Pakihi
Business and Entrepreneurship
Show the world you mean business
Tirohanga whānui
Business overview
Unlock your inner entrepreneur and develop practical business skills with our hands-on business programmes. Wherever you are in your small business journey, we can help you get to where you want to go.
Want Leadership & Management instead?
Ngā Hōtaka e Wātea Ana
Programmes available
Ngā kaupapa whakataki
Introductory programmes (5)
Levels 1-3
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Papa Whairawa
NZ Certificate in Personal Financial Capability
Open for applicationsLearn how to manage your money, set goals, and make confident financial decisions for your future.
- Level 2
- Home-based
- No fees
-
Certificate in Business
Administration and Technology
Open for applicationsLearn how to manage office systems, use business software confidently, and communicate effectively in professional settings.
- Level 3
- Classroom
- No fees
-
Mana Ora
Māori Business and Management
Open for applicationsMana Ora connects tikanga, te reo Māori, and Māori leadership principles with practical business knowledge.
- Level 3
- Home-based
- No fees
-
Smart Steps to Business
Classroom
Open for applicationsGet the skills to start your own business. Create a business plan and learn about marketing, finance, compliance, and technology.
- Level 3
- Classroom
- No fees
-
Smart Steps to Business
Online
Open for applicationsGet the skills to start your own business. Create a business plan and learn about marketing, finance, compliance, and technology.
- Level 3
- Online eLearning
- No fees
Ngā kaupapa takawaenga
Intermediate programmes (2)
Levels 4-6
-
Certificate in Small Business
Classroom
Open for applicationsLearn how to build and run a small business in this comprehensive programme. Create a business plan in this hands-on, practical course.
- Level 4
- Classroom
- No fees
-
Certificate in Small Business
Online
Open for applicationsLearn how to build and run a small business in this comprehensive programme. Create a business plan in this hands-on, practical course.
- Level 4
- Online eLearning
- No fees
Ngā kaupapa matatau
Advanced programmes (0)
Levels 7-9
No advanced programmes open for application for Pakihi.
Kaupapa anamata
Upcoming events
Pitopito kōrero o te wā
Latest news
A teacher’s path to understanding tikanga
Originally from South Africa, Franda Zondagh has called Aotearoa home since 2003, but it was through studying He Papa Tikanga with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that she began to feel a deeper connection to the place she lives and people she serves in her mahi.
Leading by example and learning te reo Māori
Liisa Wharepapa’s (Te Whānau ā Apanui) journey with te reo Māori wasn’t something that happened overnight, it was a goal waiting to be pursued until the moment she felt ready to take that step.
Returning home and reclaiming te reo Māori
After many years away building his professional career, Logan Bertram (Whakatōhea), returned home to Ōpōtiki with a clear goal of reconnecting with his whakapapa and creating a better future for his young whānau.
A teaching journey shaped by whānau
The journey to becoming a teacher was not a straight line for Nimai Fraser‑Eccleston, it was shaped by whānau, lived experience and his desire to create a meaningful life for his tamariki.
Governance grounded in te ao Māori
When the opportunity came up to study Manu Taiko, New Zealand Certificate in Māori Governance, at the Ngāmotu (New Plymouth) campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Paora Rauputu didn’t hesitate to enrol.
Flexible study supports Cromwell business owner
Based in Cromwell, Sam Taylor needed flexibility to balance work, study and build his business, and found exactly that through the online Certificate in Small Business at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Turning point inspires commitment to change, community, and career
In 2024, Bryce Marsh faced a major turning point in life that led to him studying Manaaki Tangata at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, setting him on a path of healing, self-discovery and a desire to give back to his community.
A whānau journey of learning at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Studying at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa wasn’t just a personal journey for Tania Dargaville (Te Rarawa). It became a whānau journey, shared alongside her sister and son, learning, growing and now graduating together.
Creating second chances for rangatahi
Kaimahi working in Youth Engagement Services at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa play a vital role in empowering rangatahi to discover who they are, build practical skills, and shape futures that feel right for them.
Wānanga study supports career shift into social services
When COVID-19 hit, it changed the direction of Dee Clark’s life. At the time, she was working in airport security as a behavior analyst, but the impacts of COVID-19 caused her role to change and so did her sense of purpose.
