Programme details

Master of Physical Activity and Hauora – MPAH

Gain specialist skills and apply mātauranga Māori to help promote physical activity and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Course description

Whether you’re a health and physical activity practitioner seeking to enhance your expertise in promoting physical activity and mātauranga Māori or looking for a robust foundation to enter the physical activity sector, this degree is ideal for you.

The Master of Physical Activity and Hauora is a distinctive program developed in consultation with Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa. It closely aligns with the Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand’s Ngā Kaiakatanga Hauora (Health Promotion) objectives.

Specialisations

Ngā Mahi Tākaro / Play
Explore the current play system, including tākarokaro Māori (Indigenous play), and its connection to hauora (wellbeing) in Aotearoa New Zealand and globally. Develop skills in assessing play environments and translating evidence into effective play advocacy, policy, and practice.

Ngā Mahi a te Rēhia / Active Recreation
Understand the theoretical frameworks, practical guidelines, and mātauranga Māori that support the promotion of active recreation across all ages. Develop skills in evaluating community-led initiatives and translating evidence into effective advocacy, policy, and practice for active recreation.

Te Kori Tinana me te Hauora ā Hāpori / Physical Activity and Public Health
Learn about both Indigenous and non-Indigenous approaches to promoting physical activity and its associated wellbeing benefits. Explore methods for promoting physical activity and delivering interventions on a large scale.

Ngā Hākinakina mō te Whakawhanake / Sport for Development
Examine the current sport system, including taonga tākaro (traditional games), and its relation to hauora (wellbeing) across Aotearoa New Zealand and globally. Develop skills in assessing local needs for sport-for-development programs and translating evidence into effective advocacy, policy, and practice.

Immigration benefits

This course may qualify for the following visa rights:
In-study work rights
Partner visitor rights
Partner work rights
Post-study work rights

This course qualifies for 5 points if applying for residency under the Skilled Migrant Category.

Career Prospects

Graduates of the Master of Physical Activity and Hauora (MPAH) can pursue careers as Physical Activity Consultants, Health Promotion Specialists, Play and Recreation Coordinators, Active Recreation Managers, Public Health Advisors, Sport Development Officers, Community Engagement Specialists, and Researchers in Physical Activity and Hauora.

Entry requirements

Academic
– A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) with at least a B average in a relevant subject. Consideration may be given if you have relevant professional experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
– To be accepted by the programme director as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.

EL requirement (any one of the following)
– IELTS (Academic): Minimum overall score of 6.5, with no sub-score below 6.0
– TOEFL (Internet-based test): Minimum score of 90, with at least 20 in writing
– Pearson Test of English: Minimum score of 58, with a ‘Communicative’ score of no less than 50
– EAP: Minimum final scores of 4, 4, 5, 5
– Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176 or higher, with each skill score no less than 169
– New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL): Level 5 (Academic)
– NZAPA: English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3, with no skill lower than Level 2