Bachelor of Health Science Māori Nursing
Te Ōhanga Mataora: Bachelor of Health Sciences Māori Nursing
Prepare to become a registered nurse with the cultural and clinical competence to care for diverse communities and make a difference.
Step into a rewarding nursing career with Te Ōhanga Mataora: Bachelor of Health Sciences Māori Nursing — a unique, kaupapa Māori nursing degree designed to empower tauira to become confident, culturally grounded registered nurses.
Study a nursing degree with a focus on Māori and indigenous health at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and help transform health outcomes in our communities.
This nursing programme equips you with the skills, knowledge and cultural grounding to become a competent, compassionate, and confident nurse in Aotearoa/New Zealand. With a strong focus on hauora Māori, primary healthcare and community development with clinical excellence, our programme integrates mātauranga Māori with modern nursing practice.
You'll gain hands-on experience through clinical placements across diverse health settings, while also learning in supportive, culturally safe environments. Our commitment is to grow the next generation of health professionals who can serve their communities with care and integrity.
Why Study Te Ōhanga Mataora – Bachelor of Health Sciences Māori Nursing?
Real-World Clinical Experience
Supervised clinical practice in hospitals, community clinics, aged-care and iwi-based health services.
NZQA & Nursing Council Accredited
Upon course completion, you’ll be eligible to sit the Nursing Council of New Zealand state final exam in preparation as a Registered Nurse.
Culturally Responsive Practice
Build your cultural competence to care for diverse populations, with emphasis on Māori and Pacific communities.
Mātauranga Māori & Western Science
Learn through a bicultural lens that values both indigenous and clinical worldviews.
Small Class Sizes and Supportive Whānau Environment
Experience a nurturing learning environment that values your identity and supports your academic journey.
What you’ll learn and how is the programme structured?
- Clinical skills, health assessment, and decision-making
- Human biology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology
- Community health, mental health, and aged care
- Māori models of health/Hauora, Pacific health, health equity and culturally safe practice
- Effective communication, leadership, and critical thinking in nursing practice
- Te Reo and Tikanga in clinical contexts
- Nursing ethics, law, and professional responsibility
- Advocacy in healthcare
Who should apply?
- School leavers, mature students or career changers who wants to become a registered nurse with a strong foundation in te ao Māori and clinical practice.
- Those wanting to make a difference in their communities and committed to improving Māori health outcomes.
- Those working in health or hauora already, and ready to formalise your skills with a degree that leads to Nursing Council of New Zealand registration.
- Those looking for a holistic education experience that values tikanga Māori, whanaungatanga, and cultural safety.
- An Indigenous learner or ally, who wants to study nursing in a uniquely indigenous learning environment that supports equity and cultural revitalisation.
Dates
Years 1 and 2: 03 Feb to 26 Nov 2026, Year 3: 27 Jan to 06 Nov 2026Duration
3 years full-time study. 42 weeks per year for years one and two, 40 weeks for year three (you must re-enrol each year)Commitment
Full-time on campus 9am to 4pm during theory weeks. Hours vary during clinical weeks.Applications close
07 Nov 2025Locations
Whakatāne, WairoaRequirements
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Show Course Outline
First year courses
NUR500 Te Ao Māori 1
Course Type: Core
- Description: The purpose of this course is to provide opportunities for tauira to develop an understanding of te reo, āhuatanga and tikanga Māori as it relates to self-identities, whakapapa and whanaungatanga. Tauira will also develop academic writing and study skills required for degree level nursing study.
NUR501 Mātai Hauora 1, Health Science 1
Course Type: Core
- Description: The purpose of the course is to demonstrate āhuatanga and tikanga Māori when considering human anatomy and physiology including the structure and function of selected body systems. Tauira will understand the science behind nursing observations and health assessment across the lifespan. Tauira will also be introduced to rongoa Māori.
NUR502 Nēhitanga - He Tīmatanga, Nursing Practice - an Introduction
Course Type: Core
- Description: The purpose of this course is to introduce Te Raukotahi model in the context of beginning nursing practice. Tauira will be provided with the opportunity to begin to apply clinical reasoning, critical thinking, reflective practice knowledge, therapeutic communication skills and whanaungatanga in a clinical practice setting.
NUR503 Te Ao Māori 2
Course Type: Core
- Description: The purpose of this course is to provide opportunities for tauira to begin to understand te reo, āhuatanga and tikanga Māori as applied to nursing practice. Te Tiriti o Waitangi and key health determinants will be explored in the Aotearoa healthcare context. Tauira will develop a beginning understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice and how it can be applied in nursing practice.
NUR504 Mātai Hauora 2, Health Science 2
Course Type: Core
- Description: The purpose of the course is to demonstrate āhuatanga and tikanga Māori when considering human anatomy and physiology including the structure and function of selected body systems. Tauira will understand the science behind nursing observations and physical examination across the lifespan.
NUR505 Nēhitanga 2, Nursing Practice 2
Course Type: Core
- Description: The purpose of this course is to begin to apply Te Raukotahi principles in caring for older whānau and, to provide tauira with the opportunity to demonstrate effective communication skills in their nursing practice. Tauira will demonstrate beginning clinical reasoning, critical thinking and reflective practice skills in relation to concepts of mental health and wellness in their care for older whānau.
