Appendix F.pdf

PŪHORO STEMM ACADEMY
MID-YEAR VERBAL REPORT
July 2025

Tēnā tātou,

In  alignment  with  our  contractual  milestones,  Pūhoro  is  providing  the  following  report/memo
which is a precursor to the yearly in-person verbal report milestone to be held at the Ministry of
Education on Thursday, August 14th in Wellington.

The fol owing report contains the following inclusions and data which at the in-person hui will be
further expounded upon. This report shares overviews of the following:

  Pūhoro ākonga achievement and engagement.
  Programme delivery activities.
  Regional growth (Tauranga and Taranaki).
  Trends, challenges, and case studies.

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1

Pūhoro Ākonga NCEA Achievement Data 2024

The  data  presented  below  highlights  Pūhoro’s  significant  impact  on  student  achievement
providing the most recent results available from the end of 2024. Building upon data shared with
the  Ministry  of  Education  in  2023,  Pūhoro  is  continuing  to  demonstrate  impact  in  academic
achievement for ākonga who participate in the programme compared to other Māori ākonga who
are not. These data sets also demonstrate how Pūhoro student achievement is benchmarked
compared to non-Māori achievement, the result being some outstanding indications of success.
In brief, the data provided below provides clear evidence of Pūhoro’s significant contribution to
Māori achievement and the closing of the achievement equity gap. Finally, the presentation of
this data has clear outcomes for the Ministerial Priorities outlined in the Ministry of Educations
Strategic Intentions 2025 – 2029 document.

Importantly, all achievement data provided is externally sourced directly from NZQA, as per our
current data Memorandum of Understanding with them in place.

The fol owing ﬁgures outline Pūhoro achievement and attainment in NCEA which include:

Figure 1: 2024 NCEA Certiﬁcate and UE Attainment Rates:  This chart compares NCEA and
University Entrance attainment rates between national Māori results, Pūhoro ākonga results and
other non-Māori national results.

Figure 2: NCEA  Certiﬁcate and UE Attainment for  Pūhoro ākonga  2022-2024  Cohort:    This
chart gives longitudinal data for a Year 11 cohort which joined the programme in 2022, tracking
their  achievement  and  attainment  through  till  Year  13  (across  Levels  2  and  3,  and  University
Entrance).

Figure 3: 2024 NCEA STEM Standard Achievement in Pūhoro Partner Schools (Overall):  This
chart  shows  overall  achievement  rates  of  ākonga  Māori  in  STEM  standards  in  Pūhoro  partner
schools, compared to achievement rates of Pūhoro ākonga within those same schools.

Figure 4: 2024 NCEA STEM Standard Achievement in Pūhoro Partner Schools by Region:  This
chart  breaks  down  the  achievement  rates  shown  in  Figure  3  further  by  individual  region.
Achievement rates of Pūhoro ākonga in STEM standards are compared to achievement rates of
ākonga Māori within partner schools.

Figures 5 & 6: Cumulative Attainment for Numeracy and Cumulative Attainment for Literacy:
These  ﬁgures  show  how  Pūhoro  students  progressively  attain  NCEA  Numeracy  and  Literacy
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respectively, from Year 11 to Year 13.

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Figure 1: 2024 NCEA Certiﬁcate and UE Attainment Rates

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
āori
oro
ther
āori
oro
ther
āori
oro
ther
āori
oro
ther
M
M
M
M
Pūh
O
Pūh
O
Pūh
O
Pūh
O
NCEA Level 1
NCEA Level 2
NCEA Level 3
University
Entrance

Analysis Points for Figure 1:

  NCEA  Certiﬁcate  attainment  across  Levels  1-3  showed  that  Pūhoro  ākonga  not  only
achieved  a  higher  pass  rate  than  that  of  Māori  nationally,  but  exceeded  the  national
achievement  pass  rates  for  non-Māori  also at  Level  2  and  Level  3  NCEA  attainment.
Compared to results presented in 2023, the 2024 results show an increase in NCEA Level
2 attainment, Level 3 attainment and an increase in University Entrance rates for Pūhoro
ākonga respectively.

