Growing the Puna is a dynamic internship programme designed for tauira Māori (Māori students) pursuing a tertiary
education degree in fields related to hauora (Māori health), sports, physical activity and nutrition. This initiative
responds to the identified need for bridging the gaps between tauira Māori, their communities and the health sector,
by enhancing students' practical and theoretical knowledge while actively contributing to community well-being.
Growing the Puna aims to cultivate a skilled workforce capable of significantly influencing whānau (family), hapū (sub
tribe), iwi (tribe) and broader health sectors. Interns engage in innovative projects that offer reciprocal benefits,
enhancing both student competencies and community health outcomes. This engagement is facilitated through
various activities, including participating in Toi Tangata wānanga, contribution to the organisations E-Zine- an
opportunity to upskill in writing as well as the development of a kaupapa of their choosing to focus on during the 10
week programme.
Key aspects of the internship include immersive learning experiences in mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge),
fostering an understanding of traditional and contemporary approaches to nutrition and physical well-being. The
culminating feature of the programme are the opportunities such as, presenting at the Toi Tangata Hui-a-Tau or Toi
Ako webinar, platforms that not only showcase their work but integrates them into a professional network that spans
academia, community health leadership, and policy making fields.