iwi and hapū studies



Hokia ki ō maunga
kia purea koe e ngā hau a Tāwhirimātea 
Return to your mountains
to be cleansed by the winds of Tāwhirimātea


Hokia ki ō maunga reminds us of our inherited responsibilities to people and places of significance. This includes our iwi, hapū, whānau and tribal homes. Establishing and maintaining relationships and connections with those who share common whakapapa allows us access to a larger collective.

This whakataukī encourages us to return to our tūrangawaewae to be revived and rejuvenated through tikanga Māori. Its basic philosophy is to 'know about oneself'. Visiting and connecting to our marae and people is one way Māori do this. 


Iwi and Hapū Studies aims to increase the number of people participating in whānau, hapū and iwi affairs and is a core subject area studied by undergraduate and postgraduate students. The study encourages knowledge and confidence in who students are as Māori. 


All undergraduate Iwi and Hapū courses are facilitated online removing the need to attend a face-to-face delivery. Learning is done through 'Mūrau' or Moodle and is suited to all learning styles with tutor assistance every step of the way.


Before undertaking Iwi and Hapū Studies, students will require research assistance and support from their marae, whānau and hapū members. 


Future pathways for graduates include iwi and hapū support and leadership roles, contributing to whānau, iwi and hapū development and negotiations, historian, researcher, policy analyst, advisors, iwi liaison officers and more. Graduates steeped in iwi and hapū knowledge can make a valuable contribution in the future workforce and Aotearoa society. 


Iwi and Hapū Studies support


The information regarding iwi and hapū cannot be sourced from books or the internet alone so it is important that active iwi members are accessed to help you with information when needed. You will require endorsement from a whānau, hapū or iwi member that a network of support is available to you for studies pertaining to iwi and hapū matters. Before beginning your studies you start to think about who will be available to support you. This will be covered in your first paper IWI101.


It is important to note that for Postgraduate and Master’s level qualifications you may not be expected to cover all of the papers listed in the paper descriptions . Explore our programmes to see how Iwi and Hapū Studies features as a component of our qualifications.


  • Undergraduate - Diploma | Bachelor

    You will research and write 2 Iwi and Hapū kaupapa per year, over 3 years of undergraduate study. You will learn about your marae, your iwi, your hapū, a hapū taonga, oral literature of the hapū and how to analyze data. 


    Heke (Diploma) - year 1

    You will create/strengthen your relationship with your marae and the people who work there. 

    You will research and write about one of your marae, its history, layout, kawa/tikanga of the marae and roles and responsibilities on the marae. You will also interview a kaumātua on tikanga marae changes they have seen on that marae, in their lifetime. 


    The second research paper is about your iwi and key events in its history.


    IWI101 Private Study of One Marae

    IWI102 Private Study of Iwi History


    Poutuarongo (Bachelor) - year 2

    You will research and write about one of your hapū, its beginnings, how it acquired its whenua, relationships to other hapū and to the iwi, hapū leadership, and a hapū-level activity.

    The second research paper is about a taonga of your hapū. 


    IWI201 Private Study of One Hapū

    IWI202 Selected Private Studies


    Poutuarongo (Bachelor) - year 3

    You will research, write about, and perform two oral literatures from your hapū or iwi that were composed pre-1900. The second research paper is a survey of your hapū (or iwi) to see what the state of te reo and other variables is within the hapū (or iwi).


    IWI301 Oral Literature Studies

    IWI302 Hapū and Iwi Performance


  • Poutāhū - Postgraduate Diploma | Master’s Degree) - Year 1

    You will learn the importance of whakapapa, maps, and iwi kōrero tuku iho and how they help to tell the history of your hapū, marae and iwi.   


    HAPŪ401 - Ko ngā Kaumātua: He Kura Te Tangata: To explore the depth of the contribution that kaumātua make to the statement ‘Our people are our wealth’.  


    HAPŪ402 - Ko te Marae te Kāinga Matua: To examine active participation on the marae through a study of hapū tikanga, and the contribution those tikanga make to the statement, ‘The marae is our principal home’. 


    TIH404 Hapū (Akorau only)

    You will research and use whakapapa, kōrero tuku iho, maps and photographs to create a digital resource on one of your hapū.  You will describe its beginnings and founding tūpuna, significant sites and the hapū relationship to those sites, whakapapa relationships to other hapū and to the iwi, hapū leadership, and a hapū-level activity.


  • Tāhuhu - Master’s Degree - Year 2

    You will critically analyze 2 Iwi and Hapū kaupapa in the Tāhuhu year of study. 2 papers are prescribed (HAPŪ501 & HAPŪ502) 


    HAPŪ501 - Ko te Hāpu: Whāia te Tino Rangatiratanga: To examine the expression of tino rangatiratanga in the continued pursuit of mana ā-hapū. 


    HAPŪ502 - Ko Ngā Mātākōrero o Ngā Iwi: He Taonga Te Reo: To examine kura huna contained within oral literature that contribute to the statement ‘He Taonga te Reo’. 

Our Courses

iwi & hapū studies

Bachelor of Teaching

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