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BA - Māori and Indigenous Studies as a major

If you’re fascinated by the history and creative activities of humankind and how this shapes societies and our future, then a Bachelor of Arts (BA) is for you. Our graduates are in demand for their flexible skills, practical outlook and depth of understanding they bring to their roles.

As Indigenous world views become increasingly important to society, a rapidly emerging area of study is Indigenous Studies. The Māori creative and performing arts papers diversify your existing program and provide unique insights into Māori tikanga.


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Key information

Years: 3
Points: 360
Start Dates: Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July)
Estimated Fees* (Domestic): $6,776 - $7,821 per year
Estimated Fees* (International): $29,425 - $38,305 per year
Entry Requirements: Undergraduate International
Area of Study:
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). *Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.

Career opportunities

  • Broadcasting and Journalism
  • Educationalist
  • Government Policy Analyst
  • International Development Practitioner
  • Iwi Development
  • Māori Creative and Performing Arts
  • Research Consultant

Degree Planner

Degree planner — BA in Māori and Indigenous Studies

Year 1

One of
MAORI101,111 or 112

Field of
MAORI and PACIS 100 Level

Field of
MAORI and PACIS 100 Level

Elective

Elective

Year 2

Field of
MAORI and PACIS 200 Level

Field of
MAORI and PACIS 200 Level

Field of
MAORI and PACIS 200 Level

Elective

Elective

Elective

  • Major
  • Compulsory
  • Elective

Māori and Indigenous Studies provides students the opportunity to develop a depth of expertise in Māori and Indigenous Studies, whilst also enabling expansion for that knowledge within a broader context by allowing the flexibility for students to complete a range of papers from within Māori and Indigenous Studies, as well as papers from other fields. The major includes critical thinking in innovative and creative ways related to Māori and Indigenous knowledge systems, and emerging methodologies and critical theory within the discipline of Indigenous Studies.

Māori and Indigenous Studies is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Climate Change (BCC), and the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc). Māori and Indigenous Studies may also be included as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.

To complete Māori and Indigenous Studies as a single major for the BA, BCC and the BSocSc, students must gain 135 points from papers listed for Māori and Indigenous Studies, including 105 points above 100 level, and 60 points above 200 level. Students must complete MAORI102; 15 points from MAORI101, MAORI111 or MAORI112; MAORI202, MAORI203; 15 points from the 200 level papers listed for Māori and Indigenous Studies or Pacific and Indigenous Studies; MAORI302, MAORI303; and 30 points from the 300 level papers listed for Māori and Indigenous Studies or Pacific and Indigenous Studies.

To complete Māori and Indigenous Studies as part of a double major for the BA, BCC, BSocSc or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points from papers listed for Māori and Indigenous Studies, including 90 points above 100 level, and 45 points above 200 level. Students must complete MAORI102; 15 points from MAORI101, MAORI111 or MAORI112; MAORI202, MAORI203; 15 points from the 200 level papers listed for Māori and Indigenous Studies or Pacific and Indigenous Studies; MAORI302, MAORI303; and 15 points from the 300 level papers listed for Māori and Indigenous Studies or Pacific and Indigenous Studies

To complete a minor in Māori and Indigenous Studies, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Māori and Indigenous Studies major, including at least 30 points above 100 level.

Kaupapa Māori Psychology is also available as a minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled. Please see Kaupapa Māori Psychology for further information.

