He Papa Tikanga
NZ Certificate in Tikanga (Mātauranga Māori)
Tirohanga whānui
An introduction to Māori customs and practices
He Papa Tikanga is a starting point for learning about Māori customs and cultural practices. You’ll explore Māori values, traditions and stories, and see how they are used in everyday life.
The programme covers four main areas:
Māori worldview
Stories and ways of understanding connections to today’s world
The role of tikanga in wider society
He aha tāu ka whiwhi?
What you’ll gain from this programme
Completing this programme means you’ll be able to:
Use Māori cultural ideas in real life situations
Use some reo Māori (Māori language) in tikanga practices
Show understanding of tikanga concepts and how they connect to the land
Work with others to carry out tikanga practices
Mā te mahi ka ako
Learn by doing
You will get to:
Increase your understanding of tikanga practices
Meet with your kaitiaki, who will visit you to assess your progress
Use the learning resources to grow your knowledge
Ngā ara e wātea ana
Where will this take me?
By the end, you’ll be able to:
Keep studying:
Move into Level 3 or Level 4 programmes in tikanga Māori, te reo Māori (Māori language), Māori arts, health, governance and more.
At work:
Graduates may work in areas such as tourism, hospitality, retail, media, education, health, and Māori trusts.
Community involvement:
Graduates can take their learning back to whānau, hapū, iwi or community groups to strengthen Māori knowledge and practice.
He meka
Quick facts
- Level 3 (Introductory)
- 60 Credits
- 52 Weeks
- NZ Certificate in Tikanga (Mātauranga Māori) Level 3
- 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:
Part-time
60 credits
12 months
Home-based - study at home with learning resources sent out to you
Kōnae ako
Learning modules
Our study at home programmes have different start dates in each region, depending on current demand. Programmes fill quickly and your start date might be several months after you complete your enrolment. Once we receive your enrolment, we’ll send you a letter confirming your start date. Please make sure you have provided everything for a complete enrolment.
Ki hea, mō āhea hoki au ako ai?
Where and when can I learn?
Home-based learning
Kaupapa anamata
Upcoming events
He Puāwaitanga Heretaunga 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Hastings
He Puāwaitanga Tāmaki Makaurau 23 March 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Auckland
He Puāwaitanga Tāmaki Makaurau 24 March 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Auckland
He Puāwaitanga Papaiōea 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Palmerston North
He Puāwaitanga Whangārei 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Whangārei
He Puāwaitanga Tainui 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Tainui
He Puāwaitanga Tauranga 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Tauranga
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