Course details

Summary

As New Zealand seeks to become even more of a globally respected nation with solid social and political foundations, the need to revitalise and embrace te reo Maori as a living, everyday language is becoming even more important for people of all walks of life.

This discipline enables people to explore their identity as New Zealanders and to pass on their passion for this language of Aotearoa to others. Te Reo Maori is a highly recommended language option for those who might work with Maori people, indigenous industries or in education, public or communications roles that require bicultural and multicultural competency.

Students majoring in other subject areas such as History, Sociology, Political Science and International Relations, Human Services, English, Education, Cultural Studies, Law and Social Work often take Maori language courses to support their main field of study.

Why study Te Reo Maori at UC?

Our staff in Aotahi: School of Maori and Indigenous Studies operate as a whanau. We pride ourselves on being accessible in and out of classes to provide support and guidance for students.

UC staff have expertise in aspects of language acquisition, language revitalisation, bilingual/immersion education, second language teaching pedagogy, change in the Maori language over time, and Maori English. Aotahi has offered regular wananga reo (language immersion field trips) to local marae for its language students for the last 20 years.

The Bachelor of Arts requires a minimum total of 360 points:

• at least 255 points from Arts courses
• the remaining 105 points can be from either Arts courses or courses from other degrees.
• A minimum of 225 points must be from courses above 100-level, with at least 90 points at 300-level.

Further study

Maori is a very rewarding field for postgraduate study because there are so many opportunities to investigate areas which have not been previously researched.

Career opportunities

Careers are opening up as a result of the increasing role of Maori culture and society as a defining element of national culture. New Zealand will see this continue in the future, as a result of changing demographics, government policy, and social attitudes.

Whether you need it for a career in health, education, policy, government, law, tourism or social services, the confidence and skills from a language degree can help you step up to the next level in your career.

Employment options for graduates are rapidly increasing in iwi and other Maori organisations. Graduates find work in research, teaching, archival, heritage and arts/cultural organisations, government organisations and the wider community.

Entry criteria

Admission to UC with University Entrance, or equivalent, is required to enrol for a Bachelor's degree. Applicants must have completed New Zealand University Entrance through NCEA; or Cambridge International Examinations (CIE); or International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) or any other equivalent overseas qualification.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 550 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum C+ grade; CAE or CPE minimum score of 169 with at least 162 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 57 and no PTE communicative skills score below 50.