Ngā Mana Whakairo a Toi: Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts

Nurture your creativity. Strengthen your identity. Share your story through performance, and leadership in te ao haka.

Explore your passion for kapa haka, mōteatea, waiata, haka, or Māori theatre, while developing the skills to thrive in modern creative industries with the Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

Ngā Mana Whakairo a Toi - the Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts is more than a degree—it’s a journey of cultural reclamation, creative excellence, and community leadership. This programme empowers tauira to master the rich traditions of storytelling and knowledge transfer through performance.

This programme combines performance excellence with cultural depth. You will refine your artistic skills, deepen your knowledge of tikanga, te reo Māori, and the philosophies that underpin Māori performance, while gaining the confidence to stand proudly as both an artist and cultural leader.

Whether you're drawn to the stage, the classroom, or the community, this programme blends ancestral knowledge with contemporary practice to prepare you for a vibrant career in the arts, education, or cultural advocacy.

 

Why Study the Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts?

Cultural & Academic Excellence
Learn from exponents, tutors and leaders with deep knowledge of te reo Māori me ōna tikanga, Māori performing arts and culture.

Leadership & Networking
Develop leadership skills to guide kapa haka and performance groups.  Join a network of graduates shaping kapa haka and performing arts across Aotearoa and beyond.

Holistic Learning
Learn in a supportive, inclusive environment grounded in tikanga Māori, with a blended delivery model of both online learning and face-to-face noho.

Real World Experience & Pathways
Hands-on learning aspects allow you to practice and showcase your skills on stage, in competitions and during wānanga noho.  Graduate ready for leadership roles in kapa haka or careers such as teaching, performance, tourism and media or continue into postgraduate study.

 

What you’ll learn in the Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts

  • Advanced skills in kapa haka, in disciplines such as haka, waiata, mōteatea, composition, and performance
  • Leadership skills for kapa haka groups and performance ensembles
  • Theoretical and practical knowledge of tikanga and te reo Māori in performing arts
  • Māori creative expression in both traditional and contemporary contexts
  • Māori research and performance theory

 

Who should apply?

  • Passionate kapa haka performers wanting to take their skills to the next level.
  • Those aspiring to teach or lead in Māori performing arts.
  • Creatives seeking to merge traditional Māori artforms with contemporary performance.
  • Anyone committed to preserving, revitalising, and celebrating Māori culture through performance.

 

Information for Kapa Haka

Start Date
Dates
16 Feb to 25 Oct 2026
Duration
Duration
3 years full-time study, 36 weeks per year (you must re-enrol each year)
Commitment
Commitment
Blended learning including noho, wānanga, online learning and self-directed learning
Applications Close
Applications close
Feb 2026
Campus Location
Locations
Noho are based in Whakatāne and rohe tutorials are held nationally and internationally
Requirements
Requirements
View link below
Pathway
Pathway to
View link for details
Fees
Fees
2026 Course related costs: $2027.00 (note fees are updated annually)

First year courses

WAIATA501 – Ngā Tikanga Waiata-ā-ringa

Course Type:  Core

  • Description:  This paper requires tauira to critically reflect upon, and articulate their lived experiences of waiata-ā-ringa. The intent of this paper is to strengthen development in, and articulation of, personal knowledge in relation to waiata-ā-ringa.

MOT501 – Ngā Tikanga Mōteatea

Course Type:  Core

  • Description:  This paper requires tauira to critically reflect upon and articulate their lived experiences of mōteatea. The intent of this paper is to strengthen development in, and articulation of, personal knowledge in relation to mōteatea.

MAU501 – Ngā Tikanga Mau Poi/Patu/Rākau

Course Type:  Core

  • Description:  This paper requires tauira to critically reflect upon, and articulate their lived experiences of either mau poi, mau patu, or mau rākau. The intent of this paper is to strengthen development in, and articulation of, personal knowledge in relation to either mau poi, mau patu, or mau rākau

HAK501 – Ngā Tikanga Haka

Course Type:  Core

  • Description:  This paper requires tauira to critically reflect upon, and articulate their lived experiences of haka. The intent of this paper is to strengthen development in, and articulation of, personal knowledge in relation to haka.

Second year courses

KAP201 Māori Art and Visual Culture

Course Type:  Core

  • Description: Introduction to Māori Art and Visual Culture in Kapa Haka. This paper studies the practical and conceptual development of Māori Art and its relationship to Kapa Haka. Tauira will use an art making process as an output for their research, and to disseminate cultural knowledge.

