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International students
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Specialise in Māori Knowledge for your Diploma in Arts at Massey
Nau mai ki te wāhanga reo o Te Pūtahi-a-Toi, ka nui te mihi ki a koe. Ko te reo Māori to tātau kāinga kōrero mātauranga. Nō reira nau mai, haere mai!
Welcome to the reo section of Te Pūtahi-a-Toi, greetings to you. The Māori language is our home of conversation to refine our knowledge!
Māori language, society and culture are a rich, vibrant and dynamic part of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The study of Māori knowledge introduces you to te ao Māori, the Māori world, and will give you a sound background in Māori language, visual arts, Aotearoa heritage and Māori policy and development. An understanding of Māori language and culture is very important if you want to play a part in shaping the social, political and economic development of the nation.
The language courses begin for students without any previous experience in the Māori language. Through the te reo Māori courses you will develop knowledge of the language to become a fluent speaker.
The other courses, such as Māori visual arts, Aotearoa heritage, Māori policy and development, and Māori health, allow you to gain a sound understanding of Māori culture and society.
Planning information
If you study full-time you’ll take eight 15-credit courses (120 credits) in one year, or 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school.
If you later proceed to the Bachelor of Arts degree, all of the courses in your Diploma of Arts can be transferred to the Bachelor of Arts.
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 Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate 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.
Courses you can enrol in
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.
Core courses for the Diploma in Arts
As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.
Māori Knowledge courses
Compulsory courses
Course code: 150103 Nau mai e noho: Engaging with Māori credits 15
This course will equip students with a range of skills to engage with Māori communities including common expressions in te reo, an understanding of key traditional concepts, customary practices (tikanga), the importance of the Treaty of Waitangi and the nature and structure of Māori social and political organisations.
View full course detailsCourse code: 150201 Te Kawenata o Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand Society credits 15
A study of the Treaty of Waitangi background, texts, principles, and application to contemporary New Zealand. There is a particular focus on land, legislation, court decisions, social policies, the environment, constitutional matters, claims to the Waitangi Tribunal and Treaty settlements. Differing perspectives of hapū/iwi/Māori and the Crown, as well as opportunities for resolution, are explored.
View full course detailsCourse code: 150205 Kura Mai Tawhiti: Māori Knowledge credits 15
An examination of heritage and contemporary Māori knowledges exploring the origins and relevance of traditional belief systems and the contemporary cultural-political contexts of mātauranga paradigms in areas such as research, education, justice, science, business, social development and the environment.
View full course detailsSubject courses
Course code: 148245 Māori and Colonisation credits 15
A study of Māori efforts to retain and enhance tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake since colonisation.
View full course detailsCourse code: 150202 Mauri ora: Māori Wellbeing and Vitality credits 15
Cultural understandings of health form the basis for an exploration of cultural, biological, social, economic, environmental and political interactions and their impacts on Māori health.
View full course detailsCourse code: 150204 Mana Māori: Māori and Politics credits 15
The study of the nature of Māori politics and political self-determination in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand. It will explore the avenues through which Māori have sought to realise their political aspirations, particularly in relation to national political institutions, and theoretical perspectives that can assist in the analysis and strategic development of Māori political self-determination.
View full course detailsCourse code: 150301 Te Mana Te Kawanatanga: Māori Policy and the State credits 15
Recent policies, legislation and judicial outcomes that impact on Māori people are examined as well as interaction between Māori and the State in formulating policies for Māori. A framework for analysis derived from Māori perspectives serves as a basis for understanding policy development and is applied to specific policy areas including Māori land, broadcasting, fishing, employment, health, the environment and Treaty settlements.
View full course detailsCourse code: 150302 Whānau ora: Principles of Flourishing Whānau credits 15
Approaches for the advancement of Māori health will be reviewed with a particular focus on health promotion, whānau ora and the link between Māori health initiatives and positive Māori development.
View full course detailsCourse code: 150303 Mana Wahine: Māori Women credits 15
A theory and research based examination of issues that concern Māori women in all contexts, including the roles that Māori women assume both within a Māori social framework and beyond. Theories of mana wahine and the ways mana is maintained, enhanced or lessened will be examined.
View full course detailsCourse code: 150304 Te Ao Hurihuri: Contemporary Māori Issues credits 15
A critical examination of contemporary Māori cultural, political and human rights issues through colonisation to present day renaissance of Māori and indigenous peoples.
View full course detailsCourse code: 269332 Māori Issues in Education credits 15
A study of relationships between cultural values and education and of the extent of Māori educational needs and aspirations.
View full course detailsSubject qualification elective courses
Course code: 139362 Oceanic Literatures of Aotearoa: Ngā Tuhinga Kōrero o te Moana nui a Kiwa credits 15
A study of contemporary Oceanic (Māori and Pasifika) literature in English contextualised in relation to customary and pre-colonial Oceanic literatures, narratives, and storytelling methods.
View full course detailsCourse code: 148245 Māori and Colonisation credits 15
A study of Māori efforts to retain and enhance tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake since colonisation.
View full course detailsCourse code: 148246 Iwi History credits 15
A study of iwi histories, their sources, role in maintaining tribal identity and well-being and use before the Waitangi Tribunal and in Treaty Settlements.
View full course detailsCourse code: 150112 Hauora Tangata: Foundations of Māori Health credits 15
An introduction to understanding Māori health within Aotearoa/New Zealand.
View full course detailsEntry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification, outside of university admission regulations.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
If you have already completed a bachelor degree
If you have already completed a bachelor degree you may replace 230111 Tū Kupu: Writing and Inquiry or 230112 Tū Arohae: Critical Thinking with courses of your choice. You will need to apply for replacement courses via a Special permission request in your portal and you will need to attach evidence of your completed degree with the request.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
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.
- Get an estimate of the tuition fees for your qualification
- View a list of non-tuition fees that may be payable
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.
- Student loans (StudyLink)
- Fees Free
- Student portal
Scholarship and award opportunities
Search our scholarships and awardsFees 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
The study of Māori knowledge can lead to many different careers, including:
- community work
- foreign affairs
- policy analysis
- research
- teaching
- translation services.
Related study options
Māori Education – Postgraduate Diploma in Education
Make a difference in Māori education. Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Māori Education) will prepare you to be at the forefront of learning and teaching with advanced study in Māori education.
Māori Education – Master of Education
Make a positive difference for Māori. Help set a new direction for learning and teaching with a Master of Education (Māori Education).
Māori Knowledge – Graduate Certificate in Arts
Gain knowledge of Māori language, culture, and tikanga with the Graduate Certificate in Arts (Māori Knowledge). You can study Māori without having to complete a second bachelor’s degree.
Māori Knowledge – Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
With Massey’s Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (Māori Knowledge), you can take your Māori studies to the next level.
Māori Knowledge – Bachelor of Arts
With a Massey Bachelor of Arts (Māori Knowledge) you’ll gain knowledge of Māori culture, worldviews, and the significance of te reo Māori.
Māori Knowledge – Postgraduate Diploma in Arts
Take your study of Māori to the next level with Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Māori Knowledge). You’ll develop further insight into Māori language, culture and tikanga.
Māori Knowledge – Master of Arts
Follow your passion for Māori language, culture and tikanga. With Massey’s Master of Arts (Māori Knowledge) you can build on your undergraduate interests by exploring a specific area of research.
Māori Knowledge – Graduate Diploma in Arts
Learn about Māori culture, society, and language. This Graduate Diploma in Arts will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in Māori studies without completing a second bachelor’s degree.
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.
Useful planning information
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz