Awardee: Deborah Heke (Nga Puhi. Te Arawa), Unitec
Funding from this Grant will contribute to activities that support the dissemination, engagement, and impact of research and creative outputs, specifically: the creation and development of a prototype augmented reality (AR) experience exhibition that shares Māori research and narratives through immersive digital storytelling.
Ngā Pou Māreikura – Virtual pillars as building blocks for engagement is a project that aims to develop a digital engagement and dissemination tool to support Māori wellbeing and belonging through immersive technology. Building on the success of an earlier interactive in-person exhibition, this project will create an Augmented Reality (AR) prototype that allows users to engage with five pou (pillars) representing key values and pūrākau (stories) of wāhine Māori and te taiao (the environment). The begins to explore how digital tools enhance engagement with mātauranga wahine and concepts wellbeing.
The project’s goal is to extend the reach of the original exhibition by enabling interaction through user’s mobile devices and XR (mixed-reality) headsets, especially where in-person experiences are not possible. It will also support real-time reflection and feedback using tools like Mentimeter.
This grant will enable the creation of a prototype AR experience, repurposing of existing video outputs to align with each pou, and initial development of a XR experience—laying the foundation for a broader digital platform. The project has the potential to transform how Māori knowledge is shared and experienced, supporting flourishing futures through creative, technological, and culturally grounded innovation.