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.

Lakes — Rotorua and Taupō

Lakes — 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. 

MidCentral

MidCentral

Applications for Postgraduate Funding for the 2025 academic year close Friday 25 October 2024.

Application Process:

Cultural Support funding

  • Open to Māori with whakapapa and cultural links to whānau, hapū and iwi
  • Open to Pacific Peoples with established cultural links to their communities

Prioritisation Criteria and Funding Allocation

  • Priority: Māori, Pacific and Aged Care applicants
  • MidCentral Applicants: Must have a current PDRP and career plan.

Funding Levels:

  • Competent RNs: PG certificate level (2 papers).
  • Proficient RNs (including ACNs and Specialty Clinical Nurses): PG diploma level (4 papers).
  • Expert RNs: PG diploma (4 papers) based on service specifications/role.
  • Nurses on a NP pathway: Masters level based on service specifications.
  • Senior Nurses: Prioritized for funding if a master's degree is required for their role.
  • No clinical release time is funded: nurses on the Health NZ - MidCentral MECA have access to 32 hours per calendar year (pro-rated for part time employees) of professional development leave.

Useful Resources:

Contact

Nelson Marlborough

Nelson Marlborough

2025 Postgraduate funding applications are closed.

Useful information

Contact

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.

Contact Information:

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 post graduate 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.

WITT

Postgraduate Certificate / Diploma in Applied Management
Study Programmes | Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (witt.ac.nz) (external link)

Tertiary providers for post-grad study options

Auckland University of Technology
www.aut.ac.nz/research/academic-departments/nursing (external link)

Massey University
www.massey.ac.nz/massey/explore/nursing/nursing-home.cfm (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

PG Nursing Handbook (massey.ac.nz) (external link) (PDF)

Study Plans:

Master of Health Science (Nursing) (external link) (PDF 25KB)
Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)  (external link)(PDF 21KB)
Master of Nursing (external link) (PDF 24KB)
PG Diploma in Nursing - Nurse Prescribing  (external link) (external link)(PDF 68KB)

Otago University of Christchurch
www.otago.ac.nz/christchurch/departments/nursing/ (external link)

University of Auckland
Oct16pg-nursing-handbook-2024-digital-links.pdf (auckland.ac.nz) (external link)

Victoria University of Wellington
www.wgtn.ac.nz/explore/postgraduate-subjects/nursing/overview (external link)

Whitireia
www.whitireia.ac.nz/study-programmes/postgraduate-health-and-social-science (external link)
www.whitireiaweltec.ac.nz/study-programmes/postgraduate/professional-practice/ (external link)

WINTEC
postgraduate-nursing-social-practice-guide.pdf  (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

2025 applications are open for semester 2, 2025 and will close 31 March 2025

  • Late applications: Will be added to waitlist and may miss out on funding. Funding might become available later due to withdrawals.

Application form:

Organisations with a Service User Agreement

Health New Zealand Te Tai Tokerau PDRP programme has a Service User Agreement with the following organisations:

  • Home Support North
  • Hospice Mid-Northland
  • Comprehensive Care
  • Ngati Hine Trust
  • North Haven Hospice
  • Te Hau Awhiowhio Health Centre

Useful information:

Contact:

Waikato

Waikato

Applications open: July 2025

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.

Financial support:

  • Eligibility: Offered to students working 0.6 FTE and upwards, with higher FTE prioritized.
  • Covers the cost (up to $28 per hour) of releasing you to attend study days during working hours.
  • Full cost of your paper will be paid for successful applicants.
  • Travel cost if 100kms or over - up to $1000 for 30-point paper. Complete travel and accommodation form.

Useful resources:

Contact information:

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

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.