Technology:  Hangarau

Designing solutions that make a real difference in the world is the driving force behind Technology at WHS. Students develop the knowledge and skills to design, create, and critically evaluate outcomes with intention, learning to think creatively, work through complexity, and develop solutions that are ethical, sustainable, and fit for purpose.
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Technological practice has been shaped by the values, cultures, and needs of the societies that create and use it. Students learn that people from many times, places, and traditions have contributed to how we design and make things, and that diverse perspectives, including te ao Māori, enrich how we understand the impact of technological outcomes.

​Year 9 and 10

Years 11 to 13
In Year 9, students develop an understanding of how to design and create functional outcomes. They apply established knowledge to develop solutions that meet authentic needs, integrating digital, mechanical, and electronic components as appropriate to their context.

Students test ideas, communicate their thinking, and bring concepts to life. They apply ethical and sustainable practices throughout the design process, and plan and evaluate their work with growing confidence and rigour.

In Year 10, students work with increasing complexity, engaging in research, prototyping, and refinement to develop outcomes for authentic contexts. They apply disciplinary knowledge with confidence, experiment with ideas, and begin to shape their identities as designers and creators.
Students take increasing ownership of the design process, developing outcomes that are purposeful. They think critically about the impact of their work, considering how their technological decisions affect people, communities, and environments both now and in the future.
Students deepen their technological knowledge and practice and begin to specialise. Building on earlier learning, they may study Processing Technologies (Resistant Materials or Food), Digital Technologies, or Spatial and Product Design.

They engage with increasingly complex design challenges, conduct in-depth investigations, and apply specialist knowledge to develop sophisticated and considered outcomes. Students refine their ability to evaluate their own practice critically and respond to the needs of users, communities, and environments with skill and purpose.

These skills and experiences support pathways into tertiary study and careers in engineering, architecture, software development, product design, and the trades.
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The work our students design and make has the power to shape the experiences and futures of the people and communities around them. We want them to embrace that responsibility as inventive, ethical, and forward-thinking creators.

2027 Course Information

Curriculum and Course Option Updates for 2027
Please note that due to changes in the New Zealand curriculum and senior qualifications system, the course information currently on our website is no longer applicable for Year 9 and 10 students enrolling in 2027. We are in the process of updating our course options to reflect these changes.

Updated information about new course options and future pathways will be published on our website later this term. 

For students going into Year 11-13 in 2027, please view our Learning Area overview and Course Options below.