Overview
*Subject to NZQA approval.
This programme integrates Mātauranga Māori approaches to teaching, learning and nursing practice to support your learner journey to become a registered nurse with the Nursing Council New Zealand.
Learn the clinical and cultural skills to work in a range of healthcare settings, from hospitals to community-based organisations while honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
You’ll be in high demand with NorthTec’s new Puawānanga Tapuhi Māori (Bachelor of Nursing Māori).
Although accessible to everyone this programme gives priority to ākonga who whakapapa Māori and integrates Mātauranga Māori approaches to teaching, learning and nursing practice.
Nursing and indigenous knowledge is integrated so graduates will be prepared to be registered nurses who can work in a wide range of healthcare settings with a qualification that is recognised nationally.
Nurses are the single largest body of health professionals in Aotearoa and thus have the greatest opportunity to address equity (or inequity) for health outcomes. This programme provides ākonga with the knowledge and skills to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and address health inequity through their nursing practice.
The programme is designed to be adaptable which is particularly important for local contextualisation where iwi, hapū, and hapori differences will be enabled and supported.
You will complete clinical placements here in Northland and learn through a blend of classroom and online study, preparing you to become a Registered Nurse with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ).
Programme aim
Programme aims to educate and produce competent nurses who use evidence-based practices and nursing knowledge to provide clinically and culturally safe nursing care to individuals, whanau and communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. (and beyond)
Puawānanga Tapuhi Māori prepares nursing graduates for registration in the NCNZ registered nurse scope of practice.
Clinical Experience
Ākonga will be required to attend clinical placements throughout the Puawānanga Tapuhi Māori programme. These placements may occur anywhere in the Northland region (students will need to reside in the Northland region). These will be undertaken in a range of clinical settings including but not limited to: primary, secondary and tertiary care, te ao māori, community health, acute care, aged care, mental health, palliative and disability.
The NCNZ requires each student to complete a minimum of 1000 clinical hours in a variety of clinical placements prior to completion of the programme.
How you will learn
The Puawānanga Tapuhi Māori (Bachelor of Nursing Māori) is a progressive sequence of six semesters of study, totalling three years for a full-time student. Students wishing to study part-time should discuss with the Nursing Pathway Manager. There is a Nursing Council requirement for you to complete your degree within five years.
Learning and teaching will be inclusive, recognising all individuals and will employ a range of culturally responsive learning experiences imbedded in Mātauranga Māori pedagogies and inclusive approaches for disabled people. To ensure ākonga Māori can learn as Māori the following approaches are taken:
- Kanohi ki te kanohi: face to face learning acknowledges that communication includes not just words but also what one hears, sees, feels and smells and is a primary facet of human behaviour.
- Wānanga: involves ākonga meeting and discussing topics of importance as a process of gaining, sharing or arriving at highly evolved knowledge.
- Noho marae: involves ākonga staying on marae for educational purposes. It allows ākonga to experience how the physical, spiritual and emotional aspects of culture can be applied, as well as using te reo Māori.
- Taukana-Teina: a mentoring style relationship that is an integral part of traditional and contemporary Māori society.
Disabled ākonga are supported by disability support and accessibility services who work with ākonga to assess their individual needs. Ākonga may be supported by a reader and/or writer and learning materials, methods and technologies may be adapted where appropriate to ensure there are no barriers for disabled ākonga.
This programme is a blend of classroom, kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) teaching and online learning. Students will need to reside in Te Tai Tokerau to attend in person learning and clinical placements.
All courses have course content online that is designed to provide the student with some learning flexibility to study from home. There are weekly requirements for each course and the student can decide what time of the day or how many hours they spend online to reinforce their understanding of the content and to work on their assessments.
This is a full-time course which means 36+ hours per week will be required to achieve the weekly learning requirements.
Clinical learning is provided through a mix of practice in a controlled environment on mannequins and ākonga colleagues, simulated practice with live models and across the multiple nursing contexts with real patients (Clinical Learning Experiences / Placements). There are clinical learning experiences in semesters 2 - 6 which may include rostered shiftwork. The clinical learning experiences increase in time as ākonga progress through the programme. For example, in Semester 2 is 80 hours clinical learning experience building to the last transition to practice placement which is 360 hours.
Courses (Year 1):
- Whānautanga
- Tiaki Whānau
- Te Ture me te Tikanga
- Mana Atua
- Oranga Whānau
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi me Kawa Whakaruruhau
- Mana Tangata
- Manaaki i te Tangata
Courses (Year 2):
- Whakawhanaunga
- Mahi ā-Ringa Tuatahi
- Mana o Rongo
- Hauora Whānui
- Whakamahia te Ture me te Tikanga
- Mahi ā-Ringa Tuarua
Courses (Year 3):
- Tātai Hono
- Mahi ā-Ringa Tuatoru
- Whakamana te Ture me te Tikanga
- Whiringa ā-Mahi
Entry Requirements
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to understand follow, and respond to instructions given in English.