Second year courses
NUR601 Taunakitanga mō te Nēhitanga Evidence for Practice.
Course Type: Core
- Description: The aim of this course is for tauira to utilize Te Raukotahi Framework, engage with various types of evidence, inclusive of rangahau, and to demonstrate their ability to source, critique and apply evidence in health care contexts.
NUR602 Tiaki i te Whānau me Ngā Mate Tautini Nursing Whānau with Long Term Conditions.
Course Type: Core
- Description: The aim of this course is for tauira to apply the principles of Te Raukotahi Framework within a clinical setting focusing on long term conditions. Tauira will identify and comprehend the inter-professional role of the nurse and critically examine common long term health care (LTC), pathophysiology, pharmacology, and management within a clinical setting.
NUR603 Te Ao Māori 4
Course Type: Core
- Description: The aim of this course is for tauira to apply the principles of Te Raukotahi Framework and extend their knowledge and application of te reo, ahuatanga, and tikanga Māori as it relates to meaningful and productive lives.
NUR604 Tiaki i te Whānau me Ngā Mate Hinengaro Nursing Whānau with Mental Health Conditions
Course Type: Core
- Description: The aim of this paper is to equip tauira to draw upon evidence-based practice within mental health paradigms and incorporate the principles of Te Raukotahi Framework within their practice. Tauira will be able to demonstrate appropriate assessment and clinical decision making underpinned by cultural and scientific knowledge.
NUR605 Tiaki i te Whānau i ngā Māuiui Hapori Nursing Whānau in Community Contexts.
Course Type: Core
- Description: The aim of this course is for tauira to demonstrate nursing knowledge and competence within a primary health care context. Tauira will demonstrate application of the principles of Te Raukotahi Framework, identify healthcare models and implement healthcare promotion.
Third year courses
HSM306 Te Raukotahitanga - Te Ao Ōhanga: Te Reo Māori, Tikanga and Nursing Practice
Course Type: Core
- Description: This course will critically analyse the principles and practices of Te Raukotahi framework within Te Ao Ōhanga (nursing profession) and in doing so will provide the opportunity for tauira to apply an in depth understanding and knowledge of Te Reo Māori and Tikanga as it relates to mahi Ōhanga.
HSM307 Te Hauora Hinengaro me Ngā Whakawaitanga: Advanced Mental Health and Addiction Nursing
Course Type: Core
- Description: The purpose of this course is to apply Te Raukotahi principles in the context of advanced mental health and addiction nursing. The course will build upon the specialist mental health and addiction knowledge and expertise introduced in HSM210 Te Oranga Hinengaro me Ngā Whakawaitanga. This course will have an advanced and applied focus, aimed to equip tauira with specialist knowledge and skills to nurse people with complex mental health and addiction needs. A focus of the paper is on the recovery approach and the relevance of sociocultural context (including community and whānau).
HSM308 Te Huarahi Oranga Whāiti me te Oranga Whānui: Pathophysiology and Acute Healthcare
Course Type: Core
- Description: The purpose of this course is to critique and consolidate tauira nursing knowledge when nursing people with acute health issues. This course will provide opportunites for tauira to apply their understanding of the pathophysiological basis of physical health conditions across the lifespan of people nursing. The course also incorporates nursing knowledge with associated Te Raukotahi principles in developing evidenced based nursing care.
HSM309 Mahi Ōhanga III: Nursing Practicum Mental Health and Addictions
Course Type: Core
- Description: This course will provide tauira with the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills related to nursing people with serious mental illness. A focus is on conducting assessment, decision making and planning skills within the context of complex and acute health settings, underpinned by the principles of Te Raukotahi framework.
HSM310 Mahi Ōhanga IV: Nursing Practicum Acute Health Care
Course Type: Core
- Description: This course will provide tauira with the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills related to nursing people with acute health needs. A focus will be on conducting assessment, decision making and planning skills within the context of complex and acute health settings, underpinned by the principles of Te Raukotahi framework.
HSM311 Mahi Ōhanga V: Nursing Practicum Transition to Registered Nurse Practice
Course Type: Core
- Description: This course will provide tauira with the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills related to nursing within a specialty practice area in preparation for beginning Registered Nurse practice. The focus is on making assessment, decision making and planning skills within the context of the specialty practice area.
Ngā korero a ngā tauira
Student's voice
Zane Dick Bridging to Nursing and Bachelor of Health Sciences Māori Nursing graduate
Zane Dick Bridging to Nursing and Bachelor of Health Sciences Māori Nursing graduate
Aroha Ruha-Hiraka
Nursing degree graduate
Maddie Mason Bachelor of Health Sciences Māori Nursing Graduate
I worked in community health for seven years before joining this degree programme to further my skills and knowledge, especially in indigenous healthcare.
Tomo mai ki Awanuiārangi
Experience Awanuiārangi
School of Undergraduate Studies
The goal of the School of Undergraduate Studies is to deliver high-quality degree and pre-degree programmes.
Wānanga learning style
Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi delivers programmes that are distinctive in many ways. We are unique in the tertiary sector of New Zealand, as we are the only wānanga that delivers programmes from foundation through to PhD.
Whakapā mai/Contact us
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