Undergraduate study in Māori-medium Education

Kei Te Puna Wānanga tētahi hōtaka mō koutou e hiahia ana kia whakangungua hei pouako mō ō tātou kura reo Māori mā te huarahi o te reo Māori. Ko te ingoa o te hōtaka nei, ko Te Huarahi Māori.

If you are proficient in te reo Māori and want to work as a primary teacher in Māori-medium schools (including Kura Kaupapa Māori, Kura ā iwi, immersion and bilingual schools and classrooms) then the Huarahi Māori specialisation will equip you for this. It will also qualify you to work as a teacher in general primary or intermediate schools.

You will be in high demand once you have qualified as there is a national shortage of teachers of te reo Māori in bilingual settings. You will also have the advantage of learning about both the New Zealand curriculum and Māori-medium curriculum, allowing you to move between English-medium primary and intermediate schools and Māori-medium.

Huarahi Māori is a three-year specialisation within the Bachelor of Education (Teaching). It introduces you to the Māori-medium curriculum Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and develops your knowledge and skills in the areas of te reo matatini (literacy), pāngarau (numeracy), tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori and Māori pedagogy.

It emphasises the acquisition and application of practical skills by observing and teaching in Māori medium, bilingual and mainstream classrooms during noho ā kura (practicum) for 20 weeks over the course of your study. You'll gain practical experience in three schools: two Māori medium school placements plus another school of your choice, either English or Māori-medium.

The programme is shaped by a commitment to fairness and social justice. It is underpinned by the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to ensure equitable outcomes in learning. The qualification will allow you to be a leader in the Māori world, with knowledge across a range of areas.

It is taught at both our City and Tai Tokerau (Whangārei) campuses.

You can complete a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Huarahi Māori in areas such as:

• Developmental and psychological theory of learning
• Hauora
• Ngā Toi: dance, drama, music and visual art
• Pāngarau and tauanga
• Pedagogy and the role of a teacher
• Planning teaching and assessing with the Māori-medium Marautanga Hangarau curriculum 
• Pūtaiao
• Te Aromatawai mō te Ako me te Whakaako: assessment
• Te reo and bilingual education
• The history and sociological context of New Zealand education
• Tikanga ā Iwi

The Bachelor of Education (Teaching) other specialisations – Primary and Early Childhood Education – also contain courses in Te Reo and Te Ao Māori.

You can also study a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Māori Studies, which includes courses in:

• Matauranga: Māori knowledge
• Spoken Māori
• Te Ao Māori
• Tikanga
• Written Māori

A Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Education, includes courses in:

• Māori education
• Schooling ethnic diversity
• Teaching languages in schools
• Treaty politics in education

The University of Auckland offers a range of scholarships every year. Find out more here.

In addition, you will be eligible to apply for TeachNZ scholarships:

• Māori Medium (Primary)
• Career Change Māori Medium
• Kupe Scholarships for Māori and Pacific High Achievers

Find out more at TeachNZ.

Student Hubs

The Student Hubs are your physical gateway to Waipapa Taumata Rau | the University of Auckland.

The Student Hubs services are available seven days a week at the City, Grafton and Tai Tonga campuses and six days a week at Tai Tokerau, with friendly staff available to provide you with advice on any aspect of your studies and life at the University. Find out more.

During your studies we have a dedicated team of staff to support you – whether academic or personal. There is also a range of support services specific to Māori students.