How to become a te ao haka specialist
Official title: Te ao haka specialist
Also called: Kapa haka teacher, Kapa haka tutor, Te ao haka expert, Māori performing arts director, Performance producer, Te ao haka practitioner
Te ao haka specialists use kapa haka to engage people in Māori culture, language and traditional practices.
Main tasks
- Research performance subjects and locations
- Develop performance content with others
- Train others in performance techniques
- Teach and support group tikanga, values and styles
- Plan and lead wānanga and training activities
- Direct and coordinate artistic activities
- Identify and encourage self-awareness and self-expression
- Encourage development of creative performance abililties
How to become one
You need experience to become a te ao haka specialist and a qualification may be useful. You usually need NCEA Level 3 to do the study or training for this job. Required: experience as a kapa haka practitioner; experience working with iwi and Māori groups; experience managing different age groups; an understanding of the history of kapa haka; an understanding of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori; experience in te ao Māori. Other requirements: to do training; experience in technical performance production; a relevant tertiary qualification in performing arts (Māori performing arts), human society (Māori customs tikanga), language (te reo Māori), teaching (Māori education) or similar area; experience teaching primary, secondary or adult groups.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Apprenticeship in other performing arts. TEC links this job to study in performing arts. New Zealand apprenticeship (NZQA level 4). Qualifications: NZ Cert in Entertainment and Event Technology. Usually 1 year.
- Certificates and diplomas: Advanced certificates and diplomas in māori education te mātauranga māori me te whakangungu. TEC links this job to study in teaching. Qualifications: Heke Te Rangakura - Kaiwhakaako, Heke Whakaakoranga Kohungahunga. Usually 1 year. Graduates of these qualifications earn a median $42,000 a year one year after study and $51,000 five years after; 77% are employed one year after (TEC, from Stats NZ IDI data).; Advanced certificates and diplomas in māori performing arts ngā mahi a rēhia. TEC links this job to study in performing arts. Qualifications: NZ Dip in Ngā Toi (Whakairo/Ngā Mahi a te Whare Pora/Toi Ataata/Mau Rakau/Māori Performing Arts). Usually 1 year. Graduates of these qualifications earn a median $47,000 a year one year after study and $54,000 five years after; 50% are employed one year after (TEC, from Stats NZ IDI data).; Entry certificates in te reo māori. TEC links this job to study in language and literature. Qualifications: Te Pokaitahi Reo (Rumaki, Reo Rua), NZ Cert in Te Reo (Rumaki, Reo Rua), Te Pokaitahi Reo (Reo Rua) NZ Cert in Te Reo (Bilingual). Usually 6 months. Graduates of these qualifications earn a median $46,000 a year one year after study and $53,000 five years after; 51% are employed one year after (TEC, from Stats NZ IDI data).; Intermediate certificates in māori customs tikanga. TEC links this job to study in human society. Qualifications: Te Pōtaitahi Tikanga (Waka, Rongoā, Te Ara Nunumi, Mātauranga Māori, Māori Development, Rangahau), Te Pou Hono ki Mahi Marae. Usually 4 months to 1 year. Graduates of these qualifications earn a median $47,000 a year one year after study and $56,000 five years after; 46% are employed one year after (TEC, from Stats NZ IDI data).
Pay
- Most common pay: $69,514 to $89,537 a year (median $72,731), a TEC estimate before tax.
- Lower: $66,296 a year · Upper: $106,343 a year
- TEC's pay figures are estimates only. TEC says they must not be used to set pay, in pay negotiations or in visa applications.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a te ao haka specialist?
You need experience to become a te ao haka specialist and a qualification may be useful. You usually need NCEA Level 3 to do the study or training for this job. Required: experience as a kapa haka practitioner; experience working with iwi and Māori groups; experience managing different age groups; an understanding of the history of kapa haka; an understanding of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori; experience in te ao Māori. Other requirements: to do training; experience in technical performance production; a relevant tertiary qualification in performing arts (Māori performing arts), human society (Māori customs tikanga), language (te reo Māori), teaching (Māori education) or similar area; experience teaching primary, secondary or adult groups.
How much does a te ao haka specialist earn in New Zealand?
The Tertiary Education Commission estimates median pay at $72,731 a year, before tax. Most common pay is $69,514 to $89,537 a year.
Sources
- Tertiary Education Commission (Tahatu Career Navigator): Tahatu career ideas: descriptions, tasks, pay estimates, people employed, employment change 2018 to 2023, entry requirements, registration, interest scores (Site scrape 2026-10 (816 career ideas, sitemap lastmod 2026-10-01)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
This content is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahatu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. All or some of the information has been modified by Peernovo. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this content.
Qualification information from NZQA, used under CC BY 3.0 NZ.
This work is based on/includes Stats NZ's data which are licensed by Stats NZ for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. Census data via Figure.NZ.
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Sources: Tertiary Education Commission, Tahatū Career Navigator (career ideas, pay estimates, entry requirements and study options, CC BY 4.0, modified by Peernovo); Stats NZ, 2023 Census (via Figure.NZ) and the National Occupation List (CC BY 4.0); NZQA qualification information (CC BY 3.0 NZ); O*NET interest scores (CC BY 4.0); ILO global generative AI exposure index (CC BY 4.0). Links between career ideas and ANZSCO groups, degree fields and broad job groups are Peernovo's.
These results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Graduate outcomes: these results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Updated 4 October 2026