Tangata tākaro, tangata oranga ngākau; Weaving People and Play: Gamified Digital Assessment for Māori and Diverse Learners in Vocational Education

In an era of constant change, vocational providers must deliver assessment experiences that are both engaging and future‑focused. This session showcases Sub‑Project B of Fruition Horticulture’s Digitalisation Project—Gamified Assessment for Māori, by Māori—which reimagines assessment as an interactive digital journey grounded in indigenous pedagogy. The project replaces static worksheets with scenario‑based challenges, quests, and micro‑credentials set in a virtual Hawke’s Bay orchard. Learners earn points, unlock badges, and progress through storylines that integrate literacy, numeracy, and horticultural skills. The design framework is anchored in whanaungatanga (relationships), manaakitanga (care), and kaitiakitanga (guardianship) to ensure cultural relevance and real‑world transfer.