Looking to the past for your future.
Māori Studies is an entry point for students wishing to engage with knowledge about the Māori world. It is a broad programme dedicated to the study of te reo Māori (Māori language), tikanga Māori (Māori customary lore) and aspects of te ao Māori (the Māori world).
Māori society is not static. Engaging in these three areas together enables you to enter this world and provides you with the foundations to analyse how this body of knowledge can be applied in today’s ever-changing world.
Why study Māori Studies?
Māori Studies will provide you with an enhanced knowledge and understanding of the Māori language, Māori customary lore and the Māori world. This knowledge and understanding may be integrated with other studies or professional areas such as business, education, health, law, management, the media, public administration and social work.
Government ministries, businesses, social agencies and educational institutions in New Zealand recognise the need for employees with such knowledge and skills. Excellent employment prospects await graduates with knowledge of issues affecting Māori and other peoples in New Zealand.
The Māori Studies programme will equip students with a wide range of skills giving graduates:
- A high level of fluency in the Māori language
- An understanding of contemporary Māori issues combined with an understanding of, for example, history, cultural expression and environmental concerns
- An awareness of ethical issues in relation to Māori in the context of past and present practices, and society and culture
- Skills in intercultural communication
- Research skills
- Analytical thinking
- Communication skills
- Team work
- Independent judgement
- An ability to relate to people from a wide range of backgrounds
Māori Studies encourages you to explore the connectivity between different disciplines so as to enable indigenous communities to determine their own future.
Graduates develop a multidisciplinary, culturally inflected understanding of contemporary Māori concepts and issues, including the use of cooperation rather than competition, listening as well as communicating with others, and respecting differences.
Career opportunities
Graduates with a degree in Māori Studies have a broad interdisciplinary knowledge base.
This can lead to careers in the fields of:
- Government ministries
- Policy and governance
- Teaching
- Arts advisors, museum curators
- Business
- Law
- Public health
- Community organisations
Māori Studies graduates are needed to help find ways to address the needs and interests of the Māori community and to help to promote and implement the goals of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Having more than one major in your degree, or a major plus a minor, will make you more marketable and attractive to prospective employers. A major in Māori Studies will be your point of difference in your chosen career.
Background required
No knowledge of the Māori language or culture is required for entry to Māori Studies. Students may be placed in more advanced Maāori language papers appropriate to their level of knowledge. There is also a University-approved process where prior non-credentialed learning is recognised for credit for some papers.
Qualifications
Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
- Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
- Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
- Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework))
- Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Programme requirements
Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Māori Studies
Level | Papers | Points |
---|---|---|
100-level | MAOR 102 Maori Society MAOR 111 Te Kākano 1 MAOR 112 Te Kākano 2 | 18 18 18 |
200-level | MAOR 211 Te Pihinga 1 MAOR 212 Te Pihinga 2 One further 200-level MAOR paper or PACI 201 | 18 18 18 |
300-level | MAOR 311 Te Māhuri 1 MAOR 312 Te Māhuri 2 One additional 300-level MAOR paper One further paper from 300-level MAOR or INDV papers or PACI 301 | 18 18 18 18 |
Plus | 180 further points; must include at least 108 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | 180 |
Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Māori Studies
Papers |
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Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Māori Studies
The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Māori Studies is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).
Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework)) in Māori Studies
Papers |
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INGS 501 or one 400-level INDV or PACI paper may be substituted for one 400-level MAOR paper. |
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Māori Studies
Thesis |
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Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Māori Studies or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Māori Studies must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Māori Studies prior to undertaking the thesis. |
Minor subject requirements
Māori Studies as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc degree
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree
Level | Papers | Points |
---|---|---|
100-level | Two 100-level MAOR papers | 36 |
200-level | One 200-level MAOR paper, and one further INDV, MAOR or PACI paper at 200-level or above | 36 |
300-level | One 300-level MAOR paper | 18 |
Total | 90 |
Papers
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a selection of on-campus papers will be made available via distance and online learning for eligible students.
Find out which papers are available and how to apply on our COVID-19 website
Paper code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
---|---|---|---|---|
MAOR102 | 2021 | Māori Society | 18 points | First Semester, Second Semester |
MAOR108 | 2021 | Waiata: Te Tīmatanga | 18 points | First Semester |
MAOR110 | 2021 | Introduction to Conversational Māori | 18 points | First Semester, Second Semester, Summer School |
MAOR111 | 2021 | Te Kākano 1 | 18 points | First Semester |
MAOR112 | 2021 | Te Kākano 2 | 18 points | Second Semester |
MAOR120 | 2021 | Introducing the Māori World | 18 points | 1st Non standard period |
MAOR202 | 2021 | Māori and Tikanga | 18 points | First Semester |
MAOR203 | 2021 | Ngāi Tahu Society | 18 points | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2022 |
MAOR204 | 2021 | Te Tiriti o Waitangi | 18 points | First Semester |
MAOR206 | 2021 | Ngā Pūkenga Tuhi | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
MAOR207 | 2021 | Ngā Kōrero Nehe - Tribal Histories | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
MAOR208 | 2021 | Ngā Manu Taki | 18 points | Second Semester |
MAOR210 | 2021 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2022 |
MAOR211 | 2021 | Te Pihinga 1 | 18 points | First Semester |
MAOR212 | 2021 | Te Pihinga 2 | 18 points | Second Semester |
MAOR213 | 2021 | Te Mana o Te Reo | 18 points | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2022 |
MAOR301 | 2021 | He Whakarākai | 18 points | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2022 |
MAOR303 | 2021 | Ngāi Tahu and the Natural World | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
MAOR304 | 2021 | Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti - Waitangi Tribunal | 18 points | Second Semester |
MAOR306 | 2021 | Ngā Pūkenga Tuhi | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
MAOR307 | 2021 | Te Tūtakitanga o Ngā Ao e Rua | 18 points | First Semester |
MAOR308 | 2021 | Ngā Hākinakina a Te Māori | 18 points | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2022 |
MAOR310 | 2021 | Special Topic: Ngā Pakanga Nunui: New Zealand Wars | 18 points | Second Semester |
MAOR311 | 2021 | Te Māhuri 1 | 18 points | First Semester |
MAOR312 | 2021 | Te Māhuri 2 | 18 points | Second Semester |
MAOR313 | 2021 | Te Hiringa Taketake | 18 points | Not offered in 2021 |
MAOR316 | 2021 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2022 |
MAOR401 | 2021 | He Whakarākai (Whakatīeke) | 20 points | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2022 |
MAOR404 | 2021 | Toitū te Whenua - Land, Lore and Colonialism | 20 points | First Semester |
MAOR407 | 2021 | Presenting Pacific Histories | 20 points | Not offered in 2021 |
MAOR410 | 2021 | Special Topic: Indigenous Identities | 20 points | Second Semester |
MAOR413 | 2021 | Te Tātari i Te Kaupapa - Māori and Indigenous Education | 20 points | Not offered in 2021 |
MAOR414 | 2021 | He Pūkōrero - Theory and Research Methodologies | 20 points | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2022 |
MAOR417 | 2021 | Special Topic | 20 points | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2022 |
MAOR427 | 2021 | He Tuhituhinga | 20 points | Not offered, expected to be offered in 2022 |
MAOR431 | 2021 | Te Kōhure | 20 points | First Semester |
MAOR490 | 2021 | He Raukura | 60 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period |
MAOR590 | 2021 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period, 2nd Non standard period |
Key information for future students
Contact us
Te Tumu, School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies
Email maori-studies@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/tetumu