100 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
MAORI100Kōkiri: Academic Skills for Indigenous Studies15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper introduces academic skills that are directly useful for the rest of your university studies but will also provide a foundation for critical thinking and clear communication beyond the university. We focus on academic conventions in relation to Indigenous Studies: understanding the Indigenous and colonial contexts of tert...
MAORI101Introduction to Conversational Māori for Absolute Beginners15.024A (Hamilton) & 24B (Hamilton)
For absolute beginner students, this introductory paper to conversational Maori pays particular attention to pronunciation, greetings, and forms of language associated with certain cultural functions, such as mihimihi, as well as tasks such as thanking people, farewelling, communicating personal information, and naming everyday obj...
MAORI102He Hīnatore ki te Ao Māori: Introducing the Māori World15.024A (Hamilton), 24B (Hamilton) & 24G (Online)
An introduction to the Maori world view, social organisation, cultural concepts, including Maori astronomy, and their relevance in a contemporary society.
MAORI103Introduction to Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies15.024B (Hamilton)
This course examines Maori, Pacific and Indigenous peoples' philosophies and relationships with land, language, culture, resources, development and political frameworks within settler-colonial states and Pacific nations and others.
MAORI111Te Reo Māori: Introductory 115.024A (Hamilton), 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
An introductory paper for students with little or no knowledge of the Maori language which provides basic everyday language such as: greetings, farewells, focusing on family relationships, numbers, time, shopping, talking about a trip and commands.
MAORI112Te Reo Māori: Introductory 215.024B (Hamilton), 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga)
This paper extends the language and communication skills developed in MAORI111 to include the language of mealtimes, instructions/commands, expression/idioms, describing clothing and parts of the body, and a variety of Marae protocol.
MAORI150Te Tiriti o Waitangi: An Introduction to the Treaty of Waitangi15.024A (Hamilton), 24B (Hamilton), 24I (Hamilton) & 24X (Hamilton)
This paper seeks to provide a sound understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It reviews historical and contemporary interpretations and takes into account the interplay of contextual issues of the time.
MAORI151Te Raranga Kete: Introduction to Māori Fibre Arts15.024A (Hamilton)
An introduction to theoretical and practical components of weaving kete. Students learn to weave kete and critically examine traditional techniques, along with modern day applications.
MAORI157Ngā Mahi a Rehia: An Introduction to Kapa Haka15.024B (Hamilton)
An introduction to the theoretical and practical components of kapa haka as a means of communication and cultural expression in the Maori world.

200 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
CLIMT202Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Responses to Climate Change15.024B (Hamilton)
An analysis of how Maori, Pacific and Indigenous communities respond, adapt and mitigate the challenges presented by climate change drawing on indigenous theoretical approaches and relationships with land, oceans, culture, resources, development and political frameworks within settler-colonial states and Pacific nations and others....
MAORI200Mana Wahine15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper examines foundational aspects of mana wahine scholarship, the impact of colonisation on Maori and Indigenous women, and the resistant spaces negotiated by Maori women including their contributions to decolonisation.
MAORI202Ngā Iho Matua: Māori Philosophy15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper examines the philosophical underpinnings of seminal tikanga Maori concepts, and their influence both historically and in contemporary Maori culture.
MAORI203Decolonising Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples15.024A (Hamilton)
The paper looks at the detrimental effects that research has historically had on Indigenous peoples and the relatively recent creation of research methodologies by Indigenous peoples to counteract Imperial research, and to empower and decolonise.
MAORI204Māori and Pacific Health and Wellbeing15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
This paper looks at health and wellbeing from Maori and Pacific perspectives, including models and frameworks in relation to Health, Sport, Human Performance, and Nursing.
MAORI251Raranga Whakairo: Design Elements in Māori Fibre Arts15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper is a multi-disciplinary focused paper providing students with the opportunity to understand a Maori worldview through the lens of Maori fibre arts praxis. MAORI251 is an introduction to raranga whakairo, the theoretical and practical application of patterns within the weave. Students learn to raranga and critically exam...

