This Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary Technology Education) is designed to give you a recognised, flexible, and practical teaching qualification that prepares you for the secondary technology classroom.

You’ll take part in hands-on courses that link theory with real-world practice, all shaped around what schools need, so you’ll graduate ready to step into teaching or continue on to postgraduate study.

Enrolment information for new learners

If you wold like to enrol in the February 2027 intake you need to apply before the 19th of October 2026. See the Programme structure tab for the application dates. 

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 secondary technology education settings to support Māori learners to enjoy educational success as Māori
• Engag appropriately and effectively with rangatahi, their parents, families and whānau, as well as colleagues, stakeholder professionals and external organisations
• Use current research and critical reflection to analyse effective practices to continually improve design for learning and teaching 
• Apply professional learning and collaboration within and beyond their secondary technology education setting
• Apply academic literacies to communicate industry knowledge and skills for teaching technology.
  
  

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 secondary education and other teaching settings, and related professions.

It is a recognised initial teacher education qualification for the purposes of meeting the requirements for application to register as a teacher with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Partner school

After you complete the initial courses, you will need the support of an approved partner school to continue with this programme. We can help you to organise this support. If you are studying:

• Full-time - you will spend two full days in a partner school each week.
• Part-time - you will spend one full day in a partner school each week (in addition to practicum).  

These days are decided between you and the school, and you are expected to attend between 9am and 3pm as a minimum. There are 40 days in total across this programme.

Your mentor teacher will guide you in a range of learning experiences and school-based tasks designed to develop your teaching practice. This will ensure you have the opportunity to connect theory (online learning) with practice (what you experience in schools).

You are expected to contribute to the mahi of your partner school, based on your areas of skill or interest. This could be in areas such as performing arts, sports, languages and culture, etc.

If you have an existing relationship with a school (you already work there, or are well known to them), please approach them to seek candidate support for your application. Schools are busy places, so please contact them first to make an appointment.

When you are in discussions with the school, please email or bring them a copy of this School Placement Information. This document includes the following:

• Partner School Letter: This letter explains why you are approaching the school for support.
• Programme Leaflet: This gives the school an overview of the programme and details the responsibilities required by the school.
• Candidate Support Form: Schools should complete and return this form to confirm their support.

We suggest you give yourself plenty of time to do this before the application close-off date.

Programme delivery

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

 You will also engage in separate online tutorials delivered by educators who are experienced secondary subject specialists. These group tutorials ensure you are able are to develop the teaching skills and pedagogy related to your specific subject areas. 

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. 

Practicum

During this programme you will complete two full-time 8-week practicums. At these times, you are expected to be at school before 8:30am and to be available until 4pm each day. Only one of these may be completed at your partner school. You will be guided by an Associate Teacher as you engage with tamariki, whānau, and the wider school 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 (in a supported environment).

Cross crediting and recognition of prior learning

Cross Crediting/Recognition of Prior Learning is available for this programme.