Te Ao Māori Foundation

Are you interested in Māori culture, language, and art? Our new programme will give you an introduction to the Māori worldview through a range of theoretical and practical activities.

Explore the origins of te ao Māori through pūrākau (Māori stories) and express yourself creatively through the creation of toi (Māori art). Learn basic pronunciation, common greetings and how to introduce yourself.

This introductory programme will give you a great insight into the Māori world. From there you’ll be able to progress into a specialised focus area.

When you pass this programme, you’ll get this qualification:

• New Zealand Certificate in Te Ao Māori Foundation Level 3

• te reo Māori (Māori language)
• tikanga (Māori customs and protocols)
• toi Māori (art)

• Contribute to hapū, iwi and/or Aotearoa communities through an understanding of te reo Māori, tikanga and toi
• Demonstrate the significance of reo Māori, tikanga and toi in te ao Māori
• Demonstrate introductory skills and knowledge in the practice of te reo Māori, tikanga and toi
• Demonstrate knowledge of the interrelationship of te reo Māori, tikanga and toi through pūrākau
• Apply a range of skills and knowledge to demonstrate a basic understanding of te reo Māori, tikanga and toi, and its significance to identity, te ao Māori and Aotearoa communities

This is a full-time programme that consists of 60 credits over 20 weeks. You will be required to attend 240 hours (an average of 12 hours per week) that may be made up of:

• noho
• 1-day wānanga
• kura whakaako (tutorial)

In addition to these attendance hours, you'll be expected to complete activities to enhance your learning for approximately:

• 20 hours per week

Some learning activities will need to be completed online. You'll need to have access to an internet-connected device to participate in this programme. 

To enrol in this programme, a potential student must:

• be at least 16 years of age
• be a New Zealand citizen (or citizen of Australia, Tokelau, Niue, Cook Islands) or permanent resident
• reside in New Zealand

I want to keep studying

Continue into a specific field of study in tikanga, te reo or toi. Or you might want to enrol on another of our programmes in business, health and wellbeing or social work.

I want to use my qualification

This knowledge will be an advantage when working with Māori and cultural organisations.  

Kōnae 1: Te Whakaaro | 15 credits

The aim of this kōnae ako is to introduce tauira (students) to te ao Māori through creation traditions that demonstrate the origins of te reo Māori, tikanga and toi. Through learning these stories, tauira will be able to describe whakapapa (connections) and begin to understand how it is linked to Māori identity.

Kōnae 2: Te Mahara | 15 credits

The aim of this kōnae ako is to introduce tauira to pūrākau (Māori stories) so that they understand their importance to te ao Māori. Tauira will begin to understand how te reo Māori, tikanga and toi are applied in pūrākau and the significance of pūrākau to te ao Māori and Aotearoa.

Kōnae 3: Te Whē | 15 credits

The aim of this kōnae ako is to demonstrate knowledge of the importance of te reo Māori, tikanga and toi in te ao Māori. Through pūrākau, tauira will understand the significance of these foundational concepts as a value system in te ao Māori in both a historical and contemporary context.

Kōnae 4: Te Reo | 15 credits

The aim of this kōnae ako is for tauira to make a contribution to a community in Aotearoa utilising basic knowledge of te reo Māori, tikanga and/or toi. They will bring together creation traditions, whakapapa, identity, pūrākau and a values system to contribute positively to the context of a community in Aotearoa, thereby increasing knowledge of foundational concepts of te ao Māori within Aotearoa.