300 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
MAORI300Working with Indigenous Communities15.024B (Hamilton) & 24C (Hamilton)
This paper focuses on the critical learnings, knowledge's and pedagogies related to working with whenua, whanau, hapu, iwi, Maori, Pacific and Indigenous communities.
MAORI302Mātauranga Māori, Indigenous Knowledges15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper looks at the influence and forms that Matauranga Maori has had and has taken in various postcolonial formations, including in science and research, education, policy and social reform.
MAORI303Critical Indigenous Theory15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper looks at the key theoretical influences, from Marxism to post-structuralism, upon critical Indigenous studies and the most significant writings by those Indigenous scholars who have chosen to engage with critical theory.
MAORI304Sustainability in Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Contexts15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper looks at Indigenous epistemological formations of sustainability as one of the most pressing issues for Indigenous peoples particularly in the Pacific, and also as a concept where Indigenous peoples can be prominent in influencing discourses.
MAORI310Ngā Pepeha, ngā Whakataukī me ngā Kupu Whakaari: Proverbial and Prophetic Sayings15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper concentrates on examining and analysing proverbial, prophetic and colloquial sayings within Maori culture. Ko te hangaitanga o tenei pepa, he matapaki, he wananga i nga pepeha, whakatauki, huahuatau me nga kupu whakaari a te Maori.
MAORI350Mana Motuhake15.024B (Hamilton)
A critical analysis investigating tribal reconfigurations of mana motuhake in the 21st century, focusing in particular on economic, environmental, cultural and political development.
MAORI363The Impact Lab15.024A (Hamilton), 24A (Tauranga), 24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
This paper provides an opportunity for interdisciplinary teamwork on solutions for a sustainability problem posed by a local organisation. This experience will enable students to reflect on transferable skills developed during their studies and this paper.
MAORI390Kaupapa Rangahau15.024X (Online)
A Directed Study is a taught paper that enables suitably qualified undergraduate students to undertake a piece of extended Indigenous Studies research. Students enrolled in this paper work on a focused piece of research under the guidance of academic staff with relevant expertise.
PSYCH303Indigenous Psychology15.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga)
Students develop a critical analysis of the positions of contemporary Indigenous peoples through discussion and examination of the Western world and New Zealand society. The theory base is drawn predominantly from Maori and indigenous development, community and social psychology and of health and social policy.

500 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
MAORI502Sustainable Resource Issues30.024A (Online)
This paper examines contemporary issues facing natural resource management among indigenous peoples with a particular focus on the experiences of Maori and Pacific peoples.
MAORI552Te Korero, Te Tikanga, Te Wairua30.024B (Online)
Ka tirohia nga tuhinga tawhito, hou hoki me te ahua o te whakatakoto-a-tuhi i te whakaaro, ahakoa reo Maori, reo Pakeha hoki. Ko te whakapakari i te reo-a-tuhi o te akonga kia taunga hoki ki te whai i te aronga o te korero i tuhia tetahi o nga aronga. Kia tutuki pai nei whakaritenga ka nui ake te ahei o nga akonga ki te: panui i te...
MAORI570Te Mahi Rangahau: Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Research Methods and Issues30.024A (Online)
This paper introduces students to a range of research issues, helps students identify and apply the most effective methodology, understand, review and apply various research methods including kaupapa Maori and indigenous epistemologies.
MAORI571Decolonising Theory and Indigenous Studies30.024B (Online)
A seminar programme on indigenous consciousness, knowledge, values and ethics and their applications to contemporary issues such as research ethics, environmental values and cultural practices.
MAORI590He Ketuketunga Kaupapa Kōrero: Directed Study30.024X (Hamilton)
Students have the opportunity to pursue a topic of their own interest under the guidance of academic staff.
MAORI592Dissertation60.024X (Hamilton)
A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation.
MAORI593Māori Thesis90.024X (Hamilton)
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.
MAORI594Māori Thesis120.024X (Hamilton)
An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research.

800 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
MAORI800FMIS MPhil Thesis120.024X (Hamilton)
No description available.

900 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
MAORI900FMIS PhD Thesis120.024I (Hamilton), 24J (Hamilton), 24K (Hamilton) & 24X (Hamilton)
No description available.
MAORI901FMIS Creative Practice Thesis120.024I (Hamilton), 24J (Hamilton), 24K (Hamilton) & 24X (Hamilton)
No description available.

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Study in Tauranga

From 2019, Māori and Indigenous Studies is available as a major BA subject for students in Tauranga. Study at our new CBD campus and get your degree without leaving the Bay.


Contacts

Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies
Phone: 0800 924 528 ext 4737 or +64 7 838 4737
Email: [email protected]