Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Master of Hoaka Pounamu (MHP) is designed for teachers, education leaders and education researchers who want advanced knowledge and capability in te reo Maori, bilingual education and Maori-medium/immersion teaching.
• The programme focuses on strengthening the use of te reo Maori in classroom and educational settings and contributing to language revitalisation in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Students develop their language practice through wananga and assessments conducted in te reo Maori.
• The programme examines Maori knowledge, pedagogy, language revitalisation, curriculum development, language teaching and assessment.
• Students can develop skills applicable to bilingual, immersion and mainstream education settings.
• UC specifically describes the programme as suitable for people wanting to develop leadership and research capability around te reo Maori and M?ori-medium education.
• The programme can provide a pathway to further doctoral-level study, including the Doctor of Education and PhD in Education.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The 180-point MHP consists of compulsory and elective study. UC's current programme page identifies these compulsory courses:

• EDHP401 – Te Tiriti o Waitangi i te Ao Matauranga, 30 points
• EDHP402 – Whakarauora Reo, 30 points
• EDHP603 – Matauranga Maori Hei Marautanga, 30 points
• EDHP604 – Tikanga/Rautaki Whakaako Reo, 30 points
• Electives: at least 60 points from the approved elective schedule.

Key subject areas include:

EDHP401 – Te Tiriti o Waitangi i te Ao Matauranga

• Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• New Zealand history
• Implications of Te Tiriti for educational practice
• Maori and bicultural principles
• Strategic planning for educational settings
• The course is taught in te reo Maori.

EDHP402 – Whakarauora Reo

• Historical repression of Maori/indigenous languages
• Language revitalisation movements
• Kohanga Reo
• Kura Kaupapa Maori
• Wananga and bilingual/immersion programmes
• Teacher roles in language-learning communities
• Language revitalisation planning
• The course is taught through te reo Maori.

EDHP603 – Matauranga Maori Hei Marautanga

• Maori pedagogical epistemologies
• Matauranga Maori and matauranga-a-iwi
• Maori ways of knowing
• Tangatawhenuatanga
• Kaupapa Maori approaches
• Integrating Maori knowledge into curriculum and classroom practice
• Action research in teaching communities.

EDHP604 – Tikanga/Rautaki Whakaako Reo

• Communicative teaching and learning methodologies
• Language teaching for different learners and learning styles
• First- and second-language teaching
• Assessment practices
• Maori bilingual and immersion settings
• Designing language programmes
• Maori values and cultural practices
• Practical experience in a M?ori-medium setting
• The course is taught through te reo Maori.

Disciplines / Specialisations

• The MHP does not have formal majors, minors or endorsements.
• The 2026 regulations explicitly state that there are no majors, minors or endorsements for this qualification.
• Students can, however, use the elective component to develop a particular professional teaching focus.
• UC gives examples such as teaching diverse learners and using digital tools in education.

Programme Highlights

• 180-point Master's degree.
• 1 year full-time or up to 4 years part-time.
• February and July starts.
• Focus on Maori bilingual and immersion teaching and learning.
• Full-immersion te reo Maori learning experiences.
• Several noho marae experiences.
• Courses and assessments conducted in te reo Maori.
• Strong emphasis on matauranga Maori and kaupapa Maori pedagogies.
• Focus on language revitalisation.
• Practical application to Maori-medium educational settings.
• Opportunities to specialise through elective courses.
• Suitable for teachers, educational leaders and education researchers.
• Approved for the Teachers' Kaupapa Maori/Maori-Medium Education Study Award.

Career Outcomes

UC states that graduates will have extensive experience in second-language teaching and greater confidence working with:

• Students
• Whanau
• Iwi
• Maori communities
• Other educational communities

The degree also prepares graduates for:

• Educational leadership roles
• Maori-medium/bilingual teaching development
• Curriculum development
• Education research
• Language revitalisation work
• Professional development and advisory roles in education
• Research and policy-related education positions.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current MHP regulations came into force on 1 January 2026.
• The programme currently has February and July starts.
• A hui/interview and te reo Maori competency assessment are mandatory parts of the selection process. UC's current limited-entry page explicitly lists the MHP as requiring an interview and te reo Maori language competency assessment.
• Students must have sufficient te reo Maori proficiency to succeed in the programme.
• The qualification has a maximum completion period of 48 months.
• Up to 60 points of relevant postgraduate study may be credited with prior approval.
• UC's 2026 course catalogue shows both campus and distance occurrences for the MHP's named courses.
• In April 2026, UC reported on a graduate of the MHP progressing toward PhD research focused on culturally grounded education and AI, illustrating the programme's pathway into advanced research. 

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student physically studying the MHP in New Zealand, the relevant visa will generally be the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to the student's circumstances.

Immigration New Zealand currently requires applicants to:

• Have an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Have sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or hold an acceptable scholarship.
• Have sufficient money for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Declare that they will have acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Have genuine intentions to study.
• Provide other required evidence, which can include medical or police certificates depending on circumstances.
• Demonstrate that they can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.