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 strong foundation in mātauranga Māori
Learn about the Māori transition from dominant to minority in Aotearoa New Zealand and understand how we arrived at this point in our collective histories. Examine the relationships between Māori and other cultures in New Zealand, Polynesia, and the world. Help us to imagine and create a better, fairer, more just society.
Learn the fundamentals, the nuances and the complexities of reo Māori me ōna tikanga | Māori language and culture. Develop the ability to think independently, articulate Māori positions on issues, and share clear, professional advice backed by mātauranga Māori and solid research foundations.
Gain skills are highly sought after in teaching, government, law, broadcasting, and other knowledge-based sectors.
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
Choose your study path
You can do Māori Studies as your major subject in a three-year Bachelor of Arts (BA).
Many students broaden their expertise by pairing Māori Studies as a double major with subjects such as Anthropology, History, Pacific Studies, and Political Science.
If you’re studying for a double degree or conjoint degree, Māori Studies goes well with Commerce, Law, Science, or Teaching.
Our BA gives you many ways to structure your study and to combine Māori Studies with other subjects.
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.
Study options
Find out how you can take Māori Studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
If you want to study with us, but need more skills
The Tohu Māoritanga is a one-year, full-time qualification all about developing your cultural capacity and study skills. It’s a pre-degree designed for people who want to study at university.
The Tohu Māoritanga 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.
Future careers
Māori Studies graduates work in a wide range of roles that make the most of their cultural competency skills.
These skills, along with understanding mātauranga Māori, influences, and communication make graduates valuable across many different industries, including:
- 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. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Humanities and Social Sciences
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The Erasmus Scholarship is open to second year students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington who want to major in Greek or Latin.
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This scholarship is designed to support second year students studying English at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington by removing financial barriers to study.
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This scholarship is designed to support second year students studying History at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington by removing financial barriers to study.
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.
Other scholarships
We also offer specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Humanities and Social Sciences
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The Erasmus Scholarship is open to second year students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington who want to major in Greek or Latin.
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This scholarship was established in 1980 by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon. Sir John Marshall, GBE, CH, BA, LLM, Hon. LLD, to encourage the study of Political Science at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. The Scholarship was extended to include International Relations.
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This scholarship was established to encourage students to complete a major in Language Sciences at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, and continue to further study or careers in this field.
Postgraduate study
If you choose to continue to postgraduate study with us after finishing your degree, you’ll join a talented team of internationally recognised researchers doing innovative work.
Postgraduate Indigenous Studies
If you get good results in your undergraduate study, you could choose to do Māori Studies or Indigenous Studies at postgraduate level, including Master’s study.
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.
If you're facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
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.