Annual funding of $4.5m for the Te Kawa Matakura course was axed in last month's Budget. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The Education Ministry spent nearly $3 million on one course that enrolled just 42 students and had 29 graduates over two years.
Annual funding of $4.5m for the Te Kawa Matakura course was axed in last month's Budget, with the government citing consistent underspends and low enrolments.
The level 5 diploma in the knowledge and customs of indidual iwi had just two intakes of students in Te Tai Tokerau in 2020 and 2021.
Briefings to then-Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis said Covid lockdowns and restrictions hampered enrolments and teaching of the qualification.
The Education Ministry said it paid Takarangi Education Solutions Limited, Ngātiwai Trust Board and Ahu Whakamua Limited $1,672,495 to develop the course.
Ngātiwai Trust Board and Ahu Whakamua Limited received a further $1,147,201 for delivering the course.
"During the pilot, 42 ākonga started the programme and 29 successfully completed the programme," the ministry said.
A Qualifications Authority course description said the qualification was for people who wanted "to develop in-depth knowledge of mātauranga ā-iwi within a general Māori worldview but in a specialist hapū and iwi context".
An Education Ministry briefing to Davis in December 2021 said Covid alert levels had affected retention rates with just 10 students graduating from the first intake of 23 students.
The briefing said the course was targeted at 15-25 year olds and could be developed to a degree-level qualification.