Toi Paematua - Diploma in Māori & Indigenous Art - Carving

Continue your artistic path with whakairo. Explore in more depth the skills, tikanga and practices of carving.

Our diploma-level Whakairo programme focuses on developing carvers who are responsible kaitiaki of their kaupapa toi, who understand how to apply appropriate tikanga and kawa to their practice. You'll learn about the origins, meaning and symbolism of patterns, the technical skills of whakairo, and complete different projects throughout the year.

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

• New Zealand Diploma in Ngā Toi Level 5 (Whakairo)

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

• apply technical, theoretical and operational skills and knowledge in area of specialty to inform art form development
• analyse standard and non-standard processes of artistic evolution and variation, and apply to art form practice in area of specialty
• apply a range of technical skills and knowledge to create solutions for a range of familiar and unfamiliar Ngā Toi problems in area of specialty
• create and complete a body of work within area of specialty
• assist in the management and/or support the leadership of a Ngā Toi project in area of specialty

This qualification is intended for practitioners seeking to broaden operational, technical and theoretical knowledge, consistent with tikanga and reo in Whakairo.

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. Some of our locations offer different delivery modes. These will be confirmed by your local campus and might include:

Option 1 Face to face delivery

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

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

• 22 hours per week

Option 2 Noho delivery

• 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

You’ll be able to apply to enrol on our whakairo degree programme Maunga Kura Toi - Bachelor of Māori Art (Whakairo). 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 can be a practising artist, work in community arts or support whānau, iwi and marae projects.

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

The 2026 fees for this programme are:

• $2,000 GST inclusive

Fees Free

Starting tertiary study or work-based learning for the first time? You may be able to get Fees Free after you complete your first eligible qualification or programme.

Fees Free covers the cost of your fees for the final year of study or final two years of work-based learning, up to $12,000.

When you enrol, you will need to pay your fees. To help you cover this cost, you may wish to apply for a student loan. Find out more at Student loan – StudyLink.

For more information on the eligibility requirements and when it is best to apply for Fees Free, visit Fees Free – Inland Revenue.

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 in a chosen Kaupapa Toi.