Study Māori Health, Subjects, University of Otago, New Zealand

Connecting with whānau aspirations for hauora.

Learn how to weave together te ao Māori and health practice to make a difference for hauora across the life course.

Kia matomato te tipu o te pā harakeke.

Learn from inspirational hauora Māori teachers, how to connect with and work alongside Māori individuals, whānau, and communities.

Programme requirements
Minor subject requirements

A Māori father carrying his daughter (large image)

Understanding Māori health for the benefit of our communities

Māori Health focuses on making a difference for Māori health outcomes. You will learn about providing culturally responsive health practice when working with Māori individuals, whānau, communities, organisations and populations.

Our immersive learning environment empowers our students to impact on health care for Māori by:

Developing tools to work with Māori individuals, whānau, and communities
Applying te ao Māori values within the New Zealand health system
Becoming an agent of change for hauora Māori

Specifically, you will learn:

Historical, social, and cultural contexts to Māori health and strategies for understanding and addressing health inequities and key health issues, including Māori health research
How to apply and integrate indigenous knowledge and practices in your chosen health and social services-related career
Life course stages and health promotion, and how to grow your health knowledge base
How to work within Māori communities in a way that reflects te ao Māori and integrates your learning into positive or strengths-based health practice

Make a difference in a rewarding career

New approaches to health care are required as we face important health challenges.

These include:

An increase in the number of older adults and people living with multiple long-term conditions and disability
Limited health resources
Environmental change and its effects on health

With these challenges comes an increasing need to develop new healthcare approaches.

Māori Health is available as a major subject for the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) and as an endorsement for the Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health (PGCertPH).

These career-focused qualifications address the skills required to work with patients, populations, and communities to promote health and ensure patients are accessing and receiving the most appropriate care.

Career opportunities

As a graduate majoring in Māori Health, you may take up roles within the Māori health, public health, healthcare, disability and social services sectors that work directly with communities and their organisations.

You will have the knowledge and skills to address the determinants of health and their impacts, ensure organisations foster equity and positive outcomes for Māori, and be culturally and clinically responsive.

You will develop a positive attitude to make a difference for Māori health across diverse roles and support the growth of the Māori health and disability workforce.

Student profile – Alisa Te Ao

BHealSc student Alisa Te Ao Studying Māori Health has made Alisa Te Ao aware that meaningful change can take place at all levels of the healthcare system.

“I had always put dentistry and medicine on a pedestal and was sure they were the only pathways I could take to influence change for Māori and Pacific people. However, after some research, I found the Māori Health major and my outlook completely changed.

“Through this major, I’ve been taught how to think, not what to think, and I attribute this to the teaching staff. They nurture your curiosity and foster an overwhelming passion for wanting to create change within the healthcare system, so it’s equitable for everyone in Aotearoa.

“Meaningful change can be made through all positions in all sectors of the healthcare system and I would love to work on a community level with those who are in need.

“For the first time in my life, my culture has not been treated as a hindrance to my learning but an asset. I used to view failing HSFY (Health Sciences First Year) as my greatest failure but now, after studying Māori Health, I’ve realised it was one of the best things to have happened to me.”

Qualifications

Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages:

Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc)
Postgraduate Certificate in Public Health (PGCertPH)

Please note: The Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) is not the same as Health Sciences First Year (HSFY).

Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHealSc) majoring in Māori Health

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	MAOR 102 Māori Society HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 PUBH 192 Foundations of Epidemiology or POPH 192 Population Health MAOR 102 can be taken during the second year of study	18 18 18 18
200-level	CMHC 201 Human Health Across the Lifespan MAOH 201 Hauora Māori in Practice: Working with Individuals and Whānau PUBH 202 Health Promotion PUBH 204 Hauora Māori: Challenges and Opportunities at least two of CMHC 211 Enabling Wellness and Ability I MAOR 202 Māori and Tikanga MAOR 204 Te Tiriti o Waitangi MAOR 211 Te Pihinga 1 PUBH 203 Health Policy and Politics SOWK 236 The Treaty and Social Services SPEX 206 Te Pū o te Ora Advanced Māori Physical Education and Health	18 18 18 18 36
300-level	MAOH 301 Hauora Māori in Practice: Working with Organisations and Communities PUBH 304 Rangahau Hauora Māori - Māori Health Research at least two of CMHC 301 Applied Aspects of Human Health CMHC 311 Enabling Wellness and Ability II PUBH 303 Public and Global Health: Current Issues SOWK 304 Kaupapa Māori, and Indigenous Approaches to Social Work SPEX 306 Te Pou o te Koronga Advanced Māori Physical Education and Health	18 18 36
Plus	108 further points The following papers are suggested: BSNS 111, EDUC 105, MANT 101, MAOR 112, MAOR 110, SOWK 111; BITC 201, MAOR 212, PACH 201, PUBH 211, SOCI 205; INDS 301, INDS 302, MAOR 311, MAOR 312, PACH 301	108
Total		360

Māori Health as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BEntr, 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 Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Sciences (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	MAOR 102 Māori Society	18
200-level	MAOH 201 Hauora Māori in Practice: Working with Individuals and Whānau* PUBH 204 Hauora Māori: Challenges and Opportunities *Prerequisites for MAOH 201 also include HUBS 191, 192 and POPH 192 or PUBH 192	18 18
300-level	MAOH 301 Hauora Māori in Practice: Working with Organisations and Communities PUBH 304 Rangahau Hauora Māori - Māori Health Research	18 18
Total		90