Biology (Mātai koiora)

Ma te huruhuru, ka rere te manu
Adorn the bird with feathers so it can fly

The Greek prefix ‘bio’ means 'life’ and biology is the study of life. In te reo Māori, kaiora means life, hence our Maori name for Biology, mātai koiora; to inspect or look closely at life! 

Biology is an important subject. It connects us to the world we live in and reminds us of our interconnectedness with all other life forms. To understand the world, we must understand the relationships between ourselves and the environment in which we live and our role as guardians of the land, kaitiakitanga.

In our courses we provide opportunities for our students to learn about biology at the molecular level within cells, right up to the whole organism, including how humans have evolved and are adapted for survival. We look at a wide range of diverse ecosystems within our planet, including New Zealand’s unique fauna and flora.

The department provides a range of courses to help our students personalise their learning through a different balance of internal and external standards. Students are taught evidenced based cognitive science skills to help prepare for their external standards which is essential to pass Biology at level 3.

In reference to our whakatauki above, we provide the knowledge (the feathers) which underpins the many skills that Biology develops. We pride ourselves on engaging our students through a programme that is relevant, enjoyable and provides a rich understanding of the subject, empowering our students to fly!