The students helped Brett make three dishes.
Nine students from Te Kura o Wairau in Palmerston North got hands-on in the kitchen with MasterChef New Zealand winner Brett McGregor this week, as part of their involvement with Massey’s Wānanga Nohinohi Te Kunenga Children’s University programme.
The group made three dishes with Mr McGregor - smoked kahawai and kumara cakes, sapa sui (chop suey), and chocolate chip cookies. The session was held in the kitchen lab within Massey’s Food PILOT in the Riddet complex.
While taking the students through the step-by-step of how to make each dish, Mr McGregor quizzed them on what ingredients were called, highlighted steps to take to stay safe in the kitchen, and got the students to sample and describe the taste of certain ingredients.
After a dish was completed, the students sat down to eat, and a fair few ‘yums’ were heard. The visit will go towards an entry in the students’ learning passports.
The tutorial session was filmed, and will be made available on the Children’s University portal for participating schools and tamariki to view and to have a go at recreating the recipes at home.
Mr McGregor was the first ever winner of MasterChef New Zealand, and prior to his success on the show was a school principal. He has since released three cookbooks.
Programme coordinator Ruth Jackson says, "Connecting with our communities is really important for Massey, and that’s why we offer the Wānanga Nohinohi Te Kunenga Children’s University programme. We aim to inspire the next generation to find their passions and dream big. We were delighted that Brett was able to share his expertise and inspiration around food. The learning experience was enjoyed, not only by the children who attended, but also by children throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and the Indian Ocean through our Children’s University learning portal.”
Taste testing.
Background
Children’s University is a charity programme that supports and encourages young learners to participate in educational experiences outside the classroom. The programme identifies learning destinations where tamariki can explore, gain confidence, and develop a passion for learning. Massey is the only university in the North Island to offer the Children's University programme, which started in the United Kingdom in the 1990s.
To join the programme, tamariki apply through their participating school and once they’re enrolled, they receive their Passport to Learning. With their passports, tamariki can visit local learning destinations of their choice. Visits are recorded, and each entry is validated in their passports by the learning destinations.
They also get membership to an online portal with information about local destinations, along with a wealth of online activities for days they can’t get out and about. Once 30 hours or more are earned in their passports, tamariki receive a certificate at a graduation ceremony to celebrate their achievements. Massey Children’s University Wānanga Nohinohi Te Kunenga held its first graduation ceremony in December 2021.
More information about Children’s University is available here.
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