Te Aho Paerewa Postgraduate Diploma Teaching and Learning in Māori Medium – PGDipT&LMM

Te Aho Paerewa is New Zealand’s first university postgraduate qualification in Māori-medium initial teacher education.

Takatū mai koe hei kaiako, hei kaiarataki i ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori. Ko Te Aho Paerewa he tohu paerua tuatahi o ngā whare wānanga o Aotearoa ki te whakangungu kaiako mātauranga Māori.

Type of qualification

Postgraduate diploma

Level of study

Postgraduate study

Once you’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree – or have equal experience – you can study at the postgraduate level. Doctoral qualifications require additional entry requirements.

More about study levels

NZQF level 8

Our courses follow the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) levels.

Find out more about NZQF levels

Time to complete

1 year full-time (120 credits)
Up to 3 years part-time
Part-time available

Where you can study

Distance and online

International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Not open to international students
Note:
  • One intake at the start of each year.
  • Selected entry qualification.

Study a Te Aho Paerewa Postgraduate Diploma Teaching and Learning in Māori Medium – PGDipT&LMM

Massey’s Te Aho Paerewa is the tertiary sector’s first postgraduate qualification in Māori medium initial teacher education.

He pēhea te kaupapa

Ko te kaupapa Te Aho Paerewa o Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa te tohu paerua tuatahi o te rāngai tuatoru mō te Mātauranga Māori Whakangungu Kaiako.

Kia māori te hono ki ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori

Mā Te Aho Paerewa koe e āwhina kia kounga ai āu rautaki ako, rautaki whakaako o roto o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori. Ka ako koe kia whakawhanake i ōu pūkenga urutau i te taiao mātauranga Māori.

He taiao ngaio, he taiao ā-whānau. Ka mahi koe i roto i tētahi kaupapa hihiri, kaupapa mahi ngātahi. Ka tīmata te kaupapa nei ki tētahi wānanga (he noho marae) e hāpai rā i te tino whanaungatanga i waenganui i ngā tauira. Ka kawea tahitia te kaupapa nei e Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa me Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa, me te aha anō ka whai wāhi koe ki ngā tino mātanga, ki ngā tautōhito o ngā kura kaupapa Māori hei pūkenga māhau.

Gain deeper engagement with Kura Kaupapa Māori

Te Aho Paerewa will help you develop exemplary approaches to learning and teaching in Kura Kaupapa Māori. You’ll learn to practise and develop adaptive expertise in the Māori medium context.

The qualification offers a professional and whānau-centred environment. You’ll work in a dynamic collaborative, partnership model.

He kaiako tino whaitake ka puta

Ko tā Te Aho Paerewa he whakangungu i a koe kia tū hei kaiārataki mātauranga, kaiako urutau e mau pūkenga nei ki ngā akoranga patapatai nō roto mai i te tautake o Te Aho Matua.

Ko tāna anō he whakawhanake manawaroa, pūkenga whaiaro me te tuakiri tino ngaio. Ka ako koe kia whakawhanake i ōu pūkenga urutau hei hāpai i ngā mātea ako o ngā ākonga.

Ka aro whāiti te kaupapa ki te whakaaro, me ako kia mārama ki te horopaki o ia ākonga, ā, me whakatutuki i ngā whāinga ako o te hunga ākonga matahuhua.

Ka tauhere te kaupapa, ka hāngai pū hoki ki tō Kura Hāpai. Ka tatū rawa te hāngai, te uara me te pānga atu ki te Kura Hāpai e nōhia rā e koe.

Graduate as a highly effective teacher

Te Aho Paerewa will prepare you to become a lead educator and adaptive teacher skilled in kaupapa Māori inquiry learning within the philosophy of Te Aho Matua.

The qualification focuses on learning to understand the context of each learner and achieving equitable outcomes for diverse student groups.

Your programme of study will be interconnected and relevant to your Kura Hāpai. It will have immediate relevance, value and impact on the Kura Hāpai within which you are based.

He rangahau, he mahi, he ako

He kaupapa tū ki te ao mātauranga Te Aho Paerewa. Ka whakamanahia tō urunga mai ka poua koe ki tētahi Kura Hāpai māna koe e manaaki mō te tau.

He tirohanga kaupapa Māori kia ako koe mā te rangahau me te whakaako. Kei ia pepa o te tohu nei he tino wāhanga mō te rangahau patapatai. Māu anō e rangahau hei whakakī i ngā whāruarua o te mātauranga mō te ao rumaki reo. Ka pōtaehia koe, he tangata whai pūkenga koe hei whakatinana i ngā akoranga ki āu mahi whakaako.

