Growing the Puna
What is Growing the Puna?
Growing the Puna is an internship programme for ākonga Māori enrolled in a degree or postgraduate level in hauora, sports, physical activity, or nutrition. It is aimed at those who are genuinely interested in growing their skill set, developing their skills, knowledge, and networks to contribute meaningfully to whānau, hapū, iwi and sectors in the realm of sport, nutrition, exercise, and physical activity.
The internships aim to provide opportunities for students to participate in the development of an innovative approach to physical activity and nutrition in a project that has reciprocal benefits to both the student and the health sector.
Growing the Puna grew out of the desire to fill an identified gap between students (who have a particular focus on physical activity and/or nutrition) and both Māori communities and the health sector. Additionally, conversations in communities highlighted the necessity to strengthen the connections between knowledge creators and knowledge users recognising that all three – communities, tertiary providers, and the health sector – play roles as both creators and users.
Growing the Puna Internship Applications Now Open
Toi Tangata is excited to open applications for the Growing the Puna internship programme. This is a 10-week internship for ākonga Māori who are passionate about advancing Māori health and wellbeing through kaupapa grounded in mātauranga Māori.
Toi Tangata has two winter internships available, each valued at $8,000, for ākonga currently enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate study in fields related to hauora, physical activity, sport, and/or nutrition. Interns will design and lead a small-scale research or case study project over the Winter period (July–September), with guidance and support from the Toi Tangata team.
This year we welcome applications across all four kaupapa streams:
- Kai Māori – exploring traditional food systems, whakapapa of kai, preparation practices, and Indigenous food & knowledge systems.
- Kori – focusing on culturally grounded movement practices, coaching, or physical activity frameworks and innovations for Māori.
- Tākaro – exploring tākaro Māori as a tool for connection, creativity, and wellbeing through pūrākau, whakapapa, and design.
- Rangahau – the pursuit of Māori excellence through research that is grounded and guided by a Kaupapa Māori approach.
To give ākonga an idea of the numerous kaupapa they could explore here are some of the past intern projects:
- Investigating the whakapapa and kai uses of tī kouka
- Creating a cultural coaching framework
- Designing and delivering tākaro as a primer for a CrossFit class
- Aligning maramataka with energy and kai intake for wāhine
- Creating and delivering a kori class based on whakapapa and pūrākau
As part of the application, ākonga will be asked to share their passions and propose a potential kaupapa they would like to explore. Whether it’s a research report, creative resource, or practical delivery, we’re looking for bold, kaupapa-driven thinkers ready to grow the puna of Māori knowledge.
Applications Open: Monday 19 May 2025
Applications Close: Friday 13 June 2025 @ 5pm
For more information, contact Chelsea at chelsea@toitangata.co.nz.