Health New Zealand is committed to supporting nurses through postgraduate funding. This initiative helps nurses advance their careers while strengthening the healthcare system by ensuring that nurses are well-prepared to manage complex patient care.

Nurses can apply via their local district to study papers that build towards a postgraduate qualification such as a Postgraduate Certificate (60 pts), Postgraduate Diploma (120 pts) or Master's degree (180 and 240 pts). 

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Registration: Must be a registered nurse under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003).
  2. Annual Practising Certificate: Hold a current annual practising certificate without restrictions.
  3. Employment: Currently employed by Health New Zealand or by a health service funded by Health New Zealand.
  4. Residency: Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
  5. Employer Support: Evidence of support from the current employer to meet training requirements.
  6. Education Provider Criteria: Meet the entry criteria required by the education provider.

Further detail by district is provided below.

Canterbury

Canterbury

We run one funding round per year (usually August to October) for the following academic year. 

Email: PostgraduateNursingOffice@cdhb.health.nz

Counties Manukau

Counties Manukau
  • Semester 2, 2025 applications are now closed for Counties Manukau.

Application form

  • If your application is successful, it is only for Semester one or two
  • You will be notified via email before the end of May 2025.

Important Notes:

  • Line Manager Support: Your application must be supported by your line manager(s).
  • Main Contact Method: Email will be used for communication.
  • Career Plan: All applicants must have completed a career plan with their line manager before applying for HWD funding.
  • Funding Application: You need to apply for funding every semester.

MidCentral

MidCentral

Applications open the first Friday in September and close on last Friday of October

Application process:

Prioritisation criteria and funding allocation

  • All applicants: Must have a current PDRP and career plan.

Contact

Nelson Marlborough

Nelson Marlborough

2026 Applications open Monday 16 June through to Friday 15 August 2025

Please complete both relevant Career Plan and Application Primary and ARC:

The following links only work for Nelson Marlborough employees:

Contact

Otago and Southland

Otago and Southland

Postgraduate nursing education (PGNE) funding information 2025 — Otago and Southland [PDF, 269 KB]

Postgraduate nursing education (PGNE) travel reimbursement process document — Otago and Southland [PDF, 141 KB]

Funding reimbursement travel and accommodation claim for funded trainees postgraduate nursing — Otago and Southland [PDF, 888 KB]

Postgraduate nursing education (PGNE) employers claiming for release time — Otago and Southland [PDF, 72 KB]

Employers funding reimbursement claim for release time postgraduate nursing (District) — Otago and Southland [PDF, 326 KB]

Rotorua and Taupō

Rotorua and Taupō

Health workforce directorate funding

Applications for 2025 funding are now closed.

Funding applications for 2026 will open on 15th September 2025 and run until 7th November 2025.

Apply through our online learning platform:

Ko Awatea LEARN (external link)

As this is a secure site, you will need an individual username and password to access the application form. Health New Zealand Lakes staff have access to this site as employees.

Community providers

Community organisations need to set up a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Health New Zealand Lakes before they can apply to access funding for staff.  

This process can take up to 2 weeks to complete so it is best to contact us as early as possible. 

South Canterbury

South Canterbury

In South Canterbury, we conduct one funding round from August 1st to September 30th for the entire following academic year.

For more details, please contact Anneke Dossett, Post Graduate Coordinator:

Tairāwhiti

Tairāwhiti

Applications for 2025 postgraduate funding closed November 9 2024. 

To find out about the next round:

Taranaki

Taranaki

If you’re a registered nurse (RN) in Taranaki looking to take the next step in your nursing career, advice and funding are available for postgraduate study in 2025. Eligible trainees must be employed by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Taranaki or by a Vote Health Funded Organisation (VHF).

Applications for funding closed on 1 October 2024.

Funding priorities

  1. Applicants, who successfully completed the NETP programme will be prioritised to complete a Postgraduate Certificate.
  2. Recruitment, retention and development of the RN workforce identifying as Māori.
  3. Prioritised workforce needs identified by HNZ Taranaki or VHF organisation, identified on the application form.
  4. Employer support where postgraduate study/qualification is a requirement of a role.
  5. Course of study aligns with National and regional health priorities such as Ministry of Health strategies, Whakamaua, Te Pae Tata or organisational strategies.
  6. Locally delivered papers or specialty papers infrequently offered.