Ko tāu anō he whakapakari haere i tō ake reo kia matatau rawa atu me te whai whakaaro ki te āhua o te reo o tō Kura Hāpai. Katoa ngā pepa ka whakaakona ki te reo Māori.

Learn from research and practice

Te Aho Paerewa is a field-based qualification. You’ll be assigned to a Kura Hāpai once selected onto the qualification, who will host you for the duration of your studies.

Through a kaupapa Māori approach, you’ll share in knowledge that draws together research and practice. Each course in the qualification has a strong enquiry research component. You’ll undertake independent research that will help fill the gap in knowledge of total immersion Māori language settings.

Tauira will be expected to develop and increase their own proficiency levels of te reo Māori as well as reflecting on the proficiency of te reo Māori within their Kura Hāpai setting. All courses are taught in te reo Māori.

He tautoko mutunga kore

Kei Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa ngā rauemi rangatira pērā i te pūrere whakawhiti kōrero, tautoko ā-ngaio, me te āwhina a ngā pūkenga me ngā kaiāwhina. Ka wātea mai te kounga o te ao whakaako hei rauemi māu. He tino mātanga ngā pūkenga o Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa me Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori.

He mātanga ngā Kaiako

Mai i te tau 1991 kua tū te kaupapa whakangungu tangata hei kaiako rumaki reo ki Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa.

Study with the experts

Massey University has run successful full immersion Māori language teacher training qualifications since 1991.

A PGDipT&LMM is a good fit if you:

  • want to become a teacher in Kura Kaupapa Māori
  • are fluent in te reo Māori
  • are dedicated to helping children become raukura for their iwi.

He mahi māhau

  • ina matatau ana ki te reo Māori
  • ina hiahia ana kia tū hei kaiako ki ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori
  • ina pai te mahi tahi ki tētahi taiao atawhai, taiao whātuitui
  • ina ngākau nui ana ki te āwhina i te tamaiti hei raukura mō te iwi
  • ina hiahia kia ako i te Te Aho Matua.

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

Te Aho Paerewa Postgraduate Diploma Teaching and Learning in Māori Medium is a selected entry qualification. This means there are a number of extra requirements you must meet.

To enter this qualification, you will:

  • have been awarded or qualified for a bachelor’s degree of at least 360 credits with a minimum of a B grade average across the 200- and 300-level courses, or equivalent
  • have demonstrated fluency in te reo Māori at a level where you can sustain learning in a total immersion Māori environment
  • have demonstrated competence in literacy and numeracy
  • meet the requirements for registration as set down by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, in terms of good character and fitness to be a teacher.

You will be selected into the qualification on the basis of a process which includes an assessment by Massey University academic staff. This may also include:

  • an interview
  • te reo and mathematics tests
  • practical exercises.

You will need to provide the following documents:

  • a supporting statement
  • a police vetting report
  • referee reports
  • two completed Te Kura Hāpai forms from two different Kura Kaupapa Māori – Te Aho Matua.
  • a consent to the disclosure of information for a New Zealand Police check - including two pieces of verified identification (one of which must be photographic)
  • a copy of a police report from every overseas country you have lived in for more than 12 months in the last 10 years
  • a health and disability declaration
  • an NZQA International Qualifications Assessment
  • contact details of two referees
  • copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.

Application closing date

Applications close on 9 February 2024. Late applications may be considered subject to available places and complete documentation. 

Get in touch with us if you have any questions. If you are not offered a place in the qualification of your choice, please enquire. We may be able to help with potential alternatives qualifications.

About the selection process

The first part of the selection process is an assessment of your application.

If the selection committee feels you potentially meet the 'fit character' and 'fit to be a teacher' criteria, you may be invited to an interview. This is the second part of the selection process.

Interviews

Interviews for the Te Aho Paerewa qualification will be conducted in te reo Māori face-to-face in Palmerston North and/or by Skype or on the marae if requested by an applicant. You are welcome to bring whānau or support people to the interview if you choose. You will be advised of the date, time and venue of your interview along with other important information.

The interview focuses on the following criteria:

  • disposition for teaching
  • communication skills
  • achievement and potential for professional full-time study
  • awareness of teaching and learning in Aotearoa New Zealand
  • school/work/community involvement
  • interests and life experiences.

Additionally, all applicants for the Te Aho Paerewa are required to undertake a short numeracy test at the time of interview.

Tests

As part of the selection process, you may be asked to complete any of the selected tests as follows:

  1. a sample from the NCEA Level 3 Te Reo Rangatira - pānui and tuhituhi external examination, and/or
  2. a reo Māori test based on a Massey University 100-level (first year) examination to determine your ability, and/or
  3. a maths test based on the NCEA Mathematics Level 1 examinations.

