What is MAPAS?
MAPAS stands for the ‘Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme’. MAPAS provides admission, academic and pastoral support for Māori and Pacific students who are studying programmes within the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS)[1]. If applicants are offered a programme place under MAPAS they are expected to engage in MAPAS academic and pastoral support activities. For more information see: http://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/faculty/undergrad/mapas.aspx
What is FMHS?
FMHS stands for ‘Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences’. FMHS provides undergraduate programmes of study including health sciences, nursing, pharmacy, optometry, medicine and a bridging/foundation programme known as the Certificate in Health Sciences.
What is UTAS?
UTAS stands for ‘Undergraduate Targeted Admission Scheme’. UTAS is an undergraduate targeted admission scheme which reserves some places for Māori, Pacific and disabled students who have met the University Entrance (UE) standards but have not met the guaranteed entry criteria for their programme. To be eligible for the UTAS scheme (as a Māori and Pacific applicant), applicants must (1) be citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand and (2) complete all of the MAPAS admission requirements. Conditions may be placed on students who are admitted under UTAS including: participation in MAPAS activities; restrictions on enrolment choices; attendance at orientation programmes.
What is TKHM?
TKHM stands for ‘Te Kupenga Hauora Māori’. TKHM represents the Department of Māori Health and the Office of the Tumuaki (Deputy Dean Māori) within the FMHS, University of Auckland. MAPAS admissions process and support programme is managed and operated by TKHM on behalf of the FMHS.
What is Vision 20:20?
Vision 20:20 is the FMHS’ commitment to growing the Māori and Pacific health workforce to be 10% by the year 2020. Vision 20:20 currently consists of three programmes including (1) Whakapiki Ake (Māori recruitment), (2) the Certificate in Health Sciences (Māori and Pacific bridging/foundation education) and (3) MAPAS (Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme).
Who is eligible for MAPAS?
To be eligible for MAPAS you must be able to identify an ancestor who is indigenous NZ Māori or Pacific.
Who is ‘indigenous Pacific’?
‘Indigenous Pacific’ refers to indigenous peoples from the Pacific nations of: Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Fiji (Itaukei), Rotuma, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Palau, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Wallis and Futuna, Hawai’i, French Polynesia and Rapanui (Easter Island).
Am I judged on how ‘Maori’ or ‘Pacific’ I am?
MAPAS does not support the use of blood quantum criteria and therefore does not refer to any requirement to be of a ‘percentage Māori or Pacific blood’ (e.g. ½ or 1/16th Māori). Similarly, MAPAS does not require applicants to be at a certain level of ‘cultural engagement’ (e.g. regularly return to marae/islands, perform kapa haka/Pacific dance or speak a Māori/Pacific language). MAPAS will support students to develop themselves culturally if they are successful in entering the FMHS. However, MAPAS does not use this information to determine MAPAS eligibility.
What is a ‘School Leaver’?
A ‘School Leaver’ is someone who is completing Year 13 at a New Zealand secondary school (or international equivalent) prior to the year of intended admission into the University of Auckland. ie. completing Year 13 in 2017 and has applied for 2018 entry.
What is an ‘Alternative Admission’?
An ‘Alternative Admission’ is someone who is applying as a recent university graduate, a student with partially completed tertiary qualifications or an applicant with general life experience (not applying as a school leaver).
What is a testimonial for?
A testimonial can be submitted if an applicant believes they have indigenous Māori and/or Pacific ancestry, but cannot provide any details to identify an indigenous Māori and/or Pacific ancestor (e.g. names). The testimonial details should explain why the applicant believes they are eligible for MAPAS but cannot provide ancestry information (e.g. history of whāngai/adoption, personal issues). The Director Vision 20:20 will review each testimonial on a case by case basis.
Who can certify my whakapapa/geneology?
A certifier is someone who can confirm the ancestry details provided in Section 2 based on the information provided and their knowledge of the identified people as being indigenous Māori and/or Pacific. A certifier cannot be an applicant’s sibling, spouse, parent, sibling of a parent (aunty/uncle) or grandparent and is often a Māori or Pacific elder, hapū/iwi/community representative or church leader.
Do I have to attend a MAPAS General interview?
You must attend a MAPAS interview to be considered for entry into the FMHS as an official MAPAS student. This is a key requirement of the MAPAS admission process. The Director Vision 20:20 may review this requirement on a case by case basis for exceptional circumstances leading to non-attendance at a MAPAS interview.
Can I get into FMHS programmes if I am not interviewed by MAPAS?
If you meet the guaranteed entry criteria set for FMHS programme entry you may still be offered a place by the programme even if you have not applied to, or attended, a MAPAS interview (except CertHSc). In this situation, you would not be considered an official MAPAS student as you have not completed the MAPAS admissions process. All CertHSc applicants must attend a MAPAS General interview in December.
Do I need to complete an MH04 form if I am already enrolled in a FMHS programme but did not enter via MAPAS?
If you are currently enrolled within a FMHS programme but have not completed the MAPAS admission process and wish to become an official MAPAS student you need to apply to MAPAS by submitting an MH04 form and attend a MAPAS General interview.
Do I need to complete an MH04 form if I am an official MAPAS student but wish to apply to a different programme within FMHS?
If you are currently enrolled within a FMHS programme and wish to apply to a different programme (e.g. apply for medicine as a health sciences student) then you DO NOT need to complete a new MH04 form as MAPAS will use your existing MH04 form for future programme applications within the FMHS.
[1] MAPAS only applies to the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. If students are accepted into another faculty e.g. BSc (Biomedicine) in the Faculty of Science they are not under the jurisdiction of MAPAS i.e. are not an official MAPAS student even if they attended a MAPAS General interview.