Social Services Māori (Level 5)
Title
New Zealand Diploma in Social Services Māori
Version
1
Qualification type
Diploma
Level
5
Credits
120
NZSCED
DAS classification
Qualification developer
NZQA, Māori Qualifications Services
Next review
Mmmm YYYY
Approval date
Dd Mmmm YYYY
Strategic purpose statement
This qualification is intended for those who have completed the
Level 4 qualification, or who have experience in the area of
health and social services and who are seeking an advanced
qualification. It will provide marae, communities and the Health
and Social Services sector with people who have developed
specialised skills in a mātauranga Māori social service context.
The purpose of this qualification is to develop skills and
knowledge required to strengthen the ability of community and
social service workers to work with whānau and community.
Graduates of this qualification will understand culture is a catalyst
for personal, social and economic development. They will also
have attained and developed the skills and knowledge to work as
competent and confident mātauranga Māori practitioners, and to
contribute to advancing the aspirations of their whānau, hapū,
and iwi.
Graduate profile
Graduates of this qualification will be able to apply the following
essential skills and processes relevant to Social Services roles
and responsibilities:
Outcome Statement
Te Reo me ngā Tikanga Māori (20 credits)

Integrate te reo Māori, tikanga practices, and te Ao
Māori concepts competently when engaging with
whānau, hapū, iwi and hapori.

Promote values and tikanga important to Māori
communities

Integrate knowledge of one’s own whakapapa in
maintaining and growing links and connections with
others in a health and or social services context.
Whanaungatanga (20 credits)

Develop and apply comprehensive communication and
relationship-management strategies that are consistent
with values and tikanga important to Māori
communities.

Utilise understanding of the whānau as a political unit to
advocate for others in a social services context.

Identify and describe the complexities of relationships
in Te Ao Māori.
Te Tika me te Pono (20 credits)

Analyse and generate solutions based upon reflexive
practices in a social services context.

Use advanced academic writing and analytical skills.

Critically analyse the responses to the impacts of
colonisation and marginalisation on whānau, hapū, and
Māori community structures.

Act professionally, ethically, and in a socially and
culturally responsible manner that also promotes selfcare (tapu and noa) in a social services context.

Work within a framework for professional practice
informed by knowledge and skills in the application and
implementation of Te Tiriti within a social services
context.
Manaakitanga (20 credits)

Utilise advanced knowledge and skills related to Māori
health and social services initiatives such as auahi
kore, counselling, youth work, whānau ora, and
addiction 1.

Provide mana protecting and mana enhancing practice

Utilise intervention strategies to reduce the risk of Māori
placing themselves in at-risk situations; and research
into traditional and contemporary practices.

Provide management support within organisations
involving the delivery of care to Māori, and be able to
assist whānau, hapū and/or iwi to manage their health.
Tino Rangatiratanga (20 credits)

Transition competently and confidently between te ao
Māori and te ao Pākeha.

Empower Māori, hapu and iwi to manage their health
care, and take charge of their own personal health
contributing to whānau ora and hauora.

Utilise foundation skills to provide management support
within organisations involving the delivery of social
services care to Māori.

Demonstrate competencies to attend to the wide range
of presenting mental health condition and or addictionrelated problems.
Whānau ora (20 credits)
1

Compare and contrast ethical frameworks and
professional standards, with tikanga and kawa within a
Whānau Ora framework.

Examine government and local health systems to
determine coordinated approaches to the provision of
Addiction is a generic term to denote alcohol and other drug and problem gambling
whānau-centred services.

Analyse Māori models of practice to inform how they
contribute to te oranga o te whānau.
Education pathway
This qualification provides a pathway to:
New Zealand Certificate in Youth Development (Level 6),
New Zealand Diploma in Addiction Studies (Level 6),
New Zealand Diploma in Counselling (Level 6),
New Zealand Certificate in Professional Supervision (Level 6)
New Zealand Diploma in Māori Public Health (Level 6),
May also provide a pathway to the:
Bachelor in Social Work
Bachelor of Māori and Pacific Development
Bachelor of Counselling
Bachelor of Addiction Studies.
Employment pathway
Holders of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge
required to work in formal and informal roles in the Health and
Social Services sector:
 Social and community workers
 Support workers
 Care givers
 Youth care
 Whānau ora navigators
 Voluntary work that may potentially lead to employment
All these roles can be within the government sector, private
organisations and Marae-based service providers.
Whānau, hapū,
iwi/community pathway
This qualification provides a pathway for those who want to work
effectively in Māori communities. Graduates of this qualification
will:
 Support, assist and empower the whānau, hapū, iwi and the
hāpori to meet make positive decisions and choices to meet
the social needs and future aspirations of their whānau
based on kaupapa Māori principles.
The Headings:
Te reo me ngā tikanga Māori:
Acknowledges te reo Māori as the primary vehicle for expressing and transmitting Māori knowledge,
values, and tikanga. It also signifies the importance of tikanga Māori when interacting with Māori in
a Social Services context, and acknowledges that support of Māori includes knowledge of their
identity, their kawa, and tikanga and practices associated with them.
Whanaungatanga:
Ensures the prominence of relationships being based on respect, integrity and understanding
between the Māori person, their whānau and those offering care and support in a Social Services
context.
Te Tika me te Pono:
Ensures important aspects that relate to kawa and tikanga; legal obligations and compliance issues,
systems and procedures, ethics, and acting in a way that is socially and culturally responsible are
adhered to. It also looks into how these tools can be utilised in the practice of the professional to
achieve the best outcomes for whānau.
Manaakitanga:
Signifies as fundamental, the care of the Māori person, their whānau, hapū and iwi through the
expression of mana-enhancing behaviors and practices within a Social Services context. It also
identifies individual and whānau strengths, roles and responsibilities to empower Māori to achieve
their dreams.
Rangatiratanga:
Empowerment and expression of world view that is distinctively and uniquely Māori when
supporting Māori in a Social Services context.