Toi Māori

A certificate in Māori artforms

Revitalising mahi toi in marae communities

Explore traditional Māori artforms with Te Pou Hono ki Toi. This marae-centred certificate offered by Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, is designed to grow artistic knowledge and capability within Māori communities. This course empowers tauira to engage in mahi toi and contribute to the cultural and creative development of their marae, hapū and iwi.

Whether you're passionate about traditional Māori arts or want to support creative expression at your marae, this programme offers a culturally grounded pathway to artistic leadership.

Why Study Te Pou Hono ki Toi?

Revitalisation and Preservation
Revive and preserve traditional Māori artforms and support creative expression at your marae

Self-Determined Localised Learning
Delivered by and for your own members. Learn from your own leaders, in your own spaces, at your own pace, focusing on mahi toi of significance to your marae or community.

Culturally Grounded Practical Learning
Marae-based learning model grounded in tikanga Māori. Learn skills that can be applied on your marae and in your community.

Cultural Leadership
Build capacity and capability in the arts in your whānau, hapū, iwi or community.

What you’ll learn in Te Pou Hono ki Toi:

• Communication skills relevant to cultural and artistic development
• Operational and theoretical knowledge of traditional Māori artforms
• Practical application of artforms such as Tāniko, Raranga, Tukutuku, Whakairo, Kōwhaiwhai or Tā Moko.
• Practical experience in researching and practising mahi toi within marae settings
• Reflective skills to evaluate and improve artistic practices in whānau, hapū and iwi contexts

Who should apply?
Te Pou Hono programmes are designed for collective learning by groups such as whānau, hapū, marae, iwi, kōhanga reo, kura and other Māori entities.

• This programme is ideal for:
• Whānau, hapū, iwi members passionate about toi Māori with a desire to uplift their marae through mahi toi
• Marae-based artists and cultural leaders
• Community members wanting to grow creative capability

Te Kaupapa o Te Pou Hono – Strategic Purpose

Te Pou Hono is a collective suite of marae-centred courses designed to support marae, whānau, hapū and iwi to revitalise and strengthen all aspects of Te Ao Māori through the context of their own unique local lenses.

Each Te Pou Hono programme has its own unique theme covering various aspects of marae-centred topics.  

Te Pou Hono is intended for groups, where individuals study collectively, enabling marae to bring together their members from around the country to learn from their own collective knowledge held by whānau, hapū and iwi to ensure knowledge is transferred from one generation to the next.