Did you know that Cook Islands Maori make up 22% of New Zealand's Pacific population?  Most are younger than 20, and 80% live here in Auckland. 

However, only 16% of Cook Islanders living in New Zealand say they are able to hold an everyday conversation in Cook Islands Maori.  Youth increase and language decline has prompted community and church leaders in Auckland to advocate the teaching and learning Cook Islands Maori. Taking up the challenge, the Faculty of Arts reintroduced the teaching of Cook Islands Maori in 2009. 

Cook Islands Maori and your career

Knowledge of a Pacific language could be useful for careers in education, the public service, social services and welfare, business, marketing, journalism, language teaching, interpreting and translation.

Study options in Cook Islands Maori

Cook Islands Maori is available as an additional subject in the BA, and is taught by the Centre for Pacific Studies.

What can you study in Cook Islands Maori?

You will be given a basic grounding in conversational Cook Islands Maori language. You will gain insight into the second largest Pacific ethnic group in New Zealand and a deeper appreciation of the Cook Islands' heritage of song, dance, oratory, art and literature.

Undergraduate programmes in Cook Islands Maori

 You can study Cook Islands Maori as:

• elective courses in the BA
• a subject within the Certificate in Arts
• part of a major/minor in Pacific Studies.

You can also study Cook Islands Maori for the Diploma in Languages or Certificate in Languages.

Find out more about these undergraduate programmes.

The minor in Cook Islands Maori

For 2010 the minor in Cook Islands Maori is not available.  Contact the Undergraduate Adviser or Arts Students' Centre if you have previously begun the minor and need advice about completing.

 

View scholarships and prizes available in Pacific Studies. 

View resources for Pacific Studies students.