About the programme
The Bachelor of Nursing Māori is a NZQF Level 7 programme at Whitireia & WelTec that uses a kaupapa Māori approach to prepare students, over three full-time years (360 credits), for registration as nurses with the Nursing Council of New Zealand. On completion, students are ready to sit the Council's State Examination.
The programme moves between Te Ao Māori, the Māori world view, and Te Ao Tapuhi, the world of nursing. Graduates are expected to show both cultural and clinical competence, and once registered can practise in New Zealand or overseas. Fluent te reo Māori is not a requirement for entry.
It is one of three nursing degrees at Whitireia, together with the Bachelor of Nursing and the Bachelor of Nursing Pacific. All three are approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and meet the Nursing Council's registration requirements. Nursing has been a central part of Whitireia's teaching for more than thirty years, and its graduates are well regarded by employers.
Study combines theory sessions on the Porirua campus with supervised clinical experience in community and hospital settings. Before the programme begins, students complete health screening and provide proof of current immunisations, as placement providers require.
Entry requirements
- Whitireia degree academic entry requirements (University Entrance) or equivalent
- Equivalence may include overseas secondary school completion, recent Level 4 tertiary study with a B average and/or relevant paid or unpaid work experience, assessed case by case by the Head of School
- Applicants must meet both academic and suitability requirements
- Health screening and immunisation evidence before starting
- Fluency in te reo Māori is not required
What you study
- Te Ao Māori — Māori world view and cultural competence
- Te Ao Tapuhi — nursing knowledge and clinical practice
- Classroom-based sessions on the Porirua campus
- Supported clinical experience in community and hospital settings
Careers after graduation
- Sitting the Nursing Council of New Zealand State Examination
- Practice as a Registered Nurse in New Zealand
- Nursing practice overseas
- Further study such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing or in Primary Health Care Specialty Nursing
Post-study work visa
Equal to the length of the programme, 3 years maximum
Depends on the qualification, the length of study and other Immigration New Zealand requirements.
This description is based on the official programme page, checked on 09/09/2026. Ask an NIU adviser about fees and intake dates — the programme page on the Whitireia & WelTec website