Mātauranga Māori constitutes concepts and principles that are richly detailed, complex, and fundamental to Māoridom. It is important to remember that the practice of these are wider and more varied than their use within the proposed NCEA Achievement Standards and supporting documentation.

We also recognise that the cultures, languages, and identities of the Pacific Islands are diverse, varied, and unique. Therefore the Pacific concepts, contexts, and principles that have been incorporated within NCEA Achievement Standards may have wide-ranging understandings and applications across and within the diversity of Pacific communities. It is not our intention to define what these concepts mean but rather offer some ways that they could be understood and applied within different subjects that kaiako and students alike can explore.

The intent of the Standard

The purpose of this Achievement Standard is for ākonga to show their understanding of how soils are managed in the growing environment of a primary production system.

This Standard assesses the following item of Significant Learning:

• explore the interrelationship between primary production and soil properties.

Primary producers are stewards of the soil. The manner in which they nurture their soils will improve health and productivity. An understanding of soil as a living entity, with interrelated microorganisms as important soil components, is a basis of good understanding of soil health.

Primary producers understand that the viability and sustainability of primary production systems rely heavily on the quality, health, and maintenance of soil. Soil quality can be modified in a variety of ways for different purposes.

Ākonga must show understanding of a Māori concept in the context of soil properties that are managed in a primary production system. Examples include tūhononga, manaakitanga, and tiakitanga.

Demonstrating knowledge of tūhononga may be showing understanding that plants and animals are connected to the environment, which includes people and the land. Demonstrating knowledge of manaakitanga or reciprocity may be showing an understanding of how nurturing of the land, will provide sustenance, health and wellbeing for the people, plants, and animals. Demonstrating knowledge of tiakitanga may be showing understanding of how caring for and protecting people, the land, and the environs enable intergenerational sustainability.

At Level 1, the focus is on local production systems such as a family or community garden, marae, small holding, or local farm, but production may include commercial systems.

Making reliable judgements

For this Standard, ākonga will have had opportunity to investigate soil modification in a primary production system throughout the teaching and learning programme.

With a focus on local soils, ākonga will identify two specific properties, from either composition and structure, drainage and aeration, temperature, nutrient retention, soil pH, decomposition, and disease status.

Ākonga will select a manner to describe how soil properties are modified and how soil management is carried out, but a stepwise method is not required. They will be able to link the modification of soil properties to soil management practice.

At higher levels of achievement, ākonga are able to evaluate how soil properties have been modified using soil management practice to optimise production. Ākonga may compare and contrast, or evaluate a strength and a weakness of soil management practice. The evaluation may show that soil modification will improve production, but potentially at a cost.

As this subject is multidisciplinary, ākonga will be able to transfer knowledge, understanding, and skills to and from other subject areas.

Collecting evidence

Throughout the year, ākonga will have had the opportunity to investigate how soil properties are modified using soil management practice within primary production. The teaching and learning will provide opportunities for engagement in local soil composition and structure, drainage and aeration, temperature, nutrient retention, soil pH, decomposition, and disease status. Ākonga will be assessed on knowledge of their local soils in the examination. Refer to the External Assessment Specifications for further information.

Possible contexts

Kaiako may provide ākonga with a local primary production system as a context of study, or ākonga could select this themselves.

Ākonga will be able to develop practical skills and participate in hands-on experiences alongside this Assessment Activity but will not be directly assessed on their practical expertise.

Standard Exclusions

This Standard has exclusion(s). Standards that recognise the same or similar learning outcomes as other Achievement or Unit Standards need to be excluded to prevent 'double dipping'. Where two or more Standards assess the same learning outcome, those Standards are specified in the Exclusions List. You can only use credits gained from one of these Standards towards your NCEA qualification.

Click here for the exclusions list for the new NCEA Level 1 pilot Standards.