Māori Studies

Skills in tikanga and te reo Māori are in high demand and an understanding of the Māori worldview is crucial to success in a range of enterprises.

Māori Studies students gain a grounding in kaupapa Māori (bodies of knowledge), te reo and tikanga Māori, with some focussing specifically on Māori Resource Management understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its impacts. Students also develop academic skills in research, critical and creative thinking, leadership and cultural knowledge and skills. Students participate in marae activities, becoming proficient in conversational te reo and in oral presentation.

Roles and career pathways

Knowledge of Te Ao Māori is sought after, and career opportunities are growing in areas such as:

  • iwi organisations
  • education
  • health
  • business consulting
  • technology
  • law
  • tourism
  • foreign affairs and trade
  • climate and environment
  • policy development
  • advocacy and human rights

First career steps with an undergraduate degree

Early jobs after completing your degree vary widely. Some entry points could be jobs such as:

  • administrator
  • project coordinator
  • event manager
  • social media coordinator
  • helpdesk adviser

Postgraduate study can open up further opportunities

To progress into policy, research or consulting roles, some study at postgraduate level can be valuable. However, this depends on whether you have previous work or life experience from before or throughout your degree.

Roles could include:

  • policy analyst
  • researcher
  • content creator
  • journalist
  • communications advisor
  • community coordinator
  • management consultant
  • business or service designers

Knowledge of tikanga and te reo Māori is in demand at all levels of education

There is a consistent demand for te reo Māori teachers, especially at secondary level. Graduates who complete a secondary school teaching qualification can go on to either being a Kaiako (teacher) for kura kaupapa or other secondary schools. They could also undertake a further qualification in early childhood or Kōhanga Reo teaching. For more information see Teaching and Te Whānau o Ako Pai—School of Education.

Graduates with experience and/or a postgraduate qualification can also teach Māori Studies and Te Reo Māori with wānanga and other tertiary providers.

Graduate career stories

Portrait of Matariki Williams. Matariki has brown hair and wears glasses and a lilac-coloured collared shirt.

Matariki Williams

Te reo and critical-thinking skills Matariki developed in Māori Studies and History prove invaluable to her role in mātauranga Māori at Manatū Taonga.
Portrait of Ashley Mackenzie-White. Ashley has red hair and wears tortoise shell glasses.

Ashley Mackenzie-White

Tikanga and te reo Māori furnished Ashley with the bicultural perspective she brings to work with visual arts and museums, in Aotearoa and overseas.

Where Māori Studies graduates work

Graduates can be found in government and non governmental organisations, iwi organisations, management consultancies, education providers and schools. Some of the organisations Māori Studies graduates have worked for include:

Build relevant skills and experience

Part-time work and volunteering during study all help to increase your job prospects when you graduate.

FHSS internship gives you practical workplace skills while you learn

The FHSS internship is a 300-level course that helps develop employability, skills and practical workplace experience. Talk to your Kaiakiaki Māori Engagement Adviser or Student Success Adviser to see if this course is right for you and your degree plan.

Gain industry experience through TupuToa

TupuToa is an internship programme that creates pathways for Māori and Pasifika students into careers in the corporate and professional sectors.

Develop research skills at Nga Pae o te Māramatanga

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) is New Zealand's Māori Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) and offers summer internships for Māori students interested in advancing their skills and capacity in indigenous research.

Make career connections

Making connections with people at university, work and the community throughout your degree can help you learn more about career opportunities.

Becoming involved from the beginning of your studies with the community of Te Herenga Waka marae or your local marae (especially being part of day-to-day marae activities or community events) is key to making personal connections. Check out Iho Māori—Māori at Te Herenga Waka for more information on events and Āwhina—Māori student support.