He mihi
Tēnei ka noho i te roro o tōku whare o Te Tumu Herenga Waka
‘Te pātaka kai iringa o te kupu o te kōrero’
Ka titiro whakawaho
Ki te pae tukutuku o te ao hurihuri
E rāhiri mai nei i a koutou e te tī, e te tā, o wīwī, o wāwā
Nau mai, haere mai, whakatau mai ki tēnei whārangi ipurangi
Tākina te kawa, ko te kawa o tūārangi
Tākina te kawa, ko te kawa o mohoa noa nei
Tākina te kawa, ko Te Kawa a Māui e!
Build a Māori foundation for university study
The Tohu Māoritanga (Tohu Māori) is a one-year, full-time qualification all about developing your cultural capacity and study skills. The Tohu Māori is a pre-degree designed for people who want to study at university.
The Tohu Māori introduces you to the University space through kaupapa Māori to help you understand both worlds. You don't need to have University Entrance to study for this diploma or be Māori—you just need to be at least 16 years old. Mature students and people wanting to upskill are also welcome.
Studying for a Tohu Māori will see you explore marae protocol, as well as waiata performance. Many graduates—including some of your tutors and lecturers—used this diploma as the first step towards starting a full degree.
Hear from others who’ve studied the Tohu Māori
Be immersed in kaupapa Māori while you study
Our facilities are based on sustainability practice, tikanga Māori, and Maori teaching styles, all integrated with our marae wharenui at our back door.
Ngā Mokopuna is our purpose-built teaching and learning space. It brings together mātauranga Māori and Western science innovations, including renewable energy and climate change transition technologies. It incorporates our offices, student study areas, and teaching spaces. The first floor features the marae kitchen and dining area.
We’ve been a pioneer in Māori study and scholarship for decades. We first offered Te Reo Māori and Māori Studies in the 1960s, and in 1980 we became the first university in Aotearoa to establish a marae on campus. Our wharenui—Te Tumu Herenga Waka—opened in December 1986.
Ngā mokopuna in action
What you'll learn
The aim of the Tohu Māori is to provide you with skills to help you succeed at university, and to become more familiar with Māori ideas and practices.
You’ll improve your critical reading, writing, comprehension, and research skills, so by the end of the programme, you'll be able to:
- hold a basic conversation in te reo Māori
- perform waiata
- observe and take part in marae customs at Te Herenga Waka Marae on Kelburn campus.
You’ll also:
- learn about the development of Māori culture and society in pre-European Aotearoa New Zealand
- gain an understanding of important Māori events and practices, both past and present
- examine ideas and literature about the social and political environment Māori people are part of today.
You'll be taught in a variety of ways, including lectures, tutorials, and independent study. The whānau learning environment will help you transition into university life.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
How our degrees work
Flexible, or structured? Learn more about the different types of undergraduate degrees at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Get accepted into this diploma
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed secondary school in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
1. Before enrolment, a candidate for the DipMāori / Tohu Māori shall have been accepted by the Head of Te Kawa a Māui—the School of Māori Studies as likely to benefit from the course of study.
Diploma requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the Tohu Māori | DipMāori
For this qualification, you'll need to complete at least 120 points.
Include six courses:
- Te Tū Marae / Marae Practice (Te Tū Marae - Marae Practice (MAOR 001))
- Waiata Tawhito / Waiata Performance (Waiata Tawhito - Waiata Performance (MAOR 002))
- one of these pairs of courses:
- either Te Tīmatanga / Introduction to Māori Language (Te Tīmatanga / Introduction to Māori Language (MAOR 101)) and Te Arumanga / Elementary Māori Language (Te Arumanga / Elementary Māori Language (MAOR 102))
- or Wana te Wanawana / Māori Language 1A (Wana te Wanawana / Māori Language 1A (MAOR 111)) and Wanawana te Tū / Māori Language 1B (Wanawana te Tū / Māori Language 1B (MAOR 112))
- either Whakakokoi Mātauranga / Academic Skills A (Whakakokoi Mātauranga / Academic Skills A (MAOR 103)) or Whakakokoi Mātauranga / Academic Skills B (Whakakokoi Mātauranga / Academic Skills B (MAOR 104))
- and one further course from:
- FCOM 111
- Great Ideas / Whakaaro Hirahira (Great Ideas / Whakaaro Hirahira (FHSS 103))
- Exploring the World through Languages and Cultures (Exploring the World through Languages and Cultures (LANG 110))
- Te Iwi Māori me āna Tikanga / Māori Society and Culture (Te Iwi Māori me āna Tikanga / Māori Society and Culture (MAOR 123))
- Media, Society and Politics (Media, Society and Politics (MDIA 102))
- Introduction to Management (Introduction to Management (MGMT 101))
- Introductory Applied Statistics for Business (Introductory Applied Statistics for Business (QUAN 102))
- Your Body, Your Data, Your World: Science in Everyday Life (Your Body, Your Data, Your World: Science in Everyday Life (SCIS 101))
- Statistics in Practice (Statistics in Practice (STAT 193))
Build your diploma
While there are no major or minor subjects for the Tohu Māori, you’ll take six courses:
- two courses about marae practice and waiata performance
- two te reo Māori courses
- one course about academic writing and research
- one other course from a range of subjects:
- Languages and Cultures
- Māori Studies
- Media Studies
- Management
- Mathematics
- Science.
Future careers
People study for the Tohu Māori as the first step before starting a full degree—for example, a Bachelor’s degree in Māori Studies, Science, or Law.
With further study at university you could go on to work in many different industries, such as:
- health
- business
- government
- law
- technology.
More career information
Find out more about careers.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.
We encourage you to apply—many scholarships don’t receive enough applications.
Scholarships for undergraduate study
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Applicants must be school leavers of Māori or Pasifika descent intending to enrol in a Bachelor of Laws, the first in their family to attend university, and facing financial hardship.
-
Applicants must be school leavers of Māori and Pasifika descent intending to enrol fulltime in an undergraduate degree within the New Zealand School of Music and experiencing financial hardship.
-
This scholarship is open to female students of the New Zealand School of Music who are studying or who aspire to study sonic arts. The successful applicant will be chosen on the basis of prior attainment and identified potential, taking into account, where appropriate, financial need.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
We also have specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. We encourage you to apply—many scholarships don’t receive enough applications.
Scholarships for undergraduate study
-
Applicants must be school leavers of Māori or Pasifika descent intending to enrol in a Bachelor of Laws, the first in their family to attend university, and facing financial hardship.
-
Applicants must be school leavers of Māori and Pasifika descent intending to enrol fulltime in an undergraduate degree within the New Zealand School of Music and experiencing financial hardship.
-
This scholarship is open to female students of the New Zealand School of Music who are studying or who aspire to study sonic arts. The successful applicant will be chosen on the basis of prior attainment and identified potential, taking into account, where appropriate, financial need.
Keep on learning
Once you’ve completed the Tohu Māori, you’ll be able to enrol in most of our Bachelor's degrees.
If you decide to do a Bachelor of Arts (BA), you may be able to cross-credit up to 60 points from your Tohu Māori.
Arahanga Scholarship
Māori students who successfully complete the Tohu Māori and enrol in a Bachelor’s degree can apply for this scholarship.
Accommodation
Live in accommodation close to campus at one of our:
- catered halls of residence
- self-catered apartments or flats
- self-catered studios.
We provide care and support across our halls and flatting communities.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
And if you're ever having trouble with money, talk with us. You could be eligible for government or community support, and we have a hardship fund for financial emergencies.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.
Wellington Global Exchange
If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.
Study Abroad and Exchange Programme
If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here.