Tertiary providers for postgraduate study options

WITT

Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Applied Management - WITT (external link)

Auckland University of Technology

Nursing Department - Auckland University of Technology (external link)

Massey University

Study nursing - Massey University (external link)

Watch the webcast
This presentation gives and exciting overview of postgraduate study at Massey University. Rather than searching through a website you can sit back, relax and enjoy the show. You will meet the staff and be given a clear description of all the different Postgraduate Nursing pathways you can take and the requirements for each qualification. If you have any questions, or would like more information please contact the PG Nursing Administrator at nursing@massey.ac.nz

Postgraduate Nursing Handbook - Massey University (external link)

Study plans:

Master of Health Science (Nursing) (external link)
Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) (external link)
Master of Nursing (external link)
PG Diploma in Nursing - Nurse Prescribing (external link)

University of Otago

Department of Nursing - University of Otago (external link)

University of Auckland

Nursing Postgraduate Handbook - University of Auckland (external link)

Victoria University of Wellington

Postgraduate nursing - Victoria University of Wellington (external link)

Whitireia and Weltec

Health and Social - Whitireia and Weltec (external link)

Professional Practice - Whitireia and Weltec (external link)

Wintec

Postgraduate Nursing and Social Practice Guide - Wintec (external link) [PDF]

 

For more information

  1. Information on postgraduate study and the application for funding process is in the Postgraduate Study Handbook [PDF, 325 KB].

  2. All the education providers invite you to contact them to discuss study options, pathways and career choices.

  3. Do also discuss your postgraduate study aspirations with your manager and clinical nurse educator. The PG coordinator, Dr Diana Fergusson, can also be contacted for guidance at Post.Graduatestudiescoordinator@tdhb.org.nz

  4. Application form [DOCX, 66 KB]

Te Tai Tokerau

Te Tai Tokerau

Applications will reopen in September for study in 2026.

Useful information:

Contact:

Stacey Wilson
Email: PGNursing@northlanddhb.org.nz
Mobile: 021 447 193

Wairarapa

Wairarapa

Applications are closed.

Application forms

Useful information

RN Prescribing Practicum or Nurse Practitioner (NP) Advanced Practice

  • Approval to enrol is required at a service level and the DON.
  • Support relies on organisational agreement for role development during and after the practicum.
  • A Prescribing Practicum Support Plan must be prepared before commencing the paper.
  • This information also informs work-site planning, funding prioritisation and workforce development.

Contacts

Waikato

Waikato

Semester 1 and 2, 2026 applications close for Waikato nurses on Friday 12 September 2025.

Health New Zealand - Waikato nurses

Non-Health New Zealand or Ministry of Health funded nurses

Eligibility requirements:

  • Employment: Must be currently employed as an RN or RM by a health service funded by Health NZ Waikato or the Ministry of Health. 
  • Work hours: Must work 0.6 FTE or above (equivalent to 3 days per week or more).
  • Funding pathway: Must apply for a Postgraduate Certificate before a Postgraduate Diploma.

Application preparation:

  1. Discuss with Manager: Ensure your application is discussed with your manager.
  2. Career goals: Write down your short, medium, and long-term goals (max 50 words each).
  3. Course details: Full details of the papers you plan to take.
  4. Previous papers: Have a record of the papers you have already completed.

Post-approval process:

  • Notification: Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by mid-December.
  • Notify Coordinator: Successful applicants need to notify the Professional Development Unit coordinator that are accepting the funding

Financial support offered ti students working 0.6 and upwards. Those with higher FTE are prioritised:

  • Full cost of your paper will be paid for successful applicants. If you receive a reminder for fee payment, contact the Professional Development Unit coordinator
  • Clinical release - covers the cost (up to $28 per hour) of releasing you to attend study days during working hours.
  • Travel costs 100kms or over are eligible for up to $1000 for 30-point paper. Complete travel and accommodation form. Complete Waikato Staff expense claim form.
    Travel costs under 100kms - no travel or accommodation allowance.
  • Waikato staff expense claim form for travel and accommodation [PDF, 58 KB] 
  • Non-Health New Zealand or Ministry of Health funded nurse complete reimbursement form for expenses before the end of your study.
    Non-Health NZ or Ministry of Health funded nurse reimbursement form for your expenses [DOC, 52 KB]
  • Clinical mentoring - Funding to assist in meeting a portion
  • Clinical release covers the cost (per hour) of releasing you to attend study days that occur during working hours. The maximum amount is $28 per hour. Please speak to your Nurse or Midwife Manager and Clinical Nurse Director of the Professional Development Unit.

Useful resources:

Contact information:

Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti

Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti

Applications for Postgraduate Funding for the 2025 academic year is close

Application forms

Useful resources

Clinical mentoring support

  • Approval required for up to 10-hours clinical mentoring support
  • Support is only available for courses that require clinical mentoring/clinical mentor in addition to academic teaching/mentoring.
  • It must be negotiated by the nurse enrolling in the course in consultation with their Line Manager and Workforce and Practice Development Unit during your career conversation.
  • Approval will be documented in their confirmation email.

All career conversations for nurses working towards a Prescribing Practicum or the Nurse Practitioner Pathway must be completed by Helen Costello.

Contact

Whanganui

Whanganui

Applications for 2025 postgraduate funding closed 18 October 2024.