
"I think its more about effectively providing an opportunity for the visibility of te reo Māori, making it visible so people remember that macrons are used in language," said Macgregor. "It's about asking ourselves, how can we incorporate diversity and inclusion in our devices we're making? And the Māori keyboard is a great example of a big company doing something about it."
ECS Facebook link:
https://www.facebook.com/EngineeringAndCompSciAtTeHerengaWaka/posts/702645224977871
Waitangi 2023 Commemorations - Exhibits and Expert Presentation
Wednesday, 24 February 2023Waitangi Day: Waitangi Comemorations
Waitangi Day celebrated on 6 February is recognised as New Zealand’s national day and is the most important marker in the country’s history. The Treaty of Waitangi as the nation’s founding document will continue to keep this celebration alive, as the Treaty continues to live as part of New Zealand’s past, present, and future. The School of Engineering and Computer Science team with Kevin Shedlock (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou, Whakatōhea) and Ian Welch (Tangata Tiriti) attended the commemorations to exhibit ongoing work being conducted with Māori communities to open further discussions around Data Storage, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality displaying exhibits of work completed to date.
Both Kevin and Ian presented the topics of data sovereignty and protecting taonga in the main forum tent working with haukāinga (Ngāti Kawa and Ngāti Rāhiri) of Te Tii Marae to discuss important topics moving forward.
Photo Gallery
- Waitangi Commemorations
- Waitangi 2020 exhibition of Matahiko Ahii Kaa ki Waikare (MBIE Curious Minds)
- Te Ruapekapeka Virtual Reality Project
- The Indigi-Cloud Center (i-cloud store)
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| Waitangi 5.00 am dawn service | we are at the top marae | photo of all the waka landing |
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| people | now we are on the water front | ...and more people |
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| mokopuna from the Te Kapotai digital marae learning project 2023 | the ECS Team Exhibits for Cyber Security, Virtual Reality, Indigi-Cloud Data Center | the Te Kapotai digital marae curriculum in module format |
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| Te Ruapekapeka VR | the Te Kapotai Rangatahi Ahi Kaa mokopuna | Te Ruapekapeka VR |
Māori Digital Taonga presentation at the Waitangi Day commemorations 2023 https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300799731/te-tii-marae-embraces-solution-to-protect-its-digital-taonga
Waatea media Interview on Māori organizations and Māori working with technology https://waateanews.com/2023/02/08/kevin-shedlock-assistant-lecturer-in-te-herenga-waka-victoria-university/
2022 Student Matauranga Research Projects
Friday, 18 November 2022Te Pataka ECS: Student Presentations
End of year student presentations This was a time to come together and celebrate some of our research and student achievements for the year. We heard student presentations for 2022 research topics from:
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| Fraser McConnell - Passi Attitude Determination and Control Systems for Small Satellites | Zane Rawson - Creating a model of trust to engage with mātauranga Māori | Marino Doyle - Te Taupanga Kapa Haka Application |
Matihiko Ahi-kaa Rangatahi Project
The Matihiko Ahi-kaa programme builds also on the wider hauora and community development programmes that Te Kapotai are currently undertaking, and the project is a strand of the activities designed to weave whanau and rangatahi together as a hapū and community. The programme provides a range of activities and resources such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Te Kapotai mātauranga, tikanga and reo
- Traditional and contemporary sports
- Traditional and contemporary arts
- Study hub.
With the support of the Waikare Marae Trustees, the Waikare Community Development & Research Trust, and the community, the project contributes to the success of the community, thereby helping to shape the future of Te Kapotai as the project strives towards:
- We anticipate that our rangatahi will benefit from this as they are the driving force behind it. We are only limited by the aspirations of those involved.
- Revitalise hapū culture and re-instill pride and confidence into the next generations by exposing them to a range of activities and resources with the hope that it will inspire them to pursue their passion.
- Have rangatahi participate and engage in any and all activities provided. This will improve physical activity levels by removing barriers such as income, travel, lack of equipment.
- Identify future leaders in our community and provide them with support and confidence to follow their dreams.
It is likely all rangatahi will be future leaders, knowing that they all have a role to play on our marae and in our community, even if their dreams lead them elsewhere. In this way, it is also important to rangatahi with a venue through which to easily transmit cultural values and cultural knowledge. Having the ‘nannies’ in the community there from 3pm to 4pm to provide a snack and awhi, will increase intergenerational connection, which has always been an important factor in Māori culture.
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| Te Kapotai Rangatahi Imagination Week |
Indigenous knowledge systems and the construction of virtual reality
Wednesday, 24 Fbruary 2021Press Release: Te Ruapekapeka Trust
The internet may have increased global equality, but only if you know how to use it, says indigenous computer science researcher Kevin Shedlock.
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| Te Ruapekapeka VR project |
An assistant lecturer in Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Engineering and Computer Science, Kevin (Ngāpuhi nui tonu) is working towards his PhD on indigenous knowledge systems and the construction of virtual reality (VR).
He has worked with Māori and North American indigenous communities on VR and on framing information technology artefacts, artificial versions of things in the real world.
He applies this knowledge to building technology through an indigenous lens and has led several high-value projects for iwi communities in recent times, including Te Ruapekapeka Trust.
Kevin says VR offers “tremendous opportunities” for indigenous communities to experience themselves in settings not available in the real world. “However, any deviance from heritage or known indigenous relationships may result in a disconnection between the traditional world and the unreal digital world if wrongly presented. “The concern is VR as a technology may be replacing the traditional identity of users with an online digital version of themselves. At the centre of this problem is the technology itself, when it has not been exposed to indigenous notions and concepts during the construction of any virtual reality artefact.”
Concerns are being raised about how indigenous knowledge is produced and disseminated, he says...
click to read more
Technology Brings New Experience To Historic Battle Site
Wednesday, 16 December 2020, 6:35 amPress Release: Te Ruapekapeka Trust
Te Ruapekapeka Trust is excited with the launch of a unique mobile app which uses virtual and augmented reality technologies to engage with visitors — as well as a redesigned website that better reflects the stories of Te Ruapekapeka Pā and the events that helped shaped the nation... click to read more
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC2012/S00027/technology-brings-new-experience-to-historic-battle-site.htm 
