The Power of Stories

Ice cream, seeing our kids, I wish I was there.

Tales of Diversity is exploring the power of stories, but our research activity is also creating stories around Māori and Pacific Peoples and their connection to STEM. Here are some of our favourites.

  • Teacher Aide comments about VR: “Great to see our kids in the VR experience”
  • Te Atatū Intermediate (TAI) student viewing the VR and seeing students from school: “I am so jealous.” “Why?” “I wish I was there.”
  • Another student viewing the VR footage commented that it was just like being at university, and liked the idea of visiting university.
  • After the walk through and shooting the VR footage: “I had never thought of going to uni but I might and I might study engineering”
  • Two students were offered the chance to have ice cream – “Yes!” they responded. “Let’s go to uni” Tony says. “Why?” they say. “Because they sell ice cream, DUH!” Near the end of the ice cream trip one student asks a uni student “What do you study?” The same student wondered about going to uni on the drive home.
  • Tony’s story: “After taking the two students to uni and sharing my mahi, I was asked ‘Why was I pushing uni so much?’ Upon reflection I would have said I’m not promoting uni, but promoting mobility.”
  • Sharing kai and a kōrero with our SPIES whānau about the stories our mahi created at TAI. One story that came from a TAI student “Would SPIES be at Rutherford College next year?” Ameera responded that they might be to which another student replied “Stink! I’m going to Epsom Girls…”
Ngā mihi to South Pacific Indigenous Engineering Students (SPIES) from the University of Auckland!