He Manu Hou: The Transition Of M(A)Over-Barori Students Into M(A)Over-Barori Studies

There are many known factors that can help or hinder Indigenous students undertaking tertiary study, but little is known about how Maori students experience Maori studies courses specifically. Against the backdrop of low Maori student retention in universities and the short history of Maori studies as a field of study, this article shares findings from a thematic analysis of interviews with Maori students in Maori studies. It proposes a framework, Te Ara Matauranga, which organises new findings about Maori cultural enclaves, aspirations, engagement, learning opportunities, and support. Ultimately, this article distinguishes the experiences of Maori students in Maori studies from previous generic research about Maori students in tertiary education and identifies a set of consequential challenges and opportunities.