Certificate in Bicultural Competency (Level 4)
Education studies
A course by
Otago Polytechnic
Develop practical knowledge of te reo and tikanga Māori, and a working understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi within workplace and community contexts in Aotearoa. Build your cultural competency through workplace-applicable skills and explore your own position in New Zealand's bicultural environment.
Online study
Flexible online learning from anywhere
Distance
It will take a total of 1 year
This course requires 15 hours per week
Core skills this course teaches
Use te reo Māori in workplace contexts
Accurately pronounce introductions, greetings, and farewells; incorporate basic te reo Māori into workplace correspondence and industry-specific communication.
Understand and apply tikanga Māori in workplace and everyday situations
Describe key tikanga Māori concepts and their relevance; explain and apply these concepts in both personal behaviour and organisational practices.
Grasp the historical and contemporary significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Describe the Treaty's development and the relationship between its principles and articles; discuss colonial legislation and ongoing impacts on iwi Māori.
What You're Signing Up For
This certificate equips learners with practical te reo Māori and tikanga Māori knowledge as relevant to workplace settings, alongside a broad understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and its historical and socio-political impact across Aotearoa, iwi, and location-specific contexts. Learners will identify and use te reo Māori in their workplace, engage actively with tikanga Māori principles, and explore the Treaty's legacy and its ongoing effects, both locally and nationally. Delivered through wānanga and ako principles, the programme fosters reflective practice, respect for diverse perspectives, and personal exploration of one's cultural position, guided by input from local iwi. The knowledge developed in this certificate is recognised as essential for responsive Treaty partners and for broader global employability.
Course Content
- Te Reo Māori for the Workplace: Introduction, greetings, workplace language, correspondence, pepeha/mihimihi.
- Tikanga Māori in the Organisation: Concepts of tikanga, influence on behaviour, application in organisations.
- Introduction to Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Historical context, articles and principles, impacts of colonisation, local iwi perspectives.
- Bicultural Competency: Exploring personal and Treaty partner cultural constructs, cultural narratives, discussion and reflection workshops, theories surrounding culture and bias.
- Structured, guided, and self-directed study, using wānanga and ako learning principles.
What you need to know first
Open entry. International students individually assessed.
All applicants must have English sufficient to study at this level.
For international students: IELTS 5.5 (no band below 5.0), or equivalent.
What sort of industry will this job lead to
Education
Public and Private Sector Organisations
Community Services
Future employment opportunities might be
Enhanced organisational cultural competency
Work in public or private organisations as a responsive Treaty partner
Roles requiring bicultural skills in Aotearoa/New Zealand workplaces
Otago Polytechnic is known for high quality, hands on learning that leads to strong outcomes. With excellent student satisfaction, high graduate employment rates, and a commitment to sustainability, it’s a place where practical skills meet purpose. Their award winning programmes span design, fashion, creative arts, trades, health, and business, giving you real experience and real confidence for whatever comes next.