Hei Tikitiki
Pathway programme
Tirohanga whānui
Discover your strengths and grow your confidence
Need some direction to help you decide what to do with your future? Not sure if you should look at studying or just try to find a job?
Hei Tikitiki helps you:
Reconnect with who you are
Grow your confidence, and
Plan your next move in study or work
Using Te Whare Tapa Whā (spiritual, mental, physical and whānau wellbeing model) and practical, real-world activities, you’ll build skills, believe in your abilities, and move toward new opportunities.
This micro-credential is designed for rangatahi aged 16 years and older who are no longer enrolled in school.
He aha tāu ka whiwhi?
What you'll gain from this programme
Completing this programme means you’ll be able to:
Build positive relationships
Express your cultural identity
Grow self-confidence through understanding Te Whare Tapa Whā
Identify personal strengths
Set goals for study or employment
Learn how to research study and career options
Work as part of a team
Mā te mahi ka ako
Learn by doing
You will get to:
Take part in group projects and practical activities
Explore your study or work options
Work on personal goal setting
Develop your communication skills
Ngā ara e wātea ana
Where will this take me?
Keep studying:
Move into Level 3 programmes such as:
Hei Toki (our passport to work programme)
At work:
Use this programme as a starting point to explore a wide range of potential employment options, guided by the goals you set during your studies.
Community involvement:
Share your skills with your whānau, hapū, iwi and wider community.
He meka
Quick facts
- Level 2 (Introductory)
- 36 Credits
- 12 Weeks
- Micro-credential
- No fees
- NZQA Accredited
Paearu whakauru
Entry criteria
You can enrol if you:
Are 16 years or older
Are a NZ citizen or resident (includes Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau) or Australian citizen/permanent resident
Currently reside in New Zealand
Te wā
Time commitment
This programme is:
Full-time
36 credits
12 weeks long
Classroom-based, with activities and noho marae
Kōnae ako
Learning modules
Ki hea, mō āhea hoki au ako ai?
Where and when can I learn?
No classes are currently open for application.
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.
