Mō mātou,
Toi Rauwhārangi is Massey University's College of Creative Arts, based in Wellington, New Zealand.
We offer internationally acclaimed degrees in Design, Māori Visual Arts, Fine Arts, Commercial Music and Screen Arts.
We provide an inspiring learning environment and a supportive and professional faculty that will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in all creative industries.
With an excellent reputation for innovative creative arts research and practice, Toi Rauwhārangi is New Zealand's oldest and most comprehensive creative arts school.
Te Ara Hihiko
The values we share
Toi
Creativity
Showing creativity in thinking, making and doing (being original, adaptable and risk-taking).
Mohio
Virtuosity
Demonstrating meaningfulness and expertise in the making of things, through materials, processes and ideas (technique, fluency, flair).
Matauranga
Understanding
Showing a critical understanding of the context, process and effects of what is made (awareness, sensitivity, judgement).
Mana
Autonomy
Acting and thinking independently (being curious and responsible).
Whanaungatanga
Connectedness
Communicating and connecting with others (collaborating, sharing, being professional).
We're known for being outstanding
Our study programmes let you work across discipline areas, collaborate with other students and connect with leaders in the industry.
Toi Rauwhārangi lecturers are active in their own creative arts research and practice, so you'll be taught by leading artists, performers, designers, and industry experts.
Take advantage of their connections with industry—companies like Weta Workshop and Ducati—so you can see how creative arts meets the real world and get a taste for life in a creative profession.
Sir Richard Taylor, Honorary Professor
Weta Workshop co-founder
Don't just take our word for it
Toi Rauwhārangi is ranked third in Asia Pacific by Red Dot in 2020, and continues to be the only school in Australasia to be included in the top 10. Recognition by this international design agency gives us a distinctive seal of quality for our design programmes.
Toi Rauwhārangi is NASAD approved as Substantially Equivalent. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design is an accrediting organisation of colleges, schools and universities in the US. It establishes standards for graduate and undergraduate degrees and means your degree is considered up there with some of the best art and design degrees in the world.
Toi Rauwhārangi is ranked 1st for design and visual art research according to the 2018 New Zealand government Performance Based Research Funding round.
We won both the Creative Gold category and was the Supreme Award winner of the 2018 Wellington Gold Awards, and were proud to see many of our graduates amongst the finalists.
Woodworking class at Wellington Technical College, showing an unidentified young man constructing a chair. Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP/1959/2490-1-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/30664184
Korero tuku iho—our history
1886
Arthur Riley establishes New Zealand's first School of Design.
1905
Riley's School of Design becomes the Wellington Technical College, New Zealand's first coeducational multi-purpose day school.
1962
Wellington Technical College splits into Wellington High School and Wellington Polytechnic, with the School of Design remaining its major component.
1999
Wellington Polytechnic merges with Massey University. The College of Design, Fine Arts and Music is established to offer degree programmes in fine art, photography, design, and also music from the Conservatorium of Music.
2014
Toi Atea: Māori art and design, visual and material culture is added.
2015
Following the agreed transfer of the New Zealand School of Music (Classical and Jazz) to Victoria University of Wellington, Massey establishes Te Rewa o Puanga School of Music and Creative Media Production, offering new degrees in popular music and digital media production.
Industry partners
We partner with some of the best local and global companies. At the College of Creative Arts you'll get real life experience, work with clients, and learn from the best in the industry.
Our students and academics are known for making great work and winning awards and competitions worldwide.
Ka Mua, Ka Muri mural by Xoë Hall at Massey Wellington
Ka Mua, Ka Muri
mural by Xoë Hall
In March 2020 Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts commissioned a street mural by Xoë Hall (Kai Tahu), with a brief to embody the creativity that lives here on the Pukeahu campus.
Te ara Toroa
Te ara o te Toroa, ka rere ki uta, ka rere ki tai.
The tukutuku design throughout our website was created by Associate Professor Ngatai Taepa, our Director of Māori Arts.
The design tells the story of te ara o te Toroa—the flight of the albatross—venturing into the unknown.
Turn your talents into a lifelong creative career.
Register your interest