  University  Entrance  (UE)  data  showed  that  Pūhoro  students  achieved  a  signiﬁcantly
higher attainment rate than that of Māori nationally, and the Pūhoro UE attainment level
is on par with the national non-Māori UE attainment rate (both at 45%). 1

  This ﬁgure aligns with the Ministerial priority of Stronger Learning Support. Our network
of specialist provision for  Pūhoro ākonga  builds  on consistent support throughout the
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academic year. It builds on a relational approach between Pūhoro ākonga and Kaihautū
and  STEM  tutors  we  provide  in  partner  schools  which  through  our  model  of  delivery,
strengthens  learning  provision  within  the  classroom  and  enables  Pūhoro  ākonga  to
succeed academically.

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1 Addi onal data is being obtained from NZQA to iden fy the reasons University Entrance has not been
obtained for students who a ained Level 3.

3

Figure 2: NCEA Certiﬁcate and UE Attainment for Pūhoro Ākonga 2022-2024 Cohort

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Māori Pūhoro Other Māori Pūhoro Other Māori Pūhoro Other
NCEA Level 2
NCEA Level 3
University Entrance

Analysis Points for Figure 2:

  This ﬁgure shows NCEA attainment rates across Levels 2 and 3, and University Entrance
attainment for our latest Year 13 cohort.  Level 1 attainment is excluded as “NZQA is now
reporting Level 1 data based on the population of Year 11 students participating in a full
Level 1 assessment programme of at least 80 credits at Level 1 or above (this includes
credits achieved  in prior years), rather  than all  Year  11 students enrol ed in secondary
schools.” 2

  Our most recent Pūhoro cohort achieved their NCEA Level 2 at a signiﬁcantly higher rate
than both Māori and non-Māori national y.

  Level 3  and University Entrance attainment  rates were  also signiﬁcantly higher for  the
most recent cohort when compared with Māori in our partner schools.

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  Pūhoro ākonga who attain Level 3 are more likely to get University Entrance than Māori in
our partner schools.  While the percentage of ākonga missing University Entrance drops
from 29% to 25% for ākonga on the Pūhoro programme, this presents an opportunity for
Pūhoro to further support ākonga to get both University Entrance and Level 3.  Additional
data  has  been  requested  from  NZQA  to  better  understand  which  requirements  for
University Entrance were not met to identify opportunities for additional tutoring and/or
advocacy  in  subject  selection.  This  approach  is  further  supported  by  the  Ministerial
priority of Greater Use of Data, to inform critical decision-making around additional foci
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and support needed for ākonga in the programme.

2 h ps://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/news/ﬁnalised-2024-ncea-and-university-entrance-a ainment-data-
now-available/

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Figure  3:  2024  NCEA  STEM  Standard  Achievement  in  Pūhoro  Partner  Schools
(Overall)

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Māori (Partner
Pūhoro
School)

Analysis Points for Figure 3:

  Pūhoro ākonga achieved NCEA STEM standards at a higher rate than other Māori ākonga
within the same schools.

  This increase (6.3%) is up signiﬁcantly from the 2023 (3.6%) as previously reported.

  Pūhoro is committed not only to increasing both Māori success in STEM subjects but also
participation through encouraging ākonga to choose STEM subjects that align with their
long-term study and career aspirations.

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Figure  4:  2024  NCEA  STEM  Standard  Achievement  in  Pūhoro  Partner  Schools  by
Region

Māori (Partner School)
Pūhoro
Māori (Partner School Avg.)
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

Analysis Points for Figure 4:

  When viewed at an individual regional level, Pūhoro students consistently achieved NCEA
STEM standards at a higher rate than other Māori ākonga within the same schools.

  Furthermore,  Pūhoro  ākonga  achieved  STEM  standards  at  a  rate  above  the  national
average for Māori in our partner schools in all regions apart from Ruapehu.

  Our analysis here aligns strongly with the Ministerial Priority of Greater Use of Data. Here
in Pūhoro our data ensures we are making evidence-based decisions to further uplift and
support ākonga in their achievement and success. Pūhoro grounds its model in being able
to support ākonga academically and furthermore to enable their pathway in STEMM and
extend their line of sight towards STEMM careers in the future.
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Figure 5: Cumulative Attainment for Numeracy

100%
80%
60%
ative Rate
ul 40%
Pūhoro
um
Māori
C 20%
0%
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13
Year Level Achieved

Figure 6: Cumulative Attainment for Literacy

100%
80%
60%
ulative Rate 40%
Pūhoro
um
Māori
C 20%
0%
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Year 11
Year 12
Year 13
Year Level Achieved

Analysis Points for Figures 5 and 6:

  Pūhoro attainment rates for Numeracy and Literacy far exceed those for Māori nationally.

