Māori Education – Master of Māori Studies

Integrating Māori knowledge, critical inquiry and cultural knowledge in education and praxis.

E tipu ake ai te mātauranga, e ora ai te mātaurau.

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

Open to international students studying online from outside New Zealand

Specialise in Māori Education for your Master of Māori Studies at Massey

The education pathway develops a critical understanding of culturally responsive teaching, educational leadership and best practise as they relate to Māori education. Students learn to understand and critically analyse education policy and their impacts on curriculum and practice, fostering success for Māori learners in a variety of educational settings through engaging with learners and their whānau.

A Master of Māori Studies in Māori Education is a good fit if you:

  • have a desire to lead positive change in Māori schooling and learning environments
  • want to develop expertise in Māori education
  • want to explore culturally grounded approaches to education.

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 Master of Māori Studies

As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.

Master of Māori Studies core courses

Māori Education courses

Compulsory course

Choose 30 credits from
Course code: 269711 Policy and Development in Māori Education 30 credits

The course provides a critical analysis of policies for Māori education and of selected education policies which impact on Māori education. The role of the state and of school, urban and iwi communities of influence in relation to particular perceptions of Māori, and therefore of appropriate educational policy and development and practice will be explored.

View full course details

Coursework Pathway

Choose 30 credits from
Course code: 269733 Mana Motuhake: Contemporary Issues in Māori & Indigenous Education 30 credits

An analysis of power, politics and resistance that underpin a range of contemporary and topical social issues which impact on Māori and/or indigenous education. A critical examination of the role of advocacy, activism and protest in advancing Māori and indigenous rights and aspirations in the context of education.

View full course details
Course code: 269734 Mana Whānau: Whānau Engagement in Education 30 credits

A critical examination of the role of whanau participation in education and the ways in which educators, educational institutions and organisations are able to engage with their Māori community to ensure successful social, cultural and educational outcomes for their Māori students within the paradigm of whanau ora.

View full course details

Subject courses: Coursework Pathway (30 credits) or Research Pathway (up to 30 credits)

Course code: 150701 Tino Rangatiratanga: Strategic Māori Development 30 credits

Strategies for Māori advancement are examined within a Māori development framework. Barriers to development and the facilitation of positive development are explored using criteria relevant to indigenous self-determination. There is a focus on land, fisheries, social policy, health, Treaty settlements and opportunities for positive development.

View full course details
Course code: 150702 Pae Ora: Māori Health Advancement 30 credits

Strategies for the advancement of Māori health will be explored with a particular focus on health planning, national Māori health related strategies, health funding, the delivery of health services, and the link between Māori health strategies and positive Māori development.

View full course details
Course code: 150703 He Tātai Arorangi: Māori Astronomy 30 credits

An advanced exploration of Māori and Indigenous astronomy, examining epistemological foundations, historical applications, and modern relevance. Students critically analyse how Māori and Indigenous celestial knowledge contributes to timekeeping, ecological understanding, environmental sustainability, ritual, ceremony and contemporary practices.

View full course details
Course code: 150704 He Hokinga Mahara: Hauora theory to praxis 30 credits

This course focusses on national and/or international Indigenous health perspectives and approaches. Students will compare and contrast theoretical and philosophical viewpoints of indigenous health and wellbeing development. This will include an examination of various indigenous health and wellbeing practices. Students will engage in innovative, creative and self-determining actions to (re)design practical health and wellbeing solutions within a community and/or organisations.

View full course details
Course code: 150710 Te Arero Kaiaka 30 credits

A focus on the use of Māori language at home, in the workplace, in social situations, in sport and recreation. Students will be encouraged to express ideas and opinions in Māori with confidence and to incorporate new words into the vocabulary as indicated. The significance of local idiom will be an important part of the course.

Prerequisites: 300310 (B+) and 300311 (B+), or Appraisal Required

View full course details
Course code: 150711 Te Tau-Ihu o te Reo: Advanced Māori Literature 30 credits

Tuatahi he ako i te taumata momo reo, te kawa o tātau marae pēnei i te tangihanga, whakataukī, pepeha, kōrero pūrākau, waiata tawhito. Tuarua he kaupapa mai i te rēanga poropiti Māori o ērā atu rau tau. Ka tātaritia hoki ngā kōrero mo tērā poropiti a Te Kooti Ārikirangi Te Tūruki i ahu mai ai ngā kaupapa maha e pā ana ki te mana motuhake. Tuatoru kā tātaritia ngā kōrero e pā ana ki tēnei kaupapa hohonu, e taukapo ai ōnā kaupapa ko te poroporoaki tēnā. This course explores language forms used in marae procedure, and language associated with tangihanga, whakataukī, pepeha, kōrero pūrākau, waiata tawhito. In addition the prophecies and aspirations of Te Kooti Ārikirangi Te Tūruki are explored. There is also an examination of the oral narrative and written literature associated with poroporoaki.

Prerequisites: Appraisal Required

View full course details
Course code: 150740 Hangarau: Māori and technology 30 credits

An analysis of technology, its history and contemporary applications as it relates to te ao Māori and the implications of technology use for whānau, hapū and iwi development. A critical examination of the role of technology in advancing Māori and indigenous rights and future aspirations.

View full course details
Course code: 150741 Te Amokura: Contemporary Leadership in Māori Development 30 credits

A critical examination of traditional and contemporary forms of Māori professional, personal and cultural leadership and the role of iwi, community and tribal organisations in governance.

View full course details
Course code: 269733 Mana Motuhake: Contemporary Issues in Māori & Indigenous Education 30 credits

An analysis of power, politics and resistance that underpin a range of contemporary and topical social issues which impact on Māori and/or indigenous education. A critical examination of the role of advocacy, activism and protest in advancing Māori and indigenous rights and aspirations in the context of education.

View full course details
Course code: 269734 Mana Whānau: Whānau Engagement in Education 30 credits

A critical examination of the role of whanau participation in education and the ways in which educators, educational institutions and organisations are able to engage with their Māori community to ensure successful social, cultural and educational outcomes for their Māori students within the paradigm of whanau ora.

View full course details

Part Two

Coursework Pathway

Choose 60 credits from
Course code: 150873 Research Report Māori Studies (60) 60 credits

Research Pathway

Choose between 90 and 120 credits from
Course code: 150816 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

View full course details
Course code: 150817 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

Corequisites: 150816

View full course details
Course code: 150881 Thesis 90 Credit Part 1 45 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

View full course details
Course code: 150882 Thesis 90 Credit Part 2 45 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.

Corequisites: 150881

View full course details

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

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

Specific requirements

Fees and scholarships

Fees and scholarships

2026 tuition fees

  • Domestic students: $10,652
  • International students: $38,840

Tuition fees are estimates only. The exact fees charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment. The estimates are for full-time study (120 credits). Fees are in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The estimates do not include the Student Services Fee. This fee is $1,164 for on-campus students and $948 for distance students for full-time study (120 credits). For more information about this fee and other fees you may need to pay, see non-tuition fees.

There may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

Course fees

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 Inland Revenue website.

Scholarship and award opportunities

Search our scholarships and awards

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

Careers and job opportunities

Careers encompass roles within marae, whānau, hapū iwi organisations as well as the environmental, government and corporate arenas.

  • Māori education specialist
  • Curriculum designer or advisor
  • Kura kaupapa or bilingual education leader
  • Lecturer or academic researcher
  • Māori language teacher or revitalisation coordinator
  • Education policy advisor.

Related study options