Maunga Kura Toi - Bachelor of Māori Art - Visual Arts

Maunga Kura Toi - Rauangi has all the elements you’d want in a Māori arts degree.

Each module has a different focus designed to give you the skills and practice to become a confident toi artist. In the first year, you’ll start by analysing the techniques, processes and practices of toi Māori in different projects. As the degree progresses you’ll deepen your understanding and knowledge, exploring different artistic styles and creative processes while building strong technical skills.

Self-reflection, journalling and critiquing are important parts of this degree and will help you to examine your own values and beliefs, and other influential artists/events while deepening your understand of learning through Kaupapa Wānanga. You’ll also be required to complete research and writing tasks as part of the projects.

And while you’re honing your artistic skill set, you’ll improve your presentation skills and learn traditional Māori values, principles, tikanga and reo to support you as you take your art to a professional standard.

Graduates of our degree have gone on to become practising artists, curators, designers in various mediums, art teachers - just to name a few of the art themed careers that are possible.

When you pass this degree, you'll get this qualification:

• Maunga Kura Toi - Bachelor of Māori Art Level 7 (Rauangi)

• mātauranga Māori relating to rauangi
• Māori language and tikanga
• creative processes
• research, writing and presentation skills along with academic conventions
• reflective practice, how to analyse, critique and synthesise

This is a full-time programme that consists of 120 credits per year, for 3 years. Some of our locations offer different delivery modes. These will be confirmed by your local campus and might include:

Year 1*

Option 1 Face-to-face delivery

• kura whakaako - compulsory tutorials (10 hours per week)
• 1-day wānanga (10 hours)
• 1 x noho marae (25 hours per noho)

You'll also need to complete learning activities designed to enhance your learning for:

• approximately 22 hours per week

Option 2 Noho delivery

• 1 x kura whakaako - compulsory tutorials (4 hours per week)
• 1 x 1-day wānanga (10 hours)
• 10 x noho marae (25 hours per noho)

You'll also need to complete learning activities designed to enhance your learning for:

• approximately 22 hours per week.

Some of the learning activities will need to be completed online. You'll need to have access to an internet connected device for this programme.

*Year 2 and 3 commitment requirements will be discussed towards the completion of each year.

To be eligible for entry into the first year of this degree, potential students must:

• be at least 16 years of age
• be a New Zealand citizen or resident (or citizen of Australia, Tokelau, Niue or the Cook Islands)
• reside in New Zealand
• attend an interview
• provide evidence of your readiness to study at a degree level. This might be through:
  • Kāwai Raupapa - Certificate in Māori Visual Arts Level 4
  • NCEA Level 2
  • a Level 4 arts qualification of 120 credits
  • a creative portfolio and CV detailing your experience
  • graduates of Toi Paematua: Diploma in Māori and Indigenous Art (Level 5) can pathway directly into year two of the degree.

Apply to enrol into our master's programme, He Waka Hiringa - Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge or other graduate and postgraduate programmes.

I want to use my qualification

You'll be well equipped to be a practising artist or to work in:

• gallery or exhibition work - exhibition design, curatorial work, front of house
• teaching and arts facilitation
• work with whānau, hapū, iwi and hapori.

The 2025 fees for this programme are:

• Year 1: $5,604 GST inclusive
• Year 2: $5,332 GST inclusive
• Year 3: $5,580 GST inclusive

Are you eligible for fees-free study?

The Government has announced a final-year Fees Free policy starting from 1 January 2025.

If you are a first-time tertiary learner in 2025, you may be eligible for Fees Free support in your final year of study. You still need to arrange payment of programme fees to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Once you have completed your first qualification you may be able to claim the fees back from the IRD from 2026 onwards.

For more information about the final-year Fees Free policy, visit: feesfree.govt.nz.

Year One

Te Au Mahora: Papa Tikanga | 30 Credits

 This kōnae ako (module) will provide opportunities for tauira to analyse, select and apply techniques, processes and practices according to a kaupapa Māori context for the creation of a project.

Te Au Komiro: Traditional Knowledge and Practice | 30 Credits

 This kōnae ako provides tauira with the opportunity to analyse, select and apply traditional knowledge, techniques and practices for a chosen kaupapa toi. Use of media skills to enhance techniques, processes and practices for a project will be explored. 

Te Au i Tuia: Creative Development | 30 Credits

 This kōnae ako combines creative practice and process to build technical experience, capability and skills of analysis through the production of a project.

Te Au i Kura: Toi Appreciation and Practice | 30 Credits

This kōnae ako provides an opportunity for tauira to broaden their appreciation, knowledge and practice of a chosen kaupapa toi. They will examine their own values and beliefs, and influential artists and/or events that have impacted their kaupapa toi, while deepening their understanding of Kaupapa Wānanga in practice.