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  This  ﬁgure  aligns  with  the  Ministerial  priority  of  a  Better  Approach  to  literacy  and
Numeracy.  Pūhoro  ākonga  who  stay  in  the  programme  wil   almost  certainly  attain
Literacy and Numeracy.

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Pūhoro STEMM Academy Programme Delivery Activities

Pūhoro kaihautū engage weekly with partner schools who are part of the Pūhoro STEMM Academy
across the country. Our engagement continues to focus on four key aspects of the model:

1.  Academic tutoring and support with Pūhoro ākonga STEM standards
2.  Mentoring, pastoral support and STEM career exposure
3.  Tuakiri (identity) focused in-person regional wānanga which bring together external STEM
organisations  and  Pūhoro  ākonga,  exposing  them  to  mātauranga  Māori  and  di erent
pathways  and  opportunities in STEM such as genomics,  health  sciences,  engineering,
technology, and mathematics to name a few.
4.  Transition support into higher education.

The fol owing schools have partnered with the Pūhoro STEMM Academy and beneﬁt from weekly
delivery of the Pūhoro programme model, Pūhoro will continue to expand into more schools by
the end of 2025. Our current partner schools and associated regions are as follows:

Pūhoro STEMM Academy Assigned Regions and Pūhoro STEMM Academy Partner Schools
Region
School
Te Tai Tokerau
Bay of Islands College
Dargaville High School
Kamo High School
Tikipunga High School
Whangārei Boys' High School
Whangārei Girls’ High School
Tāmaki Herenga
Auckland Girls' Grammar School
Manawa (Central
Botany Downs Secondary College
Auckland)
Onehunga High School
Pakuranga Col ege
Selwyn College
Tāmaki College
Western Springs College - Ngā Puna o Waiōrea
Tāmaki  Herenga  Waka  Alfriston College
(South Auckland)
Manurewa High School
Onewhero Area School
Papakura High School
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Pukekohe High School
Rosehill College
Tangaroa College
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Māngere
Tuakau College
Waiuku College
Waikato
Cambridge High School
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Fraser High School
Hillcrest High School
Huntly College
Ngā Taiātea Wharekura
Ōtorohanga College
Tai Wānanga

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Pūhoro STEMM Academy Assigned Regions and Pūhoro STEMM Academy Partner Schools
Region
School
Te Kauwhata College
Te Kōpuku High
Te Wharekura o Maniapoto
Rotorua
John Paul College
Western Heights High School
Rotorua Girls' High School
Rotorua Boys' High School
Rotorua Lakes High School
Trident High School
Tauranga (February
Katikati College
2025)
Mount Maunganui Col ege
Ōtūmoetai College
Tauranga Girls' College
Te Puke High School
Taranaki (July 2025)
New Plymouth Boys' High School
New Plymouth Girls' High School
Stratford High School
Te Paepae o Aotea
Waitara High School
Hawke’s Bay
Hastings Boys' High School
Hastings Girls' High School
Karamū High School
Napier Boys' High School
Napier Girls' High School
Sacred Heart College Napier
Taradale High School
TKKM o Ngāti Kahungunu o Te Wairoa
TKKM o Te Ara Hou
Wairoa College
Ruapehu
Ruapehu College
Taihape Area School
Whanganui
Cullinane Col ege
Te Kura o Kokohuia
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TKKM o Tūpoho
Whanganui City College
Whanganui Girls' College
Whanganui High School
Manawatū
Awatapu College
Dannevirke High School
Feilding High School
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Hato Pāora College
Mana Tamariki
Manukura
Palmerston North Boys' High School
Palmerston North Girls' High School
Queen Elizabeth College

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Pūhoro STEMM Academy Assigned Regions and Pūhoro STEMM Academy Partner Schools
Region
School
St Peter's College
Tararua College
Te Kura ā Iwi o Ngāti Kauwhata
Tū Toa (Tai Wānanga)
Horowhenua
Horowhenua College
Manawatū College
Waiopehu College
Kāpiti
Kāpiti College
Ōtaki College
Christchurch
Avonside Girls' High School
Burnside High School
Cashmere High School
Christchurch Girls' High School - Te Kura o Hine Waiora
Kaiapoi High School
Riccarton High School
Rolleston College
Shirley Boys' High School - Ngā Tama o Ōruapaeroa
TOTAL
93 in 2025 (87 in 2024)

