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Specialise in Mātauranga Toi Māori for your Bachelor of Fine Arts at Massey
The Mātauranga Toi Māori major enables you to ground your practice within mātauranga Māori as an alternative to some of the other courses within the Fine Arts programme. You will develop the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes necessary to encourage the potential of Mātauranga Toi Māori within the landscape of the creative arts.
Offered as a new major, subjects within this pathway are delivered through a mixed mode of learning including wānanga, noho marae, studio classes and online delivery.
Te Rau Karamu Marae will be your kāinga where you will be nourished by the mahi toi, kōrero tuku iho, karakia, waiata, and manaakitanga. Your experience in these courses will empower and connect you to becoming an indigenous creative practitioner.
More information: Creative Arts Qualification Guide
A Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mātauranga Toi Māori is a good fit if you:
- See a future where Māori creativity and culture is at the forefront of the creative industries
- Want to ground your creativity in mātauranga Māori
- Want to stand out amongst the crowd in creative industries as an indigenous practitioner
- Collaborate with other Māori and indigenous ākonga from across all creative disciplines
- Want to ‘Be Māori... all day, every day!’
Planning information
Planning information
If you study full-time, in your first year, you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.
If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
More information: Creative Arts Qualification Guide
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 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
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 Bachelor of Fine Arts
As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.
Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours core courses
Mātauranga Toi Māori courses
Part One
Course code: 298157 Toi Ᾱtea 1 15 credits
An introduction to the development of personal forms of expression though an engagement with the values, concepts, traditions, art/design forms and structures of the whare whakairo.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298160 Mātauranga Toi Māori 1: Māori Practices as a Māori Creative Practitioner 15 credits
This introductory course provides students with a foundational understanding of customary practices and values within Te Ao Māori and their relevance in contemporary Māori creative practice. Through a combination of theoretical exploration and practical engagement, students will gain insights into the cultural context shaping Māori creative expression and its significance in fostering personal and communal growth.
View full course detailsPart Two
Course code: 150206 Ngā Momo Whakairo: Contemporary Māori Visual Art 15 credits
An interpretation of the design structures that constitute Māori art from a bicultural perspective together with an examination of the factors that determine stylistic change.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298260 Mātauranga Toi Māori 2: Māori Creative Practices and Cultural Continuity 15 credits
Building upon the foundational concepts introduced in Māori Practices as a Māori Creative Practitioner, this course delves deeper into the intricate relationship between Māori creative practices and cultural continuity within Te Ao Māori. Through an advanced exploration of theoretical frameworks, hands-on creative projects, and community engagement, students will further refine their understanding of the nuanced role of Tikanga Māori in shaping contemporary Māori creative practice.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298263 Toi Atea 2 15 credits
The development of individual work that grows out of the investigation of a select range of Māori concepts, art forms, imagery, values and approaches that reflect a Māori world view.
View full course detailsPart Three
Course code: 298330 Cosmological Narratives within Māori Creative Expression 15 credits
This advanced-level course delves into the intricate relationship between Māori cosmological narratives and their dynamic manifestation within contemporary Māori creative expression. Through an interdisciplinary exploration that encompasses art, design, music, theatre, and dance, students will analyse the evolving role of cosmological narratives, connecting traditional wisdom to modern artistic innovation.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298360 Mātauranga Toi Māori 3: Creative Innovation and Community Leadership 15 credits
This course propels students into the realm of Māori Arts Innovation and Community Leadership. By synthesizing foundational knowledge with advanced theoretical frameworks, innovative artistic projects, and community leadership principles, students will refine their skills as Māori Arts Practitioners and actively contribute to the evolution of Māori arts practices within a contemporary context.
View full course detailsEntry requirements
Entry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
This is an open-entry qualification from 2026. For 2025 entry, please see the portfolio requirements. Once you have applied and enrolled we encourage you to book a Creative Review to ensure you are on the right track.
Application closing date
- For Semester One start: Applications close on 30 November, for study commencing the following year.
- For Semester Two start: Applications close on 30 June.
Late applications will be considered subject to available spaces.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
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 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, including how much could be covered and your eligibility on the Fees Free website.
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.
Related study options
Certificate in Creative Arts – CertCreativeArt
Massey’s Certificate in Creative Arts is a flexible qualification that will introduce you to the basics of art and design - creative thinking, visual communication, specialist skills, and critical awareness.
Diploma in Creative Arts – DipCreativeArts
You’ll study with art and design degree students in a range of studio and lecture-based courses covering everything from critical and contextual studies, to social media, painting, and digital fabrication.
Expressive Arts – Bachelor of Communication
If you love being creative and want to study a selection of theatre, performance, creative writing, and digital media production, and you also want great career prospects, the Bachelor of Communication (Expressive Arts) is for you.
Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts – GDipFA
Massey’s Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts is for skilled graduates who want to gain new knowledge and skills in fine arts.
Master of Fine Arts – MFA
Embed yourself in a rich dialogue about your creative practice in Massey’s Master of Fine Arts. Our MFA embraces intersections between knowledge systems, a spectrum of making processes, and modes of audience engagement.
Mātauranga Toi Māori – Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours
Study creative arts and help shape a future where te ao Māori is at the forefront of Aotearoa creative industries. A first for Aotearoa tertiary education, the Mātauranga Toi Māori major engages te ao Māori in Fine Arts disciplines.
Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts – PGDipFA
Extend your creative practice and begin your fine arts journey. Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts gives you the opportunity for advanced study in contemporary art.
Visual Communication Design – Bachelor of Design with Honours
Visual communication is one of the most universal forms of design. It is at the heart of how our world works; guiding, informing, persuading, and inspiring us every day.
Visual Communication Design – Bachelor of Design
Visual communication is one of the most universal forms of design. It is at the heart of how our world works; guiding, informing, persuading, and inspiring us every day.
Without Specialisation – Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours
Discover how to produce work that makes people think and feel, act and react. Whatever your mode of art-making is, we’ll help you find and develop your own creative voice.
Without Specialisation – Bachelor of Fine Arts
Discover how to produce work that makes people think and feel, act and react. Whatever your mode of art-making is, we’ll help you find and develop your own creative voice.
Useful planning information
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz