Victoria University of Wellington
Master of Physical Activity and Hauora – MPAH
Wellington, New Zealand
Master degree
DURATION
12 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jul 2026
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: The Master of Physical Activity and Hauora (MPAH) at Victoria University of Wellington prepares health and physical activity practitioners to build advanced skills promoting physical activity and mātauranga Māori. The programme was developed with Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa and aligns with the Health Promotion Forum's Ngā Kaiakatanga Hauora objectives.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work as health promotion practitioners, community physical activity coordinators, exercise programme managers, public health advisors, policy analysts, or wellness consultants. You'll gain skills in programme design, culturally informed practice, community engagement, leadership and applied research for roles across sport, public health, government agencies and NGOs.
Actively transform lives
Whether you’re a health and physical activity practitioner who wants to develop advanced knowledge and skills in promoting physical activity and mātauranga Māori or are looking for a solid foundation to move into a career in the physical activity sector, this is the degree for you.
The Master of Physical Activity and Hauora is a unique programme developed in consultation with Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa. It aligns closely with the Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand’s Ngā Kaiakatanga Hauora (Health Promotion) objectives.
Choose from four majors
Within the Master of Physical Activity and Hauora, you can take courses that let you specialise in a particular area of study. We offer the following four majors:
Ngā Mahi Tākaro / Play
Explore the current play system, including tākarokaro Māori (Indigenous play) and how this relates to hauora (wellbeing) in Aotearoa New Zealand and globally. Develop your 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 underpin effective promotion of active recreation across the lifespan. Develop your skills in assessing community-led initiatives and translating evidence into effective active recreation advocacy, policy, and practice.
Te Kori Tinana me te Hauora ā Hāpori / Physical Activity and Public Health
Learn about Indigenous and non-Indigenous approaches to physical activity promotion, surveillance, and related wellbeing benefits. Explore approaches to promoting physical activity and processes for delivering physical activity interventions at scale.
Ngā Hākinakina mō te Whakawhanake / Sport for Development
Explore the current sport system, including taonga tākaro (traditional games) and how this relates to hauora (wellbeing) across Aotearoa New Zealand and globally. Develop your skills in assessing local need for sport-for-development programmes and translating evidence into effective sport-for-development advocacy, policy, and practice.
What you’ll study
Core courses
Each of the three qualifications includes core courses in physical activity promotion and physical activity and the environment, along with a selected course aligned with your area of interest.
Building blocks
The PGDipPAH builds on this core learning with two courses in advanced health promotion issues, theory, and practice, as well as a foundational research methods course or evaluation methods course.
Research
If you pursue the Master’s programme, you will go on to complete a research project in a topic that aligns with your professional interest.
Workload
You can expect to commit around 120 study hours for each course you are taking.
You will also need to be available to attend two 2–3 day block courses for each course you are taking. These are held at our Kelburn campus in Wellington.
