Te Ngutu Awa - the new Māori qualification

The first graduates of Te Ngutu Awa, a new national qualification for people wanting to develop high-level Māori skills, were presented with their certificates at an inaugural ceremony in December.

Te Ngutu Awa is the National Certificate in Māori (level 4). In order to gain the qualification learners can study subjects including Māori Performing Arts, Te Reo, Māori Geography and Pangarau (mathematics), Māori Business and Management, Funeral Services Māori, Tourism Māori and Tikanga Māori - to name just a few.

Acting manager of Māori Qualification Services at the Qualifications Authority, Tania Saggers, says the new qualification follows on from Te Waharoa - the National Certificate in Māori (level 2), that became available last year.

A brochure outlining Te Waharoa and Te Ngutu Awa is available. You can view it online or order hard copies by emailing Communications

"Both of these qualifications were developed by nationally recognised Māori experts in collaboration with NZQA.

"The qualifications are nationally and internationally recognised and credits gained for Te Ngutu Awa can also count for other national qualifications, including NCEA.

"These qualifications are breaking new ground in education to give learners who want high level skills and knowledge in Māori a pathway to follow which will enable them to meet that challenge," she said.

Harata Day, School Relationship Manager at the Qualifications Authority, says Te Ngutu Awa marks a time when ideas and information are starting to flow between teacher and pupil.

"The area called Te Ngutu Awa represents the place on a traditional pa where the exchange of dialogue begins. It is the next step after entering the gateway - Te Waharoa."

The graduates undertook study for Te Ngutu Awa as part of a pilot for the new qualification organised by the Qualifications Authority. Providers participating in the pilot were Te Kura Motuhake o te Ataarangi (Wairoa), Lytton High School (Gisborne) and Turanga Ararau (a Gisborne private training establishment).

Tania Saggers says the East Coast education providers were very positive about being involved in the pilot.

"These providers are doing everything they can to harness the skills and talents of the local community and to build on those successes," she said.

"Te Ngutu Awa provided an ideal target for these students."

Manager and tutor at Te Kura Motuhake o te Ataarangi, Liz Hunkin (Ngati Kahungunu) said the advantage of Te Ngutu Awa was its broad range and flexibility.

"Te Ngutu Awa enables the students to follow a pathway to many other specialised areas such as Māori Business and Management, Hauora and Tourism Māori. The option of venturing to anywhere on the National Qualifications Framework may also be explored."

Walter Tamepo of Lytton High School says as a result of student participation in Te Ngutu Awa, students have registered interest in teaching, music and recording, Māori business management and traditional and contemporary visual arts.

"Māori students can now pursue degree courses in non-traditional subjects and combine these with traditional subjects to acquire nationally recognised qualifications.

"These new Māori qualifications have given our people
more confidence in our tamariki for the future, but more importantly, new insights, goals and challenges for our rangatahi," Mr Tamepo said.