frequently asked questions

For  the majority of  our programmes, no. If you study at diploma level or above you will be enrolled in te reo Māori papers as part of your qualification.  You do not need to speak and understand the Māori language to enrol except where  proficiency  of te reo is required for entry (e.g.  teaching and postgraduate level courses).

Tip: Our FREE online Poupou Huia  Te  Reo courses are an excellent way to get a  headstart  with te reo Māori and gain confidence in the online learning space. 

Yes, Iwi and Hapū Studies  and  te  reo Māori are two of the three components that make up your qualification at diploma and degree level.  There are variations in certain  qualifications  where proficiency in  te  reo is required, but this will be discussed with you during academic  counselling.

Researching your iwi and  hapū  and studying  te  reo Māori adds benefit to the knowledge and skills you are acquiring through your chosen specialisation.  You will require a letter of support from your marae committee or  hapū  for your Iwi and Hapū Studies component when you enrol in your Heke (diploma) or Poutuarongo (bachelor degree) qualification.  

While we can assist you to develop and hone your computing skills when you study with us, you should already feel comfortable using  a laptop or computer, as well as common Microsoft applications, such as Word,  Powerpoint, Excel and email.  As a student at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, you will have access to Microsoft Office 365 and will be required to use these applications to complete your studies.   

All courses at diploma level and above require students to work online, therefore, you will need a good internet connection and a laptop or computer. Some components, such as Iwi and Hapū Studies, are delivered entirely online and include written assignments  and weekly online activities.  

If you want to study te reo Māori full time in the Heke Reo diploma, you may want to think about moving  to Ōtaki or somewhere close by. Students in the full time reo programmes attend classes Monday to Thursday at the  Ōtaki  campus, so it is best to live within daily travelling distance.    

For all other courses at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, you can live anywhere in Aotearoa, as long as you can travel to the scheduled noho (residential stays) for your courses throughout the year. Most noho are held at the Ōtaki campus or our Manukau or Gisborne sites. You will also need to have a good internet connection and reliable laptop or computer while you are studying to attend hui online and complete online course components.

Kura  Tautoko  is not compulsory,  but it is  an opportunity for you to take some time away from  whānau and work commitments  in order to complete course work and assignments.  During kura tautoko, our campus  and sites  are open  with academic staff and services available to support you in your studies.  

You will attend Hui Rumaki Reo twice a year;  once in huringa 1 (semester 1) and again in huringa 2 (semester 2), giving you a chance to  put to practice what you have learned in your online te reo course  and complete any oral assessments.     

The first Hui  Rumaki  Reo  can be quite an overwhelming  experience,  but you will not be alone. You will start  with an introduction to the protocols and  expectations and get to know your fellow students  from  across  programmes  before going into full immersion  that evening.  You will be given resources to  assist you  during  this time. Te  Wānanga o Raukawa has been holding  immersion hui for nearly 40 years so you can be assured  that you are in good hands.  

Each  day  begins with  karakia and mōteatea  before you move into  your year  group  classes. There are also work groups and a whole range of fun  activities that allow you to practise your reo while developing  lifelong friendships. While hui  rumaki  are  challenging and will take you out of your  comfort  zone, it is an experience our students enjoy and often  miss when the hui is over.

Tip:  Ensure you complete all your online activities prior to Hui Rumaki Reo. This will give you the best advantage and allow you to concentrate on the learnings  each day.

We encourage you to make the most of learning while you are attending  noho or Hui Rumaki Reo.  Unless your  child is breast  feeding  or you can bring a caregiver with you, for the benefit of your fellow  students and yourself we encourage you to arrange childcare before each  noho.  

Any children visiting must be supervised by their caregiver due to construction at our Ōtaki campus.

A Māori world view flows throughout every qualification offered at  Te  Wānanga o Raukawa,  so no matter what you are studying you are also gaining knowledge  that our ancestors held and lived by  allowing you  to develop your senses from a Māori worldview.

The skills you  gain in  the online environment are transferable in whichever  sector you choose to work in.   Iwi,  hapū  and reo studies will  not only allow you to  develop personally, but set you apart from others  competing in the same  work space.     

Our aim is to produce graduates  who are Māori in the way they think, act and behave and who will pass the  mātauranga  on to future generations, ensuring  the survival of us as a people.  The  success of  one graduate is the success of another  whānau,  hapū, and iwi.

For  the majority  of  qualifications, you will attend residential seminars or  noho  throughout the year. Most  noho  run Friday to Sunday  with the exception of  the teaching programmes which include  week  days  in the  noho  schedule.  You will also attend one Hui Rumaki Reo each semester. Hui Rumaki Reo are six days long from Tuesday to Sunday.  During  noho, you  will be accommodated on site with all meals provided. Depending on your chosen speciality, you could  be  travelling  to  noho 6 to 10  times a year  for both specialty and Hui Rumaki Reo.

• Poupou (Certificate) NZQA Level - 4 or 5
• Heke (Diploma) NZQA Level - 5
• Poutuarongo (Bachelor Degree) NZQA Level - 7
• Poutāhū (Postgraduate Diploma) NZQA Level - 8
• Tāhuhu (Master) NZQA Level - 9