Blackout Aotearoa
If the economy doesn’t serve people, it isn’t working.
Your Skills Can Make A Difference
Do you have practical skills, expert knowledge, or a passion you want to share? Every bit of wisdom matters in nurturing tamariki—helping them grow into confident, capable, and connected young people ready to thrive in our changing world.
Why Teaching Skills to Tamariki Matters
Education
Is the foundation of opportunity in Aotearoa, yet many tamariki face barriers that limit access to experiential, hands-on learning outside traditional classrooms.
Studies show
That children who engage in practical skills like gardening, arts, or crafts experience improved mental wellbeing, better focus, and stronger problem-solving abilities—skills essential for lifelong success.
According to recent data
Only around 30% of New Zealand households regularly grow some of their own food, highlighting a huge opportunity to teach sustainable gardening skills that build resilience, food security, and environmental stewardship.
The Power of Sharing Skills in Māori Culture
In te ao Māori, the practice of sharing knowledge and skills is deeply sacred and foundational. Manaakitanga (care and hospitality) and whanaungatanga (connectedness) guide how we pass wisdom from one generation to the next. Teaching tamariki is not just about skills—it’s about nurturing relationships, responsibility, and identity rooted in community and whenua (land).
By sharing your skills with tamariki, you actively participate in this age-old tradition of collective growth and healing, helping restore balance and wellbeing for our people and pāhaka (environment).
How Can You Get Involved?
Host a workshop or class (in-person or virtual)
Create short video tutorials to share on our socials
Volunteer your time for community projects
How Skill Sharing Helps Human Populations Evolve
From anthropological perspectives, the transmission of practical knowledge (from toolmaking to storytelling) has been key to human survival and cultural evolution for millennia. Every skill passed on enriches the pool of collective human ingenuity and resilience, enabling societies to adapt, innovate, and flourish.
Teaching today’s tamariki practical skills is an investment in the future adaptability and creativity of our communities, helping them face environmental, social, and economic challenges ahead.