Certificate in Tākaro, Sport & Exercise

Take the first steps towards a career in the fitness industry as a professional fitness coach, instructor, or personal trainer.

Tākaro, Sport & Exercise combines two qualifications into one programme: the Certificate in Exercise and the Certificate in Sport & Recreation.

As well as maintaining your fitness and learning how to assist others with their fitness goals, what makes our programme different is it's taught in a wānanga where you'll learn a range of ngā taonga tākaro - traditional Māori games.

When you graduate, you'll be eligible to register with the New Zealand Register of Exercise Professionals.

When you pass this programme, you'll get these qualifications:

• New Zealand Certificate in Exercise Level 4
• New Zealand Certificate in Sport & Recreation Level 4

• how to build and deliver safe and effective exercise programmes
• anatomy and physiology and how to use that knowledge in an exercise programme
• health and wellness frameworks and evidence-based nutrition
• planning and evaluating a group sport or recreation programme
• motivational and communication techniques for coaching and training practice

• deliver safe and effective exercise programmes, including prescreening, within own scope of practice and industry code of ethics
• apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology to adapt and deliver safe and effective exercise programmes to individuals
• adapt programmes for apparently healthy people, and common at-risk groups, using exercise science and testing
• apply motivational and communication techniques to enhance individual participant commitment, to a personalised exercise programme
• apply a health and wellness framework and evidence-based nutrition principles, to support a personalised exercise programme, and recommend referral pathways to allied health professionals
• use marketing and business tools and techniques to support business practices, as an exercise professional
• plan and evaluate pre-designed sport and/or recreation programmes, events or activities, to meet target group needs
• deliver pre-designed sport and/or recreation programmes, events or activities, to optimise programme participation, and meet organisational requirements
• apply strategies to effectively engage and communicate with diverse individuals and groups
• co-ordinate people, equipment and resources to deliver sport and/or recreation programmes, and respond to issues as they arise

This qualification will provide people who have the skills and knowledge to deliver exercise instruction for individuals within the general population. Graduates will operate within a framework of health and wellness in relation to individual, group or community needs and contribute to the cultural, social and economic wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand. Graduates can adapt and deliver appropriate exercise programmes and will have knowledge of exercise training principles and concepts. They will be eligible to register with the New Zealand Register of Exercise Professionals.


This qualification is designed to provide New Zealand with graduates who can deliver pre-designed programmes, events or activities in a range of sport and recreation settings under broad guidance.

Graduates will contribute to the health, cultural, social and economic wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand.

This is a full-time programme that consists of 120 credits delivered over 38 weeks. Throughout the programme you'll need to attend:

• 4 x 5-hour kura whakaako - compulsory classes each week
• 1 x noho (25 hours)

In addition to these, you'll be expected to complete learning activities designed to enhance your learning for approximately:

• 13 hours per week

Tauira will need to engage in the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa digital platform I-Akoranga throughout the programme. Internet access and a digital device is needed to enhance the tauira learning experience.

In some locations this programme may be provided by an approved sub-contract arrangement. 

To enrol in this programme, you must:

• be at least 16 years of age
• be a New Zealand citizen or resident (or citizen of Australia, Tokelau, Niue or the Cook Islands
• reside in New Zealand
• attend an interview

To progress your studies in sports and fitness you might want to consider a Level 5 qualification with another tertiary provider. If you're interested in teaching, you can apply to study He Korowai Ākonga - Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching).

You could work in roles such as: an exercise consultant, community exercise instructor, team training instructor, or personal trainer. You could also go into paid work or be in a voluntary role in programme delivery and coordination roles in sport and recreation.

The 2025 fees for this programme are:

• $960 GST inclusive

Are you eligible for fees-free study?

The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy will replace it, starting from 1 January 2025.

If you are a first-time tertiary learner in 2025, you may be able to get Fees Free for your final year of study or training. If you are eligible, you will need to apply for your entitlement through IRD from 2026 onwards. You will still need to pay programme fees to the tertiary provider, but you may be able to claim them back from IRD once you have completed your qualification.

For more information about the transition from first-year Fees Free or the final-year Fees Free policy, visit: feesfree.govt.nz.

Kaitiakitanga | 30 Credits

Kaitiakitanga in this context is the constant acknowledgement that participants at any time and place are always engaged in relationships with others, their environments and kaupapa. In this kōnae ako (module), tauira (students) will explore kaitiaki obligations in relation to: 

• ko wai au and hauora (who am I and health and wellbeing)
• the kaupapa of ngā taonga tākaro
• personal and professional goals
• warm up and cool down training

Āhurutanga | 30 Credits

Āhurutanga in this context is the constant acknowledgement that quality spaces must be claimed and maintained to enable activities to be undertaken in an ethical and meaningful way. In this kōnae ako tauira will explore āhurutanga obligations in relation to:

• ngā taonga tākaro
• whānau engagement with hauora
• wairua (spirit), hinengaro (mind), tinana (body) and training

Koha | 30 Credits

In this context, Koha is the constant acknowledgement that valued contributions are given and received responsibly. In this kōnae ako, tauira will explore koha obligations to tinana, hinengaro, wairua, whānau in relation to:

• ngā taonga tākaro
• hauora programmes
• industry requirements
• group training

Mauri ora | 30 Credits

In this context Mauri Ora is the constant acknowledgement that pursuit of wellbeing is at the core of all kaupapa and activities. In this kōnae ako, tauira will explore mauri ora obligations to tinana, hinengaro, wairua, whānau in relation to:

• individual exercise programmes
• business practices
• a national tākaro hui