The annual ‘Hour of Code’ event will have a distinctly Kiwi flavour this year with new Minecraft tutorials on the popular Code.org website being made available in Te Reo Māori for the first time.

New Zealand students will join with 1,000s of others around the world this week as they jump into the world of computer coding through the annual campaign that will kick off Computer Science Education Week, 5-11 December. More than 30 million young people worldwide used the Code.org tutorials to learn computer science basics last year, and it is expected that this number will increase again in 2016.

For this year’s campaign, Microsoft New Zealand has partnered with technology education group OMGTech!, who sought assistance from professional learning and development organisation CORE Education to translate the Minecraft coding sessions into Te Reo Māori.

Anne Taylor, Schools Manager for Microsoft New Zealand, says that Microsoft hopes to support expanding the translation effort though the code.org crowd sourced translation service, so that eventually all the tutorials on Code.org will be available in Te Reo.

“It is more vital now than ever for Kiwi students of all backgrounds to start learning computer science skills early in their lives. Technology is an increasingly integral part of people’s daily lives and as we know, New Zealand has an ongoing shortage of people with computer science skills,” she said.

“This year will introduce new designer tutorials based on the popular Minecraft game to Code.org, which allows students to learn the basics of coding within the fun and familiar world of Minecraft. Designed for anyone above the age of six, the tutorials allow players to take complete control of a game and create their own rules and characters, stimulating creativity whilst learning.

“The Hour of Code teaches kids the basics of coding, and how to use digital skills to help create, innovate and solve problems, and it is critical for the next generation of students of be equipped with these skills for future jobs, regardless of the industry.”

Students, educators and parents are encouraged to take part in the Minecraft tutorial at code.org/minecraft. Prior experience of coding, Minecraft or any software development is not necessary.

For more information on how you can get involved in the Hour of Code as part of Computer Science Education Week, go to code.org/learn