Te Huataki Waiora School of Health

With more focus being placed on how we live in our world, Te Huataki Waiora School of Health provides an innovative platform for bringing together expertise from across the University and our community to explore new ideas and ways of looking at issues and challenges that affect how we live, work and play.

Our Māori name is symbolic of the philosophical intent of the School and the focus of our collective endeavours. ‘Waiora’ is synonymous with ‘Hauora’ and a holistic concept of wellbeing, it also has synergies with Wai-kato, the name of the region, the University, and the mana whenua, the local iwi (the people of these lands).

‘Huataki’ is multi-faceted. It reflects our desire to introduce (taki) ways of working that bring together a significant number (hua) of other faculties in the University and our partners in the community, to achieve (whai ‘hua’) our collective goals in teaching and research in this school. ‘Huataki’ is also a less well-known word for ‘raising, uplifting, preparing performance’, in particular in the theory and ritual preparation of the performers wherein the physical performance is protected, assisted and supported by the metaphysical (including the theoretical bases underpinning the work of the academy). As Associate Professor Tom Roa outlines, ‘Huataki’ were performed before warriors went into battle to uplift them in their physical feats.

Start your career with an undergraduate qualification

With a programme of study that focuses on being dynamic, multi-disciplinary and challenging, we aim to provide clear career paths and employment opportunities. Strong collaborative partnerships with organisations such as SportNZ, local district health boards and iwi groups, NZ Recreation Association, Sport Waikato, and High Performance Sport NZ provide both academic staff and our students with exciting opportunities to live and work with the latest theories and practices.

The Bachelor of Health (BHealth) is focused on the changing future of health in Aotearoa New Zealand and has two majors, Poutū-mārō Biomedical Sciences or Poutū-manahau Population Health.

The Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Performance (BHSHP) is a flexible, three-year degree that has majors in Community Health, Human Performance Science and Sport Development and Coaching.

The new Bachelor of Nursing has a specific focus on equity, well being and Māori and Pacific health with opportunities to specialise in mental health and addictions on graduation.

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Take it to the Next Level with a Masters

Extend your knowledge and support your skills with a Masters in Health, Sport and Human Performance. As a research based qualification, a Masters allows you select an area of specialisation and gives you access to world class active researchers and facilities.

The ultimate in flexible degrees, it can work the way you need it to. If you need it to fit it round work, have seasonal or competition commitments, live somewhere else or want to get right into it, we can support you to do so.

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Research that Makes a Difference

Our team of internationally recognised research-informed academic staff bring cutting-edge knowledge, theories and applications to their interactions with students, and work hard to ensure that real life and study go hand in hand.

Complimenting this, our PhD students push the boundaries of current thinking and show how the things we do daily can contribute to the wellbeing and enjoyment and performance of individuals, communities and societies.