Expressions of interest 

Expressions of interest are now open from December 12, 2025 – January 18, 2026 

APPLY NOW

Become a tauira (student) at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI), where we welcome creative minds from every corner of Aotearoa.  

Under the guidance of our tohunga (master artists), you’ll learn the revered traditional arts of whakairo rākau (wood carving), whakairo pounamu, kōhatu me te parāoa (stone and bone carving), and raranga me te whatu (weaving). This pathway is shaped by the intergenerational responsibilities we carry to uphold, strengthen, and pass on the artistic traditions of our iwi and hapū, ensuring these taonga remain in the hands of those connected to them. 

Timeline, applicant and intake process: 

Once you submit an EOI, we’ll send you details about the full application process, which opens early February 2026. Successful applicants will be confirmed in late March/mid-April 2026 

• The 2026 intake will start from 20 July 2026, aligning with Matariki. 

• We accept 10 – 12 students per year across the three wānanga. To maintain the standard and quality of our graduates, places are strictly limited.

• Applicants must be of Māori descent and 18 years or older 

As NZMACI is not New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) aligned, Government supported student loans are not accessible, therefore the scholarship to individual tauira helps support their study and the costs of living throughout the duration of their study. 

From the 2026 tauira intake, programme costs will apply. These are separate from the scholarship, which is provided to support tauira with their living and study-related expenses. We are working with iwi, government and funding partners to minimise or fully remove programme costs for tauira. More information will be provided before full applications open.