On this page:
- Planning Chart
- Apply Online
- Assessment and Interview Dates
- What to Expect on the Day
- How to Prepare for the Assessment/Interview
- Practice Assessment
- Supporting Documentation
- Contacts
Planning Chart
Before applying read through the planning chart in the table below to help you structure your programme of study.
All PDF documents require Acrobat Reader.
| Document | File size | File type |
|---|---|---|
 Tohu Planning Chart |
171 KB |
Apply Online
Apply online from 1 October 2012.
Assessment and Interview Dates
Students who apply for the Tohu Māoritanga programme for the 2013 academic year are required to attend an assessment and interview session. The dates these sessions are scheduled for are:
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 18 December 2012 | 10:00am-2:00pm |
| Wednesday 19 December 2012 | 10:00am-2:00pm |
| Thursday 24 January 2013 | 10:00am-12:00pm |
| Wednesday 30 January 2013 | 10:00am-12:00pm |
Note that your application is conditional upon you attending an assessment/interview session.
All sessions will be held at Te Kawa a Māui in the Seminar Room (Room 101), 48 Kelburn Parade. You are required to attend only one of these sessions. The School will contact you directly with further details about the assessment/interview session, and to let you know which session to attend.
Please work now to ensure you have time off work and other commitments. It is important that you attend otherwise your application will not be considered. Only in exceptional circumstances will alternative arrangements be made.
What to Expect on the Day
The purpose of the assessment and interview session is to determine your readiness for the programme and to suggest alternative pathways if we think it's not right for you.
The assessment part will test your literacy skills so that we're sure you are at a level required for first-year University study. You should note that there is no pass or fail mark for this assessment, and that we'd like your answers to be written in English. This assessment will be around 60 minutes in duration, and will involve two sections: Section A is Reading which you are advised to spend 20 minutes on. For this section you will be given a short reading passage and asked questions relating to the reading. Section B is Writing which you are advised to spend 40 minutes on. For this section you will write a 300-word essay on a topic relating to te ao Māori.
The interview part will be with staff from the School as well as Māori support staff. You will be asked a series of questions based around your understanding of University study, your reasons for applying for the programme, and what you hope to achieve by successfully completing the programme. We are looking for concise and articulate responses in your discussion. The interview will be around 10 minutes in duration.
Your whānau is more than welcome to join you at the interview session, but we would appreciate you letting us know in advance.
How to Prepare for the Assessment/Interview
- Firstly, we're not going to ask you any trick questions. Think about some basic questions you might be asked and how you would respond. For example, why you have chosen the Tohu programme.
- Re-read your personal statement and recommendation letter. Think about how you might expand that information.
- The interview panel will also be interested to know how you balance your time between studying and other extra-curricular activities.
- At the end of the interview, you'll have an opportunity to ask questions. Don’t worry if you can't think of anything to ask.
- Organise a practice interview for yourself – this will give you some experience talking about yourself.
- When it comes to deciding what you should wear to your interview, wear whatever you feel comfortable in.
- Finally, remember the three "Bs": be on time, be relaxed, and above all, be yourself.
Practice Assessment
The practice assessment in the table below will give you an idea of the types of questions to expect. Although the "real" test will be similar to the one below, it won’t be the same.
All PDF documents require Acrobat Reader.
| Document | File size | File type |
|---|---|---|
| Practice Assessment |
240 KB |
Supporting Documentation
When you apply for the programme, you will be asked to include two documents with your enrolment application. The first is a personal statement outlining your reasons for applying, your background, the skills and experience you bring with you, and your intentions once you've completed the Tohu (this should be approximately 300-350 words in length). The second document is a supporting letter that provides a recommendation from a person who can comment on your readiness to undertake University study. You can either ask a whānau member, your manager (current or previous), the Principal of your previous school, or one of your previous teachers, to write this recommendation on your behalf.
All supporting enrolment documentation must be received by the Enrolments Office by Thursday, 10 January 2013. If sending this documentation by post, send to the Enrolments Office, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140; if delivering in person, deliver to the Enrolments Office, Level 1, Hunter Building, Gate 2, Kelburn Parade.
Contacts
If you have any questions about the enrolment application process, please contact Jeremy Porima (tel. 04 463 5314, email address). As our main form of communicating with you will be via email, it is important that you have a valid email address and that it is kept up-to-date at all times. You should check your email regularly to ensure you receive any important messages from the University regarding your enrolment application.
If you initially applied for a degree programme, but did not obtain admission, and would like to enquire about how to enrol in the Tohu programme, please contact the Māori Liaison Officer for course advice on tel. 04 463 6668.