- be physically able to complete the programme specific outcomes
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
Applicants for whom English is not a first language must have an IELTS score of 5 with no band score lower than 5; or an accepted international equivalence.
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
Applicants for whom English is not a first language must have an IELTS score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5; or an accepted international equivalence.
Educational Criteria
Completed NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance including at least:
- 14 credits in an English language rich subject, e.g. English, history, art history, classics, geography, economics.
- 14 credits in a science subject e.g. biology, chemistry, physics.
Alternative Educational Criteria
- ‘B’ passes in a level 4 Foundation Programme; OR
- Evidence of recent successful study in other relevant courses at tertiary level; OR
- Documented verifiable evidence of relevant work life experience (usually the equivalent of two years full time) that indicates the ability to meet the requirements of this degree. Such evidence would normally include details of roles/responsibilities undertaken, interpersonal skills, other achievements and referee statements. Admission under this provision requires an interview with and approval from the Nursing Pathway Manager.
Additional Requirements
Priority is given to ākonga who whakapapa Māori.
The following are required if you are accepted into the programme:
- NZ Police Authorisation to Disclose Information: Nursing is a trusted, high ranking profession and as such requires its members to be law abiding citizens. Each applicant is therefore required to complete and return a NZ Police ‘Authorisation to Disclose Information’ form with your application. If you are accepted into the programme, your form will be sent by NorthTec to the Police Licensing and Vetting Service and returned in confidence to the Nursing Pathway Manager. Information on the NZ Vetting Service is available from www.police.govt.nz. (Please note that access to some clinical placements is subject to police vetting).
Personal Requirements
All applicants must:
- have health clearances, vaccinations and immunisations at the student's expense to meet the policies of the various clinical practice institutions and agencies (if accepted onto the programme);
- have a level of physical and emotional health commensurate as to achieve the required nursing practice competencies;
- provide the names of 2 persons who are prepared to act as referees for you;
- be able to read and write unassisted (because of the requirement to independently and accurately read and write case notes and other documentation when in clinical practice). Applicants must be able to understand, interpret and speak English, at a level that is safe in clinical practice – the inability to do so would create risk or harm to others. Note that students may request, however, the use of a ‘reader/writer’ for exams in the instance of temporary disability.
Workforce Restrictions for Children's Workforce
The Children's Act 2014 was part of a series of comprehensive measures brought in to protect and improve the wellbeing of vulnerable children. If you have a criminal conviction, and you are studying (or considering studying) toward a qualification that will lead to a job in the state funded sector working directly with children, you need to check whether your conviction could prevent you from working in some roles in your chosen field.
Intakes & Applications
Dates & Bookings
Applications opening soon. Contact us for further info.
Youth Guarantee Fund*
If you are aged 16 to 24, you could study for FREE as part of the government's Youth Guarantee fund. To qualify for the Youth Guarantee fund, you must meet the following criteria:
- Complete an application for a course that is covered by the Youth Guarantee fund.
- Be a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
- Be 16 to 24 years old at the time the course starts. Learners who are 15 years old and hold Ministry approved early leaving exemption from their school may also be eligible. This exemption must be in place before the course starts.
Priority places will be given to students who:
- have not yet achieved NCEA Level 1 or NCEA Level 2; or
- have completed a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification through a Youth Guarantee provision programme.
All free study is subject to funding confirmation. Proof of residency status is required. Programme entry criteria may apply. Eligibility for student allowances or student loans may vary. Contact Studylink for more information.
* All fees and study costs found on this website are indicative course fees only and exclude the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) levy.
The 2025 CSSF levy is $300 per full-time equivalent student (120 credits) and funds key services for students.
Prices are in New Zealand Dollars including GST, and are for domestic students only, unless otherwise stated. For programmes longer than one academic year in duration, the fees quoted are for the first year. Final study costs depends on a number of factors including the courses you select to study. All fees and study costs are subject to confirmation, including zero fees courses.
Courses and programmes may be cancelled, postponed or have their content or configuration changed from time to time (including during the academic year) at the discretion of NorthTec. See our full Terms and conditions.
Additional Information
Employment Pathways
About Te Pūkenga
Following the Government’s announcement of its intention to disestablish Te Pūkenga | New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, please be assured that your programme of study or training will continue as planned while we work through the details of how this change will be implemented.
We are committed to ensuring that organisational changes that need to be made to meet the Government’s expectations do not impact the delivery of our programmes and training for our learners and employers.
If you need access to learner support services or have any concerns, please contact us.
