Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91769 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard asks you to connect astronomical facts and science to an important star in Māori culture and traditions. You need to explain what that star meant to Māori people and show how scientific observations and measurements relate to Māori knowledge and practices about that star.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91769?

Accepted Answer

1. Choose a star that is culturally significant to Māori (such as Matariki, Sirius, or Orion) and research what it represented and how it was used by Māori 2. Describe the physical properties of the star using astronomy (colour, brightness, distance, size, energy, temperature) 3. Identify the scientific measurements and methods used to observe and study the star 4. Compare and contrast what Māori knowledge tells us about the star with what science tells us—including similarities, differences, benefits, and limitations of each approach 5. Explain the real-world impacts of this knowledge on Māori community, family, culture, language, health, the environment, the economy, or science itself

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91769?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You identify a culturally significant Māori star, describe its astronomical properties, and make a simple connection between what Māori knew about it and what science knows. Merit: You compare Māori knowledge and scientific knowledge about the star, noting both what's similar and what's different, and explain why both ways of understanding matter. Excellence: You analyse the real impacts and benefits of combining both knowledge systems—showing how Māori astronomical practice and scientific data have helped communities, health, or survival, and reflect on the values and limitations of each approach.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91769?

Accepted Answer

1. Treating Māori knowledge and scientific knowledge as separate or opposite, rather than showing how they can work together or complement each other 2. Describing the star's science but forgetting to connect it to what Māori people actually did or believed—making the Māori knowledge feel added-on rather than integral 3. Missing the real-world impact part—explaining what the star meant and what science says, but not discussing how this knowledge actually affected Māori life, health, timekeeping, navigation, or wellbeing

Astronomy and Māori stars

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