Te Tohu Tātai Whetū
Certificate in Māori Astronomy
Tirohanga whānui
Study the stars
Discover the wisdom of the skies.
Tātai Whetū is an introduction to Māori astronomy, where you’ll learn how the sun, moon, and stars have guided the lives of our tūpuna for generations.
Through the lens of te ao Māori, you’ll explore how celestial knowledge shapes time, ceremony, and connection to the natural world.
Learn how the heavens shape daily life.
This programme will guide you through traditional practices such as:
Using the sun and stars to tell time
Understanding the cycles of the moon
Connect land markers with celestial movements
You’ll see how these principles influence kai, seasonal ceremonies, and our relationship with te taiao.
Reconnect with Māori knowledge.
By studying Tātai Whetū, you’ll gain practical insights into how the cosmos weaves into everyday life. Whether you’re curious about Māori knowledge systems, passionate about astronomy, or seeking to strengthen your connection with te ao Māori, this programme offers a unique journey through the skies above and the whenua below.
He aha rāu ka whiwhi?
What you'll gain from this programme
Completing this programme means you’ll be able to:
Understand the significance of the sun, moon and stars in te ao Māori
Explore celestial movements as indicators of time and seasonal change
Learn indigenous mahinga kai practices connected to te taiao
Celebrate and strengthen relationships between people and the natural world
Apply mātauranga Māori and environmental knowledge to modern practices
Mā te mahi ka ako
Learn by doing
You will get to:
Explore Māori ceremonies, kai practices, and time-telling
Observe the stars and learn how they connect to our environment
Discover similarities and differences in astronomy-related cultural practices between iwi
Ngā ara e wātea ana
Where will this take me?
Keep studying:
Apply to enrol in a related field, such as:
Use at work:
You’ll have the skills and knowledge to work in a variety of cultural advisory roles within organisations such as:
Kura or wānanga
Iwi-based organisations
Government agencies
Private businesses
Tourism
Community involvement:
Contribute to your whānau, hapū and community boards as a:
Maramataka advisor
Matariki coordinator
Cultural educator
Environmental kaitiaki
Cultural resource advisor
Ritual and ceremony facilitator
Whānau and hapū navigator
Trustee
He meka
Quick facts
- Level 4 (Intermediate)
- 60 Credits
- 20 Weeks
- NZ Certificate in Māori Astronomy (Level 4)
- 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
60 credits
20 weeks long (includes holiday breaks)
Classroom-based, with workshops and noho marae
Kōnae ako
Learning modules
Ki hea, mō āhea hoki au ako ai?
Where and when can I learn?
Kaupapa anamata
Upcoming events
Pitopito kōrero o te wā
Latest news
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa launches new reo Māori programmes to help te reo thrive for generations to come
For over four decades, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has created pathways for generations of tauira to learn, speak, teach and live te reo Māori. That legacy has supported the return of te reo Māori to everyday life, from whānau learning their first kupu, to tauira carrying reo onto marae, and into workplaces, classrooms and homes.
Turning a passion for rongoā into community healing
Rongoā Māori has always been part of Patricia Tangira-Falwasser's life, but it was her studies at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that deepened her knowledge and inspired her to start a business that now serves her wider community.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa kaimahi claims gold at Waka Ama World Championship
Ken Henry (Te Whakatōhea, Waikato-Tainui) is a Tauira Support Advisor at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Whakatāne campus who took home gold at the Waka Ama World Championships in Singapore in August.
A passion for taonga Māori takes Chanel to Oxford
What started as a desire to strengthen her reo Māori has taken Chanel Coromandel (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Whanaunga) on an unexpected path, leading to an opportunity to contribute to the care and preservation of taonga Māori at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, England.
Reconnecting to te ao Māori through raranga
Haylee Roussel (Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne, Ngāti Maniapoto) was searching for a way to reconnect with te ao Māori when she enrolled in the Certificate in Māori and Indigenous Art, Raranga, at the Waiwhero campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
A journey shaped by whānau and a love of tamariki
Members of Tayla-Marie Takawe’s (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto) whānau were among the first tauira to graduate from the Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Finding a deeper sense of self through te ao Māori
Moving to Aotearoa from rural Australia as a teenager, Lily Warring found herself wanting to learn more about the culture and language of the place she now called home.
Creating the spark for business success
With plenty of experience as an electrician, Josh Verstraten was ready to branch out from employee to business owner, but he knew running a successful business would require a new set of skills.
From financial stress to financial freedom for Auckland whānau
For Augustine Kopa, studying the Certificate in Money Management at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was about creating a better future for her whānau.
Two generations, one reo Māori journey
When Melody Francis (Ngāti Kahungunu) saw the positive impact that studying te reo Māori had on her mum, she decided to jump on the waka and begin the journey alongside her.
