Working in a bicultural environment
Our courses in Māori and Indigenous studies will enhance your understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand's cultural framework, and help you engage with biculturalism and the Treaty in your work environment.
These courses have been categorised into beginner and advanced. Beginner courses are for those with no prior experience with the topic. Advanced courses are best taken when you have work experience or previous study in the topic. If you are unsure about the best fit for you, our friendly student advisors or the course co-ordinator can help you choose the right option.
Beginner courses
(Distance option available)
This course introduces the discipline of socio-cultural anthropology, the peoples and places with whom anthropologists work, and key themes in the study of society and culture.
This course is concerned with understanding the diverse, interconnected world in which we live. By introducing the imperial ventures and intellectual revolutions resulting from European encounters with other peoples and places, students learn about the global scope and comparative perspective of socio-cultural anthropology. As a discipline first emerging in tandem with the making of the modern world, the course introduces the key concepts and research practices by which anthropology continues to make sense of cultural diversity. This also involves an appreciation of ideas of race, culture, and identity through which a world system of unequal exchange relations has been configured, and the critical role of anthropologists exploring social difference, and challenging power, prejudice, and inequality.
(Distance option available)
Beginning with the Treaty of Waitangi, this course looks at significant events and issues in the shaping of contemporary New Zealand society.
The course will explore issues ranging from early Pakeha settlement, the Treaty of Waitangi, colonisation, the NZ wars through to Maori activism, Treaty settlements and claims to self-determination.
A course for those who work, research or engage with Māori communities. Gain communication skills and cultural knowledge to improve confidence when engaging with Te Ao Māori.
Topics include: basic Maori language including pronunciation, greetings, introducing oneself and asking questions; formal and informal marae protocols and customs; traditional and contemporary values and beliefs, social rankings, structures and organizations; the Treaty of Waitangi; the practical application of the Principles of the Treaty.
A course introducing the Māori language to the absolute beginner.
Students will learn basic informal and formal greetings, introductory songs, proverbs, idiom, including a variety from Ngai Tahu, how to introduce themselves, express family relationships and the course will enable them to hold a basic conversation. This is a highly recommended language option for those who might work with Maori people or who just wish to familiarise themselves with the language.
Advanced courses
Explore the local, national and global trends that will materially impact on the future trajectory of Maori self-determination and future making, and investigate how Maori navigate such shifts and trends to advance self-determination as change agents.
This paper focuses on our contemporary time, exploring Māori engagement in political and policy issues across social, cultural, environmental and political spheres. Students will have the opportunity to examine current government policy across all of these dimensions and develop an understanding of how those policies impact on Māori rights, interests and values. This course will help you to develop a range of analytical skills and applied ability to engage with Māori related policy.
This course explores Māori thought, philosophies and Māori spiritual beliefs across time. You will learn about a range of Māori concepts such as tapu, mana, mauri and ihi.
MAOR373 is especially useful for anyone who wishes to gain a much deeper understanding of Māori culture. Through critical analysis and detailed research, you will develop the skills to critique and review cultural contexts on an advanced level. This paper explores a number of themes relevant to Māori policy. These concepts also form the back bone of many cultural objectives and highlight the frame of thought being used in various iwi and Māori organisations.
Examine the history of Maori economic development, and gain an understanding of recent developments and the factors which have affected Maori engagement with globalisation over the past two hundred years.
In this contemporary, global society, development is one of the most important considerations for Māori and Indigenous Peoples. This course will consider development critically from a range of theories and perspectives. It will canvass the history of Indigenous development, focusing particularly on Māori, Aboriginal and Indigenous American peoples. In doing so, it will examine Māori and Indigenous Peoples engagement with globalisation from first contact to the present day. Special attention will be paid to sector development, in particular the areas of resource management, health and wellbeing, business and education.
Make it a complete qualification
Choose 4 of these courses for the certificate in Arts (Māori and Indigenous Studies)
- MAOR107 - Aotearoa: Introduction to Traditional Māori Society
- MAOR108 - Aotearoa: Introduction to New Zealand Treaty Society
- MAOR167 - He Timatanga: Engaging with Māori
- MAOR172 - Science, Māori and Indigenous Knowledge
- MAOR212 - Māori and Indigenous Development
- MAOR219 - Te Tiriti: The Treaty of Waitangi
- MAOR230 - Ethnicity and History
- MAOR268 - Kiriata: Māori film and Media
- MAOR270 - Te Ao Hauora Tangata: Māori Health Perspectives
- MAOR282 - Kapa Haka - Introducing Māori Performing Arts
- MAOR285 - Oral Traditions and Modern Histories of Ngai Tahu
