Mātauranga Māori Quality Assurance Mark (MM QA mark)

The mātauranga Māori quality assurance mark (MM QA mark) acknowledges that a qualification and/or programme:

Clearly satisfies all NZQA’s development and listing requirements; and

Provides strong evidence showing the likelihood of:

-     The achievement of quality educational outcomes for ākonga, their whānau, hapū, iwi, ngā hapori Māori and other relevant audiences;

-     Mātauranga Māori approaches, tools, methodologies and processes contributing to the achievement of those quality outcomes; and

Mātauranga Māori as a body of knowledge is being advanced.

The expected benefits of the MM QA Mark are:

For ākonga, it provides assurances that a mātauranga Māori programme is highly likely to provide quality knowledge, skills and experiences relevant to their needs and aspirations.

• For whānau, hapū, iwi and other key audiences it provides assurances that their needs, interests and aspirations are reflected in mātauranga Māori qualifications and programmes of study.

• For government agencies including the Tertiary Education Commission and  Ministry of Education, it provides information and/or evidence that a mātauranga Māori qualification, programme or Provider is achieving quality outcomes not only for ākonga, but also whānau, hapū, iwi and other key audiences.

• For providers, it provides a recognisable brand indicating that a mātauranga Māori qualification and/or programme clearly meets the needs and aspirations of ākonga, whānau, hapū, iwi and other key audiences.

How does the MM QA Mark work?

A MM QA mark will only be awarded to a mātauranga Māori programme that has:

Met all NZQA and MM EQA programme approval and accreditation criteria and requirements, and achieved the highest overall evaluative rating.

Leads to a mātauranga Māori qualification that has met all MM EQA (Qualifications listing) criteria and requirements.

A mātauranga Māori programme awarded a MM QA mark will become a mandatory Focus Area at a TEO’s next scheduled External Evaluation and Review (EER).

To retain the MM QA Mark, a programme must achieve the required MM EQA rating for performance and self assessment capability at EER.  If this rating is not achieved, the programme will lose the mark, but still retain its approval and accreditation status.