Tauhara North No2 Trust Joint Venture

Te Whare Wānanga O Awanuiārangi and Tauhara North No2 Trust Launch Groundbreaking Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts Programme  

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi (Awanuiārangi) and Tauhara North No2 Trust (TN2T) have announced a joint venture to deliver a Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts (BMPA) programme, set to commence 1 December 2024 at the Trust’s award-winning visitor experience, Te Pā Tū, Rotorua.  

This pioneering partnership marks the first of its kind between the Trust, their commercial tourism entity, Te Pā Tū and the Wānanga. An intake of 26 students will be welcomed into this 3-year degree programme, with representation shared between Tauhara North No.2 Trust, descendants of Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whaoa Iwi and Te Pā Tū kaihaka (performers).  

“While this initiative is a valuable education opportunity, it’s also about empowering communities and iwi, and strengthening cultural heritage through the performing arts,” said Sheree Spooner, Head of School of Undergraduate Studies at Awanuiārangi. “We are thrilled to be working alongside Tauhara North No2 Trust in this unique venture that brings together culture, education, and award-winning tourism.”  

The BMPA programme commences as most academic calendars are ending, deliberately timed to coincide with peak season at Te Pā Tū. “Performance-based assessments and credits will be our focus during this busy period, where the opportunities are intense and diverse. We will begin the theoretical side of the programme as we transition into the off-peak season,” explains Te Pā Tū project lead, Jamus Webster  

The BMPA programme aims to nurture talent and skills in Māori performing arts, providing students with hands-on experience and a rich cultural framework and, unique to this programme, it is an opportunity to focus in on traditions unique to Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whaoa Iwi.  

“Tauhara North No.2 Trust is excited to be partnering with Te Whare Wānanga O Awanuiārangi to deliver this programme of study. It will enable greater opportunity for our people, our rangatahi (youth) to connect to whānau, whakapapa and whenua through mātauranga Māori, while contributing to the cultural landscape of our Trust and our Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whaoa Iwi”, says Wikitoria Hepi-Te Huia, Chairperson of Tauhara North No.2 Trust. “This educational platform also allows us the opportunity to facilitate succession in our professional kaihaka at Te Pā Tū.”  

Classes will take place at Te Pā Tū, Rotorua and be delivered by Awanuiārangi, offering students a vibrant environment to engage with their culture, tourism and their passion for performing arts while working toward their academic goals.  

To find out more about our Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts, please click here.