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Pūhoro Programme Enrolment Numbers
Pūhoro STEMM Academy Programme Phase
December
July 2025
2024
Pūhoro STEMM Academy Secondary Programme
2,015
2,400
Pūhoro STEMM Academy Post Secondary Programme
830
1,290
Total
2,845
3,690

School Engagement Data for 2024/25
Pūhoro STEMM Academy ākonga Engagement Type
Number
Kaihautū sessions – mentoring, tuakiri and 21C skill development
2,487
Academic STEM Standard Tutorials – academic support for NCEA STEM
1,640
subjects (Levels 1-3)
STEMM workshops – exposure to STEMM industry partners and
210
career/tertiary pathways through hands-on activities at termly Wānanga

Pūhoro has delivered an unprecedented volume of Kaihautū sessions and Academic STEM
Standard Tutorials to Pūhoro ākonga within partner schools. We also continue to augment the
number of STEMM workshops to expose rangatahi to the many di erent pathways in STEMM. Our
important work is making a di erence within schools and for Pūhoro ākonga. The Pūhoro model
is positioned to support ākonga, schools, kura kaupapa, and whānau, as well as by extension,
regional communities of Māori learners.

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Regional Growth – Tauranga and Taranaki

Pūhoro is pleased to advise that as per our agreed regional expansion and growth, we have as
planned now expanded to two additional regions in 2025 of Tauranga and Taranaki. This brings
our regional expansion to 14 regions in total namely:

1.  Te Tai Tokerau
2.  Auckland Central
3.  Auckland South
4.  Waikato
5.  Rotorua
6.  Ruapehu
7.  Whanganui
8.  Manawatū
9.  Kāpiti
10. Horowhenua
11. Hawke’s Bay
12. Christchurch
13. Tauranga (New February)
14. Taranaki (New July)

Expansions into new regions take a number of months of preparation, meetings, engaging interest
from  schools  (EOI’s),  shoring  up  potential  regional  partnerships  (to  support  on-going
sustainability), engaging iwi, recruitment of sta  and then movement towards a Pūhoro launch.
Furthermore, Pūhoro works hard to understand the current organisational landscape in the region
and ways to col aborate e ectively to further enable successful delivery of the model.

Tauranga Expansion - Pūhoro successful y launched the programme with a launch event on the
Toi Ohomai campus in Tauranga on 27th March 2025. The event was attended by ﬁve Tauranga
schools who had demonstrated interest in joining the programme and, schools and Pūhoro sta
were welcomed onto the Toi Ohomai campus by local mana whenua. Pūhoro is now delivering
the programme to these schools in Tauranga and more schools have shown interest in joining the
kaupapa.

Taranaki  Expansion  -  Pūhoro  has  been  working  extensively  once  Tauranga  expansion  was
complete, on e ective expansion of the programme in Taranaki. Pūhoro has collaborated with
Why Ora which is  a health  career focused charitable trust working exclusively  in the  Taranaki
region  and  has  pre-existing  relationships  in  Taranaki  schools.  Pūhoro  by  e ectively  working
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together  with  Why  Ora,  has  been  introduced  to  the  schools  in  the  region  and  has  now
commenced delivery into the Taranaki region. We wil  be holding an o icial launch event on Friday
25th July at Owae Marae in Waitara. Additional schools have also expressed their interest in joining
the Pūhoro programme. As we establish ourselves in the region more ful y, we will onboard more
schools in due course.

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Pūhoro  ākonga  and  Economic  Outcomes  –  Social  Cost  Beneﬁt  Analysis  (Treasury
Modelling)

