Posted on 6 August 2026
Open Polytechnic, New Zealand’s specialist flexible online learning provider, is now accepting enrolments for the new Te Pōkaitahi Reo (Reo Rua) (Kaupae 2) - The New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo (Bilingual) (Level 2) programme.
The latest offering will increase ākonga (learners’) vocabulary, strengthen their understanding of sentence structures, and give them more opportunities to use te reo Māori in everyday situations, with the flexibility of learning around other commitments.
“This qualification will enable ākonga (learners) to build on their foundational knowledge, while supporting the revitalisation of te reo Māori in their whānau, communities and workplaces,” says Sharon Cooke, Open Polytechnic Chief Executive.
“Open Polytechnic has a proud history of providing flexible learning for 80 years, meaning all of our programmes offer ākonga the opportunity to engage in their learning at a time and place that suits them.”
Te Pōkaitahi Reo (Reo Rua) (Kaupae 2) - The New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo (Bilingual) (Level 2) is available through zero-fees for eligible domestic learners.
It will provide the tools and resources for learners to use te reo Māori more fluently and with greater accuracy in everyday contexts.
“Learning te reo Māori is about more than acquiring language skills. It is also about strengthening connections to people, place and culture,” says Andrew McCulloch, Open Polytechnic Executive Director, Learning Delivery.
“This programme supports ākonga to grow their confidence in te reo Māori while deepening their understanding of the knowledge, values and worldviews it carries.”
Learners who complete Te Pōkaitahi Reo (Reo Rua) (Kaupae 2) The New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo (Bilingual) (Level 2) will be able to use te reo vocabulary and grammatical structures at a foundation level as an expression of mana tangata (leadership).
"Ākonga will also be able to use foundation level reo to express connections to land and environment, prominent places, and people of the area as an expression of mana whenua (authority and power over land), mana reo (importance and power of communication) and mana ao tūroa (respect to the natural world)," says Thomas Tawhiri, Kaiwhakahaere Matua at Open Polytechnic who is the programme sponsor.
Learners who complete this qualification will have the skills and knowledge to participate in the development of te reo amongst whānau, hapū, iwi and community.
They will have a basic understanding and awareness of te reo that can be utilised to support and complement current skills and knowledge in their area of employment, in the public and private sectors.
This part-time programme is made up of three compulsory courses of 20 credits each.
To achieve the qualification, ākonga need to successfully complete all three courses
Open Polytechnic also offers Te Pōkaitahi Reo (Reo Rua) (Te Kaupae 1) - The New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo (Bilingual) (Level 1), which provides foundational skills and confidence, while it is a good stepping stone for the Level 2 programme, it is not a prerequisite.
For further details about Te Pōkaitahi Reo (Reo Rua) (Kaupae 2) - The New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo (Bilingual) (Level 2) go to the Open Polytechnic website.