KAP202 Critical Issues in Māori Performing Arts

Course Type:  Core

  • Description: This paper provides the opportunity for tauira to explore critical issues that have influenced Māori performing arts

KAP203 Te Reo Whakaari

Course Type:  Core

  • Description: This paper will further enhance tauira learning and awareness of selected aspects of kapa haka, with an emphasis on kīwaha, kīrehu, reo ōpaki, and reo ōkawa. In particular, this course focuses on understanding the transformation of language into movement, and Māori language patterns that enhance performance.

KAP204 Composition Critique 2 

Course Type:  Core

  • Description:  This paper will enhance tauira knowledge of composition elements by comparing traditional and contemporary waiata. Tauira will analyse a range of performance elements across a range of waiata disciplines and styles and discuss the influences on the works of composers of waiata.

KAP205 Kapa Haka Leadership

Course Type:  Core

  • Description:  This paper will introduce tauira to the concepts of kapa haka leadership. It provides tauira with models of Māori leadership and examines the roles and responsibilities of kaitātaki and tutor positions.

KAP206 He Toi Wānanga: Practicum 2

Course Type:  Core

  • Description: This practicum paper builds on KAP106 to further develop practical skills and abilities. This paper focuses specifically on whakawhanaungatanga, team building, communication and personal development.

KAP207 He Toi Wānanga: Performance 2

Course Type:  Core

  • Description:  Building on from KAP107, this performance paper examines enhanced performance ability within an extended selection of Māori performing arts kapa haka performance disciplines.

KAP208 Hāhāngia 

Course Type:  Core

  • Description:  This paper will introduce tauira to rangahau within Te Ao Māori. Discuss the relevance and importance of rangahau within their kapa haka and how this influences decision making.

 

Third year courses

KAP301 Māori Art and Visual Culture

Course Type:  Core

Description:  Development of Contemporary Māori Art and Visual Culture in Māori Performing Arts. This paper studies the practical and conceptual development of contemporary Māori art and visual culture in Māori Performing Arts. Tauira will look at the how Māori Art and/or Visual Culture was used historically and in contemporary times in kapa haka. Examples of Māori Art and Visual Culture could include but not limited to:

  • Atua domains
  • Animals/birds and sea creatures
  • Natural patterns and formations
  • Kai
  • Indigenous voices
  • Whakapapa/tupuna
  • Pūrākau
  • Taonga puoro
  • Tā moko
  • Kākahu
  • Tukutuku, whakairo
  • Battle formations

KAP302 Examining Māori Performing Arts Competitions

Course Type:  Core

Description:  This paper is an examination of the influence of Māori performing arts in Māori and/or wider communities in Aotearoa including but not limited to one of the following:

  • Competitive Māori performing arts including the assessment and evaluation of competition
  • Whanaungatanga
  • Hauora
  • Employment
  • Other

KAP303 Mass Media and Māori Performing Arts

Course Type:  Core

  • Description: This paper will examine the interaction between Māori Performing Arts and a range of mass media, both national and international. Tauira will analyse the influence of media on Māori performing arts.

KAP304 Composition Critique 3

Course Type:  Core

  • Description:  In this paper, tauira will participate in the composition of one waiata and consider learnings from previous composition papers utilising research techniques. Tauira will plan and document the composition process and will include a discussion of the copyright and APRA requirements.

KAP305 Pre-eminent leadership in Māori Performing Arts

Course Type:  Core

  • Description:  The paper will examine the contribution of a pre-eminent leader in Māori Performing Arts AND their contribution to at least one other area of the community as well.

KAP306 He Toi Whakairo: Practicum 3

Course Type:  Core

  • Description:  This practicum paper builds on KAP106, and KAP206 to further develop practical skills and abilities. It applies skills and knowledge learnt in other papers. This paper focuses specifically on leadership within the group, implementation and evaluation of a plan, and personal development.

KAP307 He Toi Whakairo: Performance 3

Course Type:  Core

  • Description: Building on from year 1 and 2, this year 3 performance paper examines advanced performance ability of core Māori kapa haka performance disciplines.

KAP308 Rukuhia

Course Type:  Core

Description:  This paper builds on rangahau from Year 1 and Year 2 by developing a rangahau portfolio and a rangahau proposal in a Māori Performing Arts kaupapa in preparation for a rangahau project in Year 3.

He Ao Haka

Sir Pou Temara and Dr Turuhira Hare share their thoughts on Te Ao Haka - Māori Performing Arts

Haere mai ki Awanuiārangi

Experience studying with us

Whakapā mai/Contact us

Ryan Te Wara
National Programme Coordinator - Bachelor of Māori Performing Arts

Interested? Make an enquiry

We will email you an info pack

Fill out our form to receive a programme information pack