Pūhoro continues to show strong evidence of impact through measurement indicators that have
been completed through social cost beneﬁt analyses and the measuring of economic beneﬁt
analyses.  Pūhoro  has  completed  successfully  ﬁve  Economic  Impact,  Impact  Evaluation,  and
Social  Cost  Beneﬁt  Analysis  reports  (most  recent  in  2024)  which  have  been  shared  with  the
Ministry of Education. Pūhoro wil  be undertaking a new report in 2025 and is currently exploring
this with Impact Lab for 2025.
Our  December  2025  report  undertaken  by  Matatihi  Ltd  underscores  this  in  the  following
statements:
As a young and growing  population, the  future of New Zealand  lies  in Māori,  particularly
rangatahi,  and  their  ability  to  gain  and  retain  quality  employment  and  business
opportunities.
The Pūhoro STEMM Academy partners with numerous secondary schools to operate a STEMM
(science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and Mātauranga) Academy to increase Māori
student engagement in  STEMM  programmes. Pūhoro  supports  students in  secondary schools
and  tertiary  education  to  prepare  their  Māori  science  students  for  employment  and  higher
education.  The  Academy  has  had  signiﬁcant  success  in  improving  Māori  educational
performance rates.
Following three prior reports from 2018, 2019 and 2021, this latest report presents a thorough
economic  analysis  highlighting  the  Pūhoro  Academy's  substantial  economic  advantages  to
students, the national economy, and wider society.
The Pūhoro Academy is working to improve Māori students' National Certiﬁcate of Educational
Achievement (NCEA) pass rates, thus contributing to their educational and economic prospects.
A cost-beneﬁt analysis (CBA) reveals that the Academy's high school and university programs
cover their costs by factors ranging from 3.1 to 80.8 times, respectively. In other words, for every
dol ar investment, $3.10 is generated within the high school programme, and $80.8 is generated
within the tertiary programme. In what we consider the most robust scenario; the net present
value of the Pūhoro STEMM Academy is $3,583 per high school student and $398,012 per tertiary
student. These ﬁgures represent net beneﬁts of over $2.6 million for the high school program and
$120 million for the tertiary program, marking an improvement from the 10:1 CBA ratio found in
our 2019 analysis.
The net present value of the Pūhoro STEMM Academy exceeds $122m.
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The Pūhoro Academy's impact extends beyond individual economic gains, stimulating regional
economies with over $5 million in added value annually and supporting 5.7 full-time equivalent
positions outside its direct operations. The Academy's inﬂuence extends through communities,
enhancing  family  wellbeing,  increasing  job  satisfaction,  promoting  healthier  lifestyles,  and
fostering greater civic participation among its graduates.
Moreover,  the  Academy  plays  an  important  role  in  addressing  contemporary
challenges,  such  as  homeownership,  by  equipping  students  with  the  skills  and
qualiﬁcations
Released   necessary to improve their life prospects. The analysis underscores the
Pūhoro  Academy's  e ectiveness  in  providing  immediate  educational  beneﬁts  and
driving long-term economic and social improvements across New Zealand, thereby
a irming its value as a valuable educational intervention.
Social Cost Beneﬁt Analysis – Economic Impacts of the Pūhoro STEMM Academy
December 2024 – Matatihi Ltd

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Pūhoro Awards of recognition (2024-25)

The fol owing awards have been presented to Pūhoro in 2024-25. They recognise our community
engagement and impact in STEM.

Hapori  Matihiko  –  Rangatiratanga  Award  (2025)  -  Pūhoro  was  recently  awarded  the
Rangatiratanga  Award  at  Hapori  Matihiko  Māori  Tech  Awards.  The  award  recognised  Arahi
Hippolite’s  work  in  the  Pūhoro  STEMM  Academy  to  further  educate,  uplift  and  inspire  our
rangatahi in the digital and technology space.

Community Initiative of the Year Award (2024)
Through our partnership with Genesis Energy, Pūhoro was recognised as part of the collective to
receive the Community Initiative of the Year Award at the New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards
ceremony in August.

Pūhoro previous Awards of recognition (2022)

The fol owing awards have been presented to Pūhoro in 2022. Further recognising the important
work and impact of the Pūhoro STEMM Academy

Ngā Āhuatanga o te Tiriti Award (2022)
This award recognises an organisation that demonstrates initiatives that embrace Te Tiriti and
contribute to stronger and more robust partnerships and relationships with whānau, hapū and
iwi.

Diversity Works supreme award winner (2022)
This award recognised Pūhoro for their commitment to te ao Māori, tikanga and core Māori values
to support  its  people  and learners,  and  address the  disproportionate  under-representation of
Māori in the STEM workforce.

International Engineering and Technology Award (2022)
This  award  recognised  Pūhoro  for  the  most  forward-thinking  Equality,  Diversity  and  Inclusion
Programme in Engineering and Tech. The award celebrates innovation across the global sector.

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