Ratonga Pāpori
Social & Community Services
Help others make positive changes in their lives.
Tirohanga whānui
Social and community services
Join a learning journey that’s all about people. Our programmes help you develop the skills, qualifications and cultural understanding to make a real difference for whānau and communities across Aotearoa.
Ngā hōtaka e wātea ana
Programmes available
Ngā kaupapa whakataki
Introductory programmes (1)
Levels 1-3
Ngā kaupapa takawaenga
Intermediate programmes (3)
Levels 4-6
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Manaaki Tāngata | Certificate of Bicultural Social Services
Level 4 Certificate - Classroom
This qualification will help you with a career in social services, improving people's lives and changing your community.
- Level 4
- Classroom
- No fees
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Manaaki Tāngata | Certificate of Bicultural Social Services
Level 4 Certificate - Noho
This qualification will help you with a career in social services, improving people's lives and changing your community.
- Level 4
- Noho
- No fees
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Manahautū | Police Focus
Level 4 certificate
Open for applicationsLearn about front line policing with the NZ Police Force through hands-on activities and real-life scenarios.
- Level 4
- Classroom
Ngā kaupapa matatau
Advanced programmes (2)
Levels 7-9
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Ngā Poutoko Whakarara Oranga
Bachelor of Bicultural Social Work
Grounded in Te Tiriti, this four-year degree integrates study and supervised practice for real-world readiness in a social work career.
- Level 7
- Noho
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Kaitiakitanga
Postgraduate Diploma in Bicultural Professional Supervision
Advance your professional supervision practice using mātauranga Māori approaches to support and supervise staff and peers.
- Level 8
- Noho
Kaupapa anamata
Upcoming events
Pitopito kōrero o te wā
Latest news
A teacher’s path to understanding tikanga
Originally from South Africa, Franda Zondagh has called Aotearoa home since 2003, but it was through studying He Papa Tikanga with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that she began to feel a deeper connection to the place she lives and people she serves in her mahi.
Leading by example and learning te reo Māori
Liisa Wharepapa’s (Te Whānau ā Apanui) journey with te reo Māori wasn’t something that happened overnight, it was a goal waiting to be pursued until the moment she felt ready to take that step.
Returning home and reclaiming te reo Māori
After many years away building his professional career, Logan Bertram (Whakatōhea), returned home to Ōpōtiki with a clear goal of reconnecting with his whakapapa and creating a better future for his young whānau.
A teaching journey shaped by whānau
The journey to becoming a teacher was not a straight line for Nimai Fraser‑Eccleston, it was shaped by whānau, lived experience and his desire to create a meaningful life for his tamariki.
Governance grounded in te ao Māori
When the opportunity came up to study Manu Taiko, New Zealand Certificate in Māori Governance, at the Ngāmotu (New Plymouth) campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Paora Rauputu didn’t hesitate to enrol.
Flexible study supports Cromwell business owner
Based in Cromwell, Sam Taylor needed flexibility to balance work, study and build his business, and found exactly that through the online Certificate in Small Business at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Turning point inspires commitment to change, community, and career
In 2024, Bryce Marsh faced a major turning point in life that led to him studying Manaaki Tangata at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, setting him on a path of healing, self-discovery and a desire to give back to his community.
A whānau journey of learning at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Studying at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa wasn’t just a personal journey for Tania Dargaville (Te Rarawa). It became a whānau journey, shared alongside her sister and son, learning, growing and now graduating together.
Creating second chances for rangatahi
Kaimahi working in Youth Engagement Services at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa play a vital role in empowering rangatahi to discover who they are, build practical skills, and shape futures that feel right for them.
Wānanga study supports career shift into social services
When COVID-19 hit, it changed the direction of Dee Clark’s life. At the time, she was working in airport security as a behavior analyst, but the impacts of COVID-19 caused her role to change and so did her sense of purpose.
