TeachNZ Scholarships and Financial Help
For more information on financial assistance available to ECE student teachers see our page on financial assistance and grants for training to be an ECE teacher .
If you are a man intending to become an early childhood teacher, see information on the Men in ECE Invitation scholarship.
Below are details about TeachNZ scholarships in 2025 for the start of the year. The number of scholarships available has remained the same as last year and the year before.
Te Huarau TeachNZ scholarship
130 TeachNZ scholarships for student teachers in any sector: ECE, primary and secondary.
Applications for the 2025 Te Huarau Scholarships open on Tuesday 14 January 2025 and close on Tuesday 11 Feb 2025.
- Course fees + allowance of $10,000 paid over the course of study
- Eligibility criteria:
- NZ permanent residence or NZ citizen
- Students planning to teach in secondary, primary or ECE.
- It may help if you are a student who is Māori, Pacific or planning to teach in bilingual or immersion settings.
- It may also help if you are intending to study a short course e.g. a post-grad dip in ECE.
Te Tipu Whakarito scholarship
130 scholarships for student teachers in any sector: ECE, primary and secondary.
Applications for the 2025 Te Tipu Whakarito Scholarships open on Tuesday 14 January 2025 and close on Tuesday 11 Feb 2025.
- Course fees + maximum allowance of $10,000 over the course of study
- Eligibility criteria:
- NZ permanent residence or NZ citizen
- display a strong commitment to growing your proficiency in te reo Māori at a level that meets the requirements of your tertiary provider
- be studying to teach in Kaupapa Māori/Māori-medium immersion (levels 1-3)* early childhood education centres
- It may also help if you are intending to study a short course e.g. a post-grad dip in ECE.
* Māori immersion level 1 – curriculum is taught in te reo Māori for 81-100% of the time
Māori immersion level 2 – curriculum is taught in te reo Māori for 51-80% of the time
Māori immersion level 3 – curriculum is taught in te reo Māori for 31-50% of the time
Kupe scholarship
30 scholarships for Māori and Pacific high achiever students (any sector). Applications for a 2025 Kupe scholarship open on Tuesday 14 January 2025 and close on Tuesday 11 Feb 2025.
- Course fees + maximum of $15,000 allowance over the course of study.
- Eligibility: Must be of Māori or Pacific descent. Must have Māori or Pacific cultural knowledge. Integrity, leadership and vision. Support from your iwi/Pacific community and Māori or Pacific leaders in your community. Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. Have successfully completed at least one full year of an approved teaching qualification OR have academic excellence and be enrolled in one of the approved Graduate Diploma/Master of Teaching. Have a B+ grade average or above (applies to undergraduate only).
View information on applying for a TeachNZ scholarship and application form. f you have any questions, we’re here to help. Email: [email protected] Freephