At Wānanga Nohinohi te Kunenga Children’s University Massey Discovery Day, the activities were wide and varied. From pedalling through fitness circuits, creating logos and stickers to designing the next great pest trap for conservation, ākonga experienced how broad, exciting and welcoming tertiary education can be.
Returning kura included Taita Central School, South Wellington Intermediate School, Amesbury School and Paremata School, with Bishop Viard College joining Discovery Day for the first time.
Volunteering veteran and Future Students Advisor Tui Pilitati says Discovery Days have rapidly become a personal highlight of his year.
"What I love most is seeing the kids’ faces light up when they get stuck into the activities. You can literally see those aha! moments happening. It’s all about having fun, getting curious, and showing them, how awesome learning can be," Tui says.
At our Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne activity zone, ākonga dove into the world of native wildlife and conservation. With three educators, Olivia Keesing, Annie Budd and Claire Grant leading the way, students learned about Aotearoa’s unique birds and ecosystems, designing traps, testing beak shapes, and connecting kai with bird behaviour.
“Tamariki are not only the future, but they are also leading the way now. Tamariki have an innate sense of responsibility and connection to te taiao, to the environment. We are privileged at Zealandia to be a part of that learning experience," Olivia says.
Inside Massey’s Pyramid, the universe unfolded. With Libby Cox from Te Ara Whānui ki te Rangi Space Place, ākonga ventured from the edge of the solar system back to Earth. Along the way, they explored maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, and how celestial cycles influence te taiao , blending mātauranga Māori with space science.
“It was fantastic to see so many ākonga engaged and curious about space and our solar system. With lots of interactive activities, everyone had the opportunity to get involved, have fun and discover something new,” Libby says.
Back on Earth, the campus library became a hub of imagination. Inspired by a story from Wiremu Grace about a taniwha and an albatross, ākonga explored geological formations through legend. Led by Rayleen Hirini and N.J. Jane, with help from Joy Wearne, the storytelling session invited students to reflect and create in follow-up activities.
FAB LAB offered creative ākonga a taste of design and fabrication. In a sticker-making workshop led by Eva Ferguson Rebenschied, students used digital tools to bring their own logos to life, perhaps planting a seed for future study in digital design.
Outside the studio, Noise Control DJ Collective brought the energy and good music to the day’s events. Meanwhile, in the Recreation Centre, energy levels stayed high thanks to Jesse Brady and his team. Ākonga worked up a sweat on exercise bikes, navigated ladders and dashed through cone games, all while learning about pathways to becoming personal trainers.
The lasting message of the day was clear: university is more than classrooms. It's a place for stories, movement, science, art and most importantly, possibility.
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