Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

WITT fends off competition for Maori studies

Updated at 7:45 am on 9 November 2011

The head of Maori studies at the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) says its student numbers haven't dropped, despite competition from another Maori tertiary institution.

Te Wananga Maori has offered language and cultural courses for over 30 years, with distinctively Taranaki teachings not available anywhere else.

Te Wananga o Aotearoa, which has several North Island campuses, has offered similar courses in New Plymouth for several years.

WITT's Tumu Paearahi, Te Ngaruru Wineera, says the institute has a special niche in the market which Te Wananga o Aotearoa can't match.

He says most students taking Maori courses are from iwi outside the region who have an interest in learning Taranaki history and its dialect.

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