Practical courses connect theory with practice and are strongly aligned with sector needs to ensure work-ready graduates equipped with skills and knowledge required for teaching positions or for further study at postgraduate level.

What you will learn

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

• Apply in-depth understanding and knowledge of te Tiriti o Waitangi, te reo Māori and tikanga Māori in early childhood education settings to support Māori learners to enjoy educational success
• Engage appropriately and effectively with tamariki, their parents, families and whānau, colleagues, stakeholder and people from external organisations
• Use current research and critical reflection to analyse effective practices to continually improve design for learning and teaching during your practicum
• Apply professional learning and collaboration within and beyond their early childhood education settings.

Teacher registration

Once you have successfully completed this programme, you will be eligible to apply for registration and a practising certificate to begin your teaching career in New Zealand. A Tōmua | Provisional Practising Certificate is the first practising certificate you will hold. For New Zealand trained teachers, a Tōmua | Provisional Practising Certificate is issued or renewed for three years.

For more information please visit this link: 

Teaching Council of New Zealand, Applying for a Tōmua | Provisional Practising Certificate

Career opportunities

This programme leads to employment in early childhood education and other teaching settings, and related education sector positions. 

Programme delivery

You will access courses online with academic support from academic staff members. Contact with academic staff members and other students will occur via iQualify talk channels, at noho marae and during practicums over the course of your study.

Noho marae

Ākonga participate in one compulsory noho marae (overnight stay) during the programme. Noho are held regionally so that ākonga have an opportunity to connect with local tikanga and kawa (marae protocols and Māori practices) and te reo Māori. These are an important part of partnering with local iwi.

For ākonga enrolled in Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Education, below are the details for noho marae offered in 2026 as confirmed to date. Please note that while these dates and venues are confirmed, a change might occasionally be required:

Second half of 2026:

All noho marae start at 8.45am on the Saturday and finish at 11.30am on the Sunday.

• 18-19 July 2026: Ōrongomai, Wellington
• 25-26 July 2026: Rereteewhioi Marae, Auckland
• 01-02 August 2026: Ara Marae, Christchurch, Canterbury
• 01-02 Augus 2026t: Terenga Paraoa, Whangārei, Northland
• 08-09 August 2026: Ōrongomai, Wellington
• 08-09 August 2026: Te Oohaaki, Huntly
• 15-16 August 2026: Te Noho Kotahitanga, Auckland
• 15-16 August 2026: Araiteuru, Dunedin
• 22-23 August 2026: Te Whetu-o-te-Rangi, Tauranga
• 29-30 August 2026: Whakatū, Nelson
• 05-06 Sept 2026: Waiokura, Manaia, Taranaki
• 05-06 Sept 2026: Ōnuku Marae, Akaroa, Canterbury.

If you are starting study in July, please note the first two noho marae occur very early on in the study period.

If you enrol in Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Education for September or October you will not be able to complete the course until after the course end date. You will be awarded a Grade Pending result until you have attended a noho marae in the March - June period. 

Workshop and noho marae Schedule

January - June 2026 Workshop Schedule

July - December 2026 Workshop Schedule

Practicum

Throughout this programme you will complete two practicums, totalling 80 days. You will be guided by an Associate teacher as you engage with tamariki, whānau, and the wider community.

 During practicum, you will be supported to make progress towards specific Key Teaching Tasks. Towards the end of your practicum, you will have an opportunity to demonstrate your progress and ability to meet the Standards for the Teaching Profession.