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Scholarships

Are you a tauira starting out in your hauora mahi? There may be a scholarship or grant for you. Look out for updates on this page as we plan for 2025. 

Te Pitomata Grants 2025 - new applications are now closed

Te Pitomata Grants 2025 - new applications are now closed

Te Pitomata Grants support an inclusive workforce encouraging Māori into health careers. The Te Pitomata Grant Categories for 2025 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:

  • Clinical Undergraduate
  • Midwifery
  • Nursing
  • Medical (including dentistry)
  • Allied Health, Scientific & Technical, including but not limited to:
    • Social Work
    • Pharmacy
    • Oral Health Therapy
    • Anaesthetic Tech
    • Radiation Therapy
    • Acupuncture
    • Counselling
    • Psychology
  • Rongoā Māori 
  • Clinical Postgraduate

Before applying, please read our Guidelines section for information about the eligibility criteria and application process.

Read important information for applicants [DOCX, 36 KB] (external link)

Read the Guidelines for the Te Pitomata Grants [DOCX, 36 KB] (external link)

Read the Privacy Statement for the Te Pitomata Grants [DOCX, 31 KB] (external link)

Apply now for a Te Pitomata Grant here:

Apply for a Te Pitomata Grant (external link)

New applications are now closed
Deadline for all resubmissions is 12pm Tuesday 2nd April 2025

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.

Administered by Massey University and funded by Health New Zealand.

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.

Hauora Māori Training Fund

Hauora Māori Training Fund

Hauora Māori Training Fund is a workforce development fund. It can be used when attending a training programme to complete a relevant qualification to support the delivery of health and disability services to Māori. A priority for this funding is the non-regulated health and disability workforce

  • Are you Māori?
  • Do you affiliate to an iwi or hapu?
  • Are you a New Zealand citizen or hold a New Zealand residency permit?
  • Are you currently employed by a district health board, health & disability service or by a service funded by a district health board or the Ministry Of Health?

You can apply for funding to upskill for the future of Māori health. 

Scholarships applications are invited for under-graduate study. Only certificate or diploma level courses up to level 6 will meet the criteria for funding.

For more information: 

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.