Ngā Poutoko Whakarara Oranga

• 8 noho marae (25 hours each)

• 1 x wānanga whāiti each week (4-6 hours)

Dates, venue and details will be confirmed by your kaiako.  

Your structured class and group times include: 

• Face-to-face with your kaiako or other presenters 

• Wānanga, noho (overnight stays) or online sessions 

• Practice, revision, and assessment activities 

At the completion of each year, we’ll go over what’s involved in Years 2, 3, and 4, so you’re ready for the next step in the degree.

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)

• Required reading 

• Practising your new skills

• Doing research, reflection, or group study 

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.

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

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.

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 explore how change impacts Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and how these shifts shape its direction and practice. You’ll examine your own positioning within Kaupapa Wānanga, reflecting on its obligations and purpose as a framework in your chosen field of study.

You’ll examine the settlement history of Aotearoa New Zealand and the identities of its diverse cultural groups. Through reflective practice, you’ll explore bicultural principles and relationships fundamental to social work in a contemporary context.

You’ll study the bicultural history of social work in Aotearoa and explore key fields of practice. You’ll apply relevant theories, frameworks, values, and ethics when working with individuals, while critically reflecting on current issues and assessment models.

You’ll be introduced to the foundations of research, rangahau, and Kaupapa Rangahau, examining how they intersect and inform one another. You’ll build skills in gathering and analysing information to generate new insights that contribute to knowledge creation.

You’ll investigate the settlement periods of Aotearoa and the development of its legal systems, with particular focus on cultural hegemony and colonial practices. You’ll critically reflect on the ongoing impacts of colonisation on social work and communities.

You’ll explore historical and contemporary forms of resistance and emancipation in Aotearoa. You’ll reflect on these examples to inform a model of social work practice that emphasises empowerment and the pursuit of justice.

You’ll investigate how worldviews are formed and explore both Māori and non-Māori theories that contribute to personal and professional development. You’ll reflect on these principles to shape an informed and values-based approach to social work practice.

You’ll develop effective communication skills in social work, covering both written and oral methods to build strong relationships. You’ll compare cultural influences on communication and reflect on challenges of engaging with Māori, bicultural, and multicultural communities within social work practice.