What does "wānanga" mean?
In te reo Māori, wānanga refers to a place of higher learning and the pursuit of knowledge — traditionally a forum where tohunga (experts) passed on mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) to the next generation.
As a tertiary institution type in New Zealand, a wānanga is legally defined by teaching and research grounded in āhuatanga Māori (Māori tradition and custom), conducted according to tikanga Māori (Māori protocol). Like universities and polytechnics, wānanga offer recognised qualifications from certificate to postgraduate level — what distinguishes them is the Māori cultural and academic context teaching and research takes place within, not a fixed subject area.
Wānanga by location
New Zealand's 3 wānanga are spread one each across 3 cities and regions: Otaki, Te Awamutu and Whakatane.
Approximate locations, estimated from each provider's address via OpenStreetMap — not official Ministry-verified coordinates.
Wānanga in Otaki
Te Wananga O Raukawa
A tikanga Māori tertiary education provider based in Ōtaki, established in 1981 and recognised as a non-Crown entity wānanga.
Wānanga in Te Awamutu
Te Wananga O Aotearoa
A Māori tertiary education provider founded in 1983 in Te Awamutu as the Waipā Kōkiri Arts Centre, it received government recognition as a wānanga — with full tertiary status — in 1993.
Wānanga in Whakatane
Te Whare Wananga O Awanuiarangi
A wānanga (Māori university) established under New Zealand's Education Act, it focuses on mātauranga Māori and offers programmes from undergraduate to postgraduate level, with a particular emphasis on te ao Māori, Māori performing arts, and indigenous knowledge.
Data source
- SourceTertiary Providers Directory — Ministry of Education
- KuraData last checked6 September 2026
- Most recently reviewed profile in this list14 September 2026