Toi Paematua - Diploma in Māori & Indigenous Art - Weaving

Advance your weaving skills with further exploration into the techniques, tikanga and practices of Ngā Mahi ā te Whare Pora - Weaving.

Learn to harvest and protect harakeke, reflect on your creative processes and practices, and work on a number of projects - both individually and collectively. Depending on your location you might have the option of studying mahi raranga, whatu, tāniko, tukutuku or working with different fibres.

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

• New Zealand Diploma in Ngā Toi Level 5 (Ngā Mahi ā te Whare Pora)

• media practices
• creative processes - ways to make work
• time and project management
• values and beliefs
• other toi practitioners
• rangahau and research
• history, tikanga and cultural practices relating to toi

• apply practical, technical, and theoretical skills and knowledge in area of specialty to inform Ngā Toi development
• analyse standard and non-standard processes of creative evolution and variation, and applyNgā Toi practice
• apply a range of technical skills and knowledge through self-reflection and collaboration
• create and complete a body of work
• assist in the management and/or support the leadership of a Ngā Toi project

This qualification is intended for practitioners seeking to broaden their practical, technical and theoretical knowledge, consistent with tikanga and reo in Ngā mahi ā te Whare Pora.

Graduates of this qualification will contribute to New Zealand as self-managing practitioners of Ngā Toi within defined contexts able to complete projects, and assist in the management, leadership, and kaitiakitanga of Ngā Toi.

This is a full-time programme that consists of 120 credits delivered over 38 weeks. Throughout the programme you'll need to attend:

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

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

• 22 hours per week

As some of the learning activities will need to be completed online, you’ll need to have access to an internet-connected device.

To enrol in this programme, a potential student 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
• have successfully completed Kāwai Raupapa Level 4, or an equivalent Level 4 Ngā Toi qualification of at least 120 credits, or a portfolio showing evidence of equivalent experience
• attend an interview and selection process to demonstrate suitability to the programme

I want to keep studying

After completing this programme you'll be ready to enrol in our bachelor's degree, Maunga Kura Toi - Bachelor of Māori Art (Raranga). If you're interested in teaching, you can apply to study He Korowai Ākonga - Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching).

I want to use my qualification

With skills at this level you could be a practising artist, work in community arts, or support whānau, iwi or marae projects.

Completion of Toi Paematua is a pathway into year 2 of Maunga Kura Toi (Raranga).

The 2026 fees for this programme are:

• $700 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.

Toi Awe - Creative Process | 30 Credits

Apply broad knowledge, practical and conceptual skills in the production of creative work. 

Toi Iro - Exploration | 30 Credits

Analyse own and others’ artistic evolution and variation, applying insights to creative work.

Toi Raupapa - Organisation | 30 Credits

Assist in the management, creation and completion of a toi project.

Toi Hanga - Creation | 30 Credits

Create and complete creative work.