When you receive notification of your interview you will be advised if you are required to sit any of the above tests.

If the interview panel is satisfied that you are a suitable candidate for Te Aho Paerewa, and that you meet the entry and admission criteria into the university you will be sent an Offer of Place.

Safety checks and disclosure of criminal convictions

All applicants are required to undergo a number of safety checks. This includes police vetting (including confirmation of identity) and further checks required under the Vulnerable Children Act 2014, Vulnerable Children Regulations 2015 and the Children’s Action Plan. See below for more information.

About your referees

We require two people who can act as referees for you and who are able to provide informed responses on your personal suitability for the qualification. A referee should be someone who has known you for one year or more in the capacity of employer, educator, work colleague or person of community standing, ie, kaumātua, minister or similar. Your referee should not be a friend, flatmate, relative or someone who has not known you for at least a year. The information your referee supplies via telephone/Skype/Zoom is confidential to those involved in the selection process.

About the documents you need to submit

Supporting statement

Please supply a statement on why you chose this qualification. List any personal characteristics you have that might strengthen your application.

Te Kura Hāpai form

You must supply two completed Te Kura Hāpai forms from two different Kura Kaupapa Māori – Te Aho Matua. You are required to ask a Kura Kaupapa Māori who is a member of Te Runanga nui o nga Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa to act as a Kura Hāpai for you. The role of the Kura Hāpai is to embrace, support and encourage you in your journey to complete your study.

Health and disability declaration

You need to disclose any short or long-term disabilities (including a learning disability), impairment, injury or health issue. If you disclose any disability, health or personal information as part of your application, this will be assessed during the selection process and is confidential to the university staff processing your application.

Safety checks and disclosure of criminal convictions

You will be required to undergo a number of safety checks. This includes police vetting (including confirmation of identity) and further checks required under the Vulnerable Children Act 2014, Vulnerable Children Regulations 2015 and the Children’s Action Plan. You will be required to permit Massey University to ask the New Zealand Police to disclose any information held on the Police record

You will be required to undergo a number of safety checks. This includes police vetting (including confirmation of identity) and further checks required under the Vulnerable Children Act 2014, Vulnerable Children Regulations 2015 and the Children’s Action Plan. You will be required to permit Massey University to ask the New Zealand Police to disclose any information held on the police record system.

You will also provide a copy of a police report from every overseas country you have lived in for more than 12 months in the last 10 years. Please do not supply originals as these will need to be supplied to the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand at a later date.

You must include two pieces of verified identification with your application (one of which must be photographic).

An NZQA International Qualifications Assessment

If you have qualifications obtained overseas you must have these qualifications assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to determine comparability with New Zealand qualifications. The NZQA International Qualifications Assessment must be provided at the time of applying. NZQA assessments older than three years at the time of applying may not be accepted. If this applies to you, please contact the NZQA Qualification Review Service requesting a review of the original assessment notes. They will inform you if you need to re-apply to NZQA. NZQA accreditation can take up to 35 working days. For more information on applying to the NZQA website.

All documentation needs to be provided prior to the closing date for applications.

Time limits for Honours, Distinction and Merit

Where your qualification is completed within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with Distinction or Merit. 

Prior learning, credit and exemptions

For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:

Maximum time limits for completion

There are maximum time limits to complete postgraduate qualifications.  If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the qualification if you wish to continue your studies.

Official regulations

To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.

You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.

Returning students

For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.

In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.

Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Structure of the Te Aho Paerewa Postgraduate Diploma Teaching and Learning in Māori Medium

Te Aho Paerewa Postgraduate Diploma Teaching and Learning in Māori Medium is a parts-based qualification. That means you must complete the first part and meet some requirements, before moving to the second and again to the third.

If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.

Delivery

A distinctive feature of this qualification is that courses are taught using the medium of the Māori language through which students are expected to participate..

The teaching and delivery of all the courses will reflect Te Aho Matua.

All courses will be delivered via distance learning (online) with face-to-face wānanga, although there will be opportunities for you to experiment with a variety of teaching modes, including the use of computers in the curriculum.

Location of study

Although this qualification is offered via distance learning, we require that you are in New Zealand for the duration. The programme and practicum placements within it are relevant to the Te Marautanga o Te Aho Matua (as it is New Zealand teacher registration that is the ultimate goal) and hence must be done within New Zealand.

Also, as practical and theoretical courses are intertwined you cannot do the theory/pedagogy courses first and then return to do the practical courses at a later date. Without full access to the New Zealand curriculum Te Marautanga o Te Aho Matua you would also be hugely disadvantaged in your assignments.

