He Korowai Ākonga

Semester A:

• Weekly classes, Monday-Thursday, 13-14 hours per week

• 1 x noho (2-night stay)

• Practice-based learning (2 weeks full-time)

Semester B:

• Weekly classes, Monday-Thursday, 13-14 hours per week

• 1 x noho (2-night stay)

• 2 x 1-day wānanga

• Practice-based learning (3 weeks full-time)

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

Plan for around 22 hours of study in your own time each week.

Tasks and activities you’ll complete outside of class include: 

• Working through programme resources (such as workbooks, audio, video, or online activities) 

• Completing aromatawai (assessments) and required reading 

• Practising your new skills

• Doing research, reflection, or group study 

Keen to know how study fits around work and home? Our Enrolment Support and Study Experience section can help.

You’ll need to have access to a: 

• Computer or laptop 

• Reliable internet connection

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. 

Am I eligible?

To receive Fees Free, you must meet the eligibility criteria for the type of study or training you wish to enrol in. The course or programme you are enrolled in also needs to be eligible for Fees Free. Provider-based study refers to courses where you are studying on campus, or online.

Please pay your fees within 30 days of your programme's start date.

Our Student Support team can help with:

• Setting up a payment plan

• Budgeting support

• Applying for a student loan or allowance

Please reach out early – unpaid fees can affect your ability to continue studying or graduate.

Talk to us early if you're having difficulty. If your fees remain unpaid, recovery steps will be taken:

• 31-90 days: Overdue fees

• 91-99 days: Debt collection fees

• 100+ days: Debt collection agency charges

Unpaid fees may be referred to a collection agency and could impact your ability to study or graduate.

You might be eligible for a course-related loan through StudyLink. You’ll need details of your preferred device to apply.

No. Scholarships are not guaranteed, so you should never rely on them as your only source of funding.

They're a great help if you receive one, but always have a backup plan for your study costs. Please check our Fees and Financial Support for other options to help you manage these costs.

Each scholarship has unique criteria. Make sure you check these carefully to ensure you qualify.

For Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Te Kōpuretanga scholarships:

• You will need to be a current tauira at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and have your student ID number to apply for a scholarship

• Your student ID number will be on your confirmation of enrolment letter

• Log-in to Te Matakā (the student portal)

• Click on the button: Te Kōpuretanga Scholarships

• Review all information, criteria and the details again

• Apply via the Te Kōpuretanga Scholarships page in Te Matakā

• You will be required to use your Tauira OneDrive to link documentation to your application 

• Check and submit your application

• You'll receive an electronic message confirming successful submission

Note: We suggest you attend a scholarship application training session to help you put together a great application. 

If you are unsure or need extra help, our Student Support team can give advice on where to look and what steps to take.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa scholarships open Monday, 16 March 2026 until Friday, 29 May 2026.

Other scholarship application dates depend on the organisation offering them. Most iwi, community, and government scholarships open once a year, often between October and March.

We recommend:

• Checking the scholarships page on our website

• Visiting your iwi and hapū trust page if you are registered

• Talking with our student support advisors, who can connect you with opportunities that fit your study and whānau situation

Scholarships have their own rules, deadlines and eligibility criteria. The best way to find out is to check the details for each one and see if you meet the requirements.

Our student support team can help you understand your options.

No. Enrolment and scholarship applications are separate processes. You'll need to complete both applications, and allow enough time so you don't miss out.

No. You do not need to be Māori to study at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Our programmes are open to adult New Zealand citizens or residents (or citizens of Australia, Tokelau, Niue or the Cook Islands). We welcome learners from all cultures and backgrounds who want to grow their skills, confidence, and knowledge in a supportive, kaupapa Māori learning environment.

You'll use Kaupapa Wānanga model to explore:

• Ko wai au? Who am I?

• Where do I come from?

• How have my experiences, whānau, and values shaped me?

• How have these things influenced my choice to become a teacher?

You will use the Kaupapa Wānanga model as a learning framework to guide your thinking and learning. This framework is grounded in takepū (guiding principles) and supports you to learn in a way that is reflective, connected, and purposeful.

Build a stronger understanding of your rangahau responsibilities as a future teacher and what it means to act with care, integrity, and respect when working with learners.

You'll be introduced to literacy and numeracy in the New Zealand Curriculum. Using a principle-based approach, you’ll develop curriculum knowledge and ako approaches in literacy and numeracy.

You'll be introduced to the conceptual frameworks of He Korowai Ākonga. Develop an understanding of education, in particular Māori education and reflect on what it means to be a teacher in Aotearoa New Zealand.

You'll explore Ako Wānanga more deeply, including concepts, strategies and approaches to plan, deliver and assess holistic learning experiences. The focus is on practical application in classroom environments.

You'll be introduced to the theory and practice of living, learning, teaching as part of Ako Wānanga to create and maintain positive and successful learning environments. Examine how thought shapes beliefs, assumptions and expectations, and how this affects your relationship with living, learning, teaching.

You'll reflect on, identify and share your experience and knowledge of te reo Māori and the ancient Māori knowledge of Te Kauae Raro and Te Kauae Runga. This kōnae strengthens how reo and mātauranga inform your developing practice.

You will explore how to teach these learning areas using a principle based approach that supports meaningful, engaging learning for tamariki.

Throughout this kōnae ako, you will:

• Grow your curriculum knowledge in social sciences and learning languages

• Explore teaching approaches that are student centred and responsive

• Design learning experiences that are culturally relevant and connected to real life contexts

• Learn how to create lessons that reflect the diverse identities, languages, and experiences of learners

This kōnae ako supports you to plan and deliver learning that is thoughtful, inclusive, and grounded in the realities of primary classrooms.

The overall aim of practice-based learning in Year 1 is for you to understand your kaitiaki role as a classroom teacher. You will become familiar with classroom and school contexts and your responsibilities within them.