An Auckland college has dropped a pioneering traditional Maori healing programme from a bachelor degree after less than a year of offering it.
Rongoa was incorporated into this year's Bachelor of Natural Medicine offered by the South Pacific College of Natural Medicine.
Four of the degree's 24 papers specialised in Maori health - including Maori medicines, and mirimiri or massage - but college director Patsy Paxton says the Maori healing course wasn't robust enough, so the school has had to remove it.
Dr Paxton says they're now considering a stand-alone Maori healing graduate diploma instead, which will have a more practical focus; but the Bachelor of Natural Medicine will still contain one rongoa paper.
She says the process is still under review and the school is consulting with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