Qualification structure

Te Aho Paerewa is 120 credits of 1200 hours professional preparation for teaching, including a total of at least 600 hours of practicum during your full-time field-based Kura programme. The programme begins with a wānanga (live-in block course) which will build the essential whanaungatanga amongst the tauira. Kura Hāpai will affirm their role and commitment in supporting tauira. At least three other wananga will be held to support the tauira and provide follow up face-face contact for lecturers and students. The wānanga will be followed by regular online engagement with tauira who will be physically located in their Kura Hāpai.

Whole school research and collaborative engagement with learners, their whānau, other teachers and the principal will be carried out outside of teaching practice time. In the Kura Kaupapa Māori full immersion setting, building meaningful relationships between adults and learners and with their whānau are core to successful learning outcomes. The teaching component will take place solely within your Kura Hāpai.

Throughout the programme all tauira will be active members of a blended professional learning community to share and build their mastery based on their growing experiential and professional knowledge of teaching and learning. Massey University’s learning management system (Stream), video conferencing and wānanga will be used as a platform to support this learning.

Practicum

Teaching practice is a compulsory component of the degree, and you will be placed in Kura Kaupapa Te Aho Matua, immersion classrooms for the same hours as teachers work, ie, approximately 8.00am - 5:00pm daily. You will be required to pass all teaching practice components of the programme and associated course work up to 70 days total. You may be required to travel for up to an hour each way for this student practicum. Travel for practica is your responsibility.

Courses and specialisations

Key terms

Courses
Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
Course code
Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
Credits
Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
Specialisations
Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.

Credit summary

120 credits

  • Compulsory courses – 120 credits

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Compulsory courses (Choose 120 credits from)

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 150731 Te Reo o Te Akomanga: Language of the Classroom 30 credits

He tatari, he whakahangai i ta te Māori titiro ki nga paearu mahi katoa mo te ao matauranga me Te Aho Matua e whai mahi ai i roto i nga Kura hei kaiako, ara, e taea ai e nga tauira. A critical analysis and application of Māori perspectives applied to performance criteria in the education context and Te Aho Matua that are essential for teaching within kura kaupapa Māori.

View full course details
Course code: 150732 Te Uiui ā Akomanga: Inquiry-Based Approaches in Kura Kaupapa Māori 30 credits

Ko nga rautaki pakirehua Kaupapa Māori me nga iwi taketake e tirotiro ana ki nga wero e puta mai ana i te mahi whakaako ki nga Kura Kaupapa Māori. Māori and global indigenous inquiry methods that address existing or emerging challenges of teaching practice in Kura Kaupapa Māori learning environments

View full course details
Course code: 150733 Te Marautanga o Te Aho Matua: The Kura Kaupapa Māori Curriculum 30 credits

He whakataki me te tatari i nga paearu ngaio o Te Marautanga o Te Aho Matua me te mahi i nga wahanga ako, a, nga anga aromatawai hoki ki ta te kura tirohanga whanui no roto mai i nga Kura Kaupapa Māori. An introduction to and analysis of the professional requirements of Te Marautanga o Te Aho Matua and the application of learning areas, and assessment frameworks to a whole school curriculum approach within Kura Kaupapa Māori.

View full course details
Course code: 150734 Tō Te Kura Kawa: Pedagogy and Practice in Kura Kaupapa Māori 30 credits

He ata tirotiro me te whakamahi i nga ahua akoranga o Te Aho Matua me Te Marautanga o Te Aho Matua ki roto ki nga Kura Kaupapa Māori. An examination and application of Te Aho Matua pedagogies and Te Marautanga o Te Aho Matua curriculum within Kura Kaupapa Māori settings.

View full course details

Fees and scholarships

Fees, student loans and free fees scheme

Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.

There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

Already know which courses you're going to choose?

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.

Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.

Fees disclaimer

This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.

Careers and job opportunities

Graduates of this professional initial teacher education qualification will have the knowledge and skills to enter teaching in New Zealand schools. You will be eligible to apply for registration as a provisionally registered teacher with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

You’ll graduate as a highly competent, knowledgeable and skilled teacher who is effective, reflective and a creative teacher for Māori immersion settings.

Te ara mahi

Kia pōtaehia te tauira, ka puta ko tētahi tauira whai mātauranga, whai pūkenga hei tomo kura nō roto ki Aotearoa nei. Ka mana te tono rēhitatanga ki Matatū Aotearoa hei kaiako tārewa.

Ka pōtaehia, ka puta koe hei kaiako tino matatau, kaiako whai mātauranga, whai pūkenga kia whai whakaaro, kia auaha hoki te whakaaro mō ngā akomanga reo rumaki.

Accreditations and rankings

QS Ranking - Education

Massey is ranked in the world's top 250 universities for education in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.

Learn more

Related study options