Maunga Kura Toi develops graduate practitioners in toi Māori who are grounded in mātauranga Māori and committed to the advancement and revitalisation of kaupapa toi.It equips tauira with the technical, theoretical, and cultural to specialise in raranga, rauangi or whakairo.

The degree fosters rangahau skills, creative exploration and project management, while developing reflective and culturally grounded practitioners who think critically and responsively about the role of toi Māori. Through this, graduates are prepared to work both independently and collaboratively, contributing meaningfully to the aspirations of whānau, hapū, iwi, and te ao Māori.

A graduate of Maunga Kura Toi will be able to:

Kaitiakitanga (Responsible Trusteeship)
* Be critically reflective makers of creative work, demonstrating highly developed skills and and understanding of processes and practices associated with kaupapa toi.
* Apply highly developed rangahau skills and mātauranga Māori to create kaupapa toi works.
* Be knowledgeable about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to toi Māori.

Koha (Contributions of Consequence)
* Articulate the kaupapa and whakapapa of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, through the application of Ngā Takepū across their creative practice.
* Integrate the reo and tikanga of kaupapa toi to contribute high-quality authentic creative outcomes in a specific creative practice.

Āhurutanga (Safe and Nurturing Spaces)
* Integrate tikanga and kawa, grounded in the whakapapa of toi Māori within their creative practice.
* Demonstrate the skills and knowledge to collaborate effectively with individuals and groups on kaupapa toi initiatives.

Mauri Ora (Conscious Wellbeing)
* Be able to work alongside whānau, hapū, iwi and hapori to advance toi Maori for the benefit of te ao Māori and te ao whānui.

Internal Pathways: Maunga Kura Toi: Bachelor of Māori Art has evolved to support clear staircasing through a structured pathway of toi programmes, from Level 3 to Level 9, including Kāwai Raupapa (Certificates), Toi Paematua (Diploma), Maunga Kura Toi (Bachelor), and He Waka Hiringa (Master's).

External Pathways: Pathways are available within universities, wānanga and ITPs. There are several institutions that offer master's programmes that Maunga Kura Toi graduates can pathway into provided all admission criteria are met. Some of the potential external pathways for this programme are outlined below.

The entry requirements for Maunga Kura Toi with an endorsement in Raranga, Whakairo or Rauangi are: Standard requirements to enter this programme, tauira must be:

1. 16 years or older
2. A New Zealand citizen (which includes citizens of Cook Island, Niue and Tokelau)
3. A New Zealand resident currently living in New Zealand
4. An Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident, currently residing in New Zealand.

Level 5 (Year 1):
To be eligible for entry into the first year of this programme, applicants must have:
5. Successfully completed the New Zealand Certificate in Ngā Toi (Level 4) within the practice of Kāwai Raupapa: Raranga, Rauangi, or Whakairo; or an equivalent toi qualification (120 credits at Level 4);
or
6. Attained NCEA Level 3; and Proof of relevant experience equivalent to that provided in the Kāwai
Raupapa Level 4 programme graduate profile within the practice of Raranga, Rauangi, or Whakairo: or
7. Granted Special Admission. Level 6 (Year 2):  

Level 6 (Year 2):
To be eligible for entry into the second year of this programme, applicants must have:
1. Successfully completed: New Zealand Diploma in Ngā Toi (Level 5) within the practice of Toi Paematua: Diploma of Māori and Indigenous Art: Raranga, Rauangi, or Whakairo; or
2. Year 1 of Maunga Kura Toi; or
3. Granted Credit Recognition of recognized prior learning; or
4. Granted Special Admission.

Note: The requirements and guidelines for entry of prospective tauira including conditions of RPL and Special Admission are detailed in Document D: Tikanga Ako Marau (Programme Specific Regulations). The entry requirements should be read in conjunction with the regulations: Entry and Admission and Selection Requirements.