The Mataraki Festival, Maori New Year, has already started and is on until 14 July 2010.

It is a special time for all New Zealanders to share, a time to come together and celebrate our unique Maori heritage, nature, creativity and expression.

If we look at our study map, Education Wellington thought that International Students would be interested in knowing a bit more about the Maori Studies Department at Victoria University, and it oh so special classroom!

Let’s go through a quick history, but first try to pronounce these greetings!

Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Kawa a Māui.
Welcome to the School of Māori Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

Māori Studies became a stand-alone department in 1978 on the appointment of the first Professor of Māori Studies, Hirini Moko Mead. Prior to this, Māori Studies had been part of the Department of Anthropology.
Soon after his appointment, Professor Mead, his staff and students set about developing the Māori Studies academic programme.

By 1980 the marae, Te Herenga Waka, had been established as an integral part of the discipline of Māori Studies. This was the first marae on any university campus in the country. And you know what? A range of courses are taught in the marae space!
The marae provides a tūrangawaewae (a standing place where Māori custom prevails) for the students and staff of Victoria University to promote, disseminate and maintain the use of te reo and tikanga Māori. A primary role of the Marae is to be a support facility that enhances the teaching, learning and cultural needs of Māori at the University.

In the late 1980s Cook Islands Studies and Samoan Studies were established within Māori Studies and in 2000 Pacific Studies was also added. At this time, Te Kawa a Māui was known as the School of Māori, Pacific and Samoan Studies. In 2005 Va'aomanū Pasifika was established and Pacific and Samoan Studies became a stand-alone centre.

Māori Studies also established the University’s kohanga reo and whānau houses.
As a part of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences it offers a broad range of courses in te reo, tikanga and Māori society through to PhD level.

We invite to contact the lovely staff at Vic University and find out more about the courses

Te Kawa a Māui - School of Māori Studies
Victoria University of Wellington
Room 102
50 Kelburn Parade
Kelburn
Wellington 6012
Email: maori-studies@vuw.ac.nz
Phone: +64 4 463 5314
Fax: +64 4 463 5243

Edited and published by Alice Poujois