Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
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Scholarships
Are you a tauira starting out in your hauora mahi? There may be a scholarship or grant for you.
Te Pitomata Grants
Te Pitomata Grants
Te Pitomata Grants support an inclusive workforce encouraging Māori into health careers.The Te Pitomata Grant categories include key areas within the healthcare sector in New Zealand.
The grants can contribute to tuition fees, course related costs and living cost for eligible students of Māori descent, undertaking a course in a health-related field through an accredited New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) provider or through a provider supporting the education of future Rongoā Māori practitioners.
Grants are awarded across the following categories:
- Undergraduate
- Clinical Postgraduate
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Rongoā Māori
Read the Privacy Statement for the Te Pitomata Grants [DOCX, 31 KB] (external link)
- Applications open: midday Monday 9 March 2026
- Applications close: midday Wednesday 1 April 2026
For any queries about Te Pitomata Grants email tepitomatagrants@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
Te Rau Puawai bursaries
Te Rau Puawai bursaries
Support for Massey University students studying towards a health qualification and intending to work in mental health.
The programme is a partnership between Health Workforce NZ and Massey University. It gives bursaries and learning support to students who want to begin or complete a Massey University qualification in the areas of:
- psychology
- nursing
- rehabilitation
- social work
- social policy
- Māori health
- Māori studies
- Health science.
Te Rau Puawai provides a scholarship and learning supporting including:
- contributions to cover your fees and travel costs (paid directly to the university)
- an academic mentor
- an academic support tutor
- individual learning and personal support
- help with course planning
- an essay writing and study skills workshop
- access to Māori community and student networks
- visits from our team to your home or workplace
- access to Te Rau Puawai whānau
- a network of students from Kaitaia to Invercargill, at all levels in Māori mental health-related areas
- access to a computer, printer and the internet at the Manawatū (Palmerston North) campus.
The scholarship application opens annually from the beginning of September to the end of October.
- Applications open: Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Application close: Saturday 31 October 2026.
Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Innovation Fund
Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Innovation Fund
Support for innovative community-led initiatives to encourage people to quit smoking.
Administered by Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora.
Manawhenua Ki Waitaha scholarship
Manawhenua Ki Waitaha scholarship
Māori and Pasifika Scholarships is a small contribution to Christchurch-based tertiary institution students who are:
- studying a health-related NZQA accredited course
- have whakapapa with Māori communities and/or cultural links with Pasifika communities
- planning to work in the Waitaha Canterbury district.
Got a question about the scholarships?
If you have any questions about the scholarships, please contact Ana, Manawhenua Ki Waitaha.
Phone: 021 250 90000
Email: manawhenuakiwaitaha.kaiawhina@gmail.com
Health worker support
We're boosting efforts to attract, develop and retain Māori kaimahi who are committed to contributing to better health outcomes for all.
It is important for whānau Māori to see themselves represented in our health system.
Workplace environments must be safe for tāngata whaikaha. We champion equal employment opportunities and promote policies, practices and processes that are fair and equitable for job applicants and employees.
Training and development for health workers
Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora invests in training initiatives for kaimahi to advance their health careers while incorporating te ao Māori and mātauranga into their practices.
These include:
- Ngā Manukura clinical leadership training enabling nurses and midwives to develop and move into leadership positions.
- Tuakana-teina initiatives delivering coaching and supervisory opportunities, formal and academic support, clinical supervision, and mentorship, via several hauora Māori providers.
- Mātauranga Māori training for the workforce, delivered as an online professional development programme through Te Kurahuna Limited.
Pipelines into health careers and support for tauira
We fund programmes designed to uplift and support rangatahi to choose health as a career, or for tauira already studying healthcare to eventually join the health workforce.
Current initiatives include:
- Development of a bespoke Health Career Pathway for rangatahi to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and mātauranga. This is being delivered via Pūhoro Charitable Trust (external link).
- Strengthening engagement with rangatahi in secondary schools and promoting health as a study option and career, through the Whakapiki Ake project at the University of Auckland.
- Tailored programmes that support current and future students to succeed in health sciences study at the University of Otago.