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Māori and Indigenous Studies

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.

Learning about Māori culture, language and knowledge is not just for Māori; it is crucial for all New Zealanders and international visitors to comprehend how Aotearoa/New Zealand’s unique Indigenous culture defines New Zealand’s identity - it is a cultural, social, economic and political force.

Also, learn how Māori Studies is located in the broader and global context of Indigenous Studies; a discipline that has flourished in the last decade as Indigenous scholars have confronted some of the major issues facing the world, such as efforts to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Increasingly employers are looking for graduates who are trained in disciplines like law, science, engineering, or business, but who also have a knowledge of Māori and Indigenous Studies. If you're doing a double major or thinking about it, consider one of your majors (or minors) in the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies.  An eclectic selection of new and traditional elements including kapa haka, ngā taonga pūoro and creative technologies delivered by quality academics who are fluent in Māori, and some in Pacific and European languages can diversify your knowledge and add value to the theoretical aspect of your qualification.

Our range of exciting cultural papers are suitable for people of all ethnicities and brings about a new dimension to the evolving world of Māori performing and visual arts. We also have award-winning Te Matatini composers, language teachers, cultural exponents and internationally renowned Indigenous scholars.

The Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies boasts some of the most prominent Māori academics in Aotearoa/New Zealand, whose depth of cultural and historical knowledge is recognised at both the national and international levels. More than any other university, three FMIS academic staff sit on the Waitangi Tribunal.

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Key information

Study Locations:Hamilton, Tauranga
Papers offered differ by location. The Catalogue of Papers has full location info.
Area of Study:

Career opportunities

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

Study in Tauranga

In Tauranga, Māori and Indigenous Studies is available as an undergraduate subject.


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.

Scholarships and prizes

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Contacts

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