Please read the following before completing the Ancestry section of the Application:Ethnicity or Ancestry
Ethnicity is the ethnic group or groups that people identify with or feel they belong to, and is a measure of cultural affiliation, as opposed to race, ancestry, nationality or citizenship. Ethnicity is self-perceived, and people can belong to more than one ethnic group. A person’s ethnicity may not necessarily match their ancestry.
Ancestry is a biological and historical concept and refers to a person's blood descent. You are eligible for consideration under the UTAS (Māori) if you are of indigenous Māori ancestry, and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand.
Certification of Ancestry
The certification of your Māori ancestry must be completed and submitted, in order for you to be considered under the UTAS Māori pathway. It must be signed by; a Church Elder, Community Leader, or Iwi Kaumātua who knows your family.
The Certifier must be of Māori descent and cannot be your sibling, spouse, parent or grandparent.
In special cases, the certifier might be a Justice of the Peace (JP) or Government office holder, but only with prior approval of the Pouāwhina Māori or Kaiārahi.
Note: The JP need not be of Māori descent.
Please note that the above certification process can take some time, so please don’t leave this until the last minute.
Please download the family tree and certification form (below) and complete this prior to submitting your application.
Should it be necessary to seek clarification of any of the information submitted, the named certifier will be contacted by phone. UTAS Māori eligibility will not be considered until this form has been completed and any verification concerns have been addressed. If for any reason the verification process has not been completed prior to an interview, verification and therefore eligibility may in that case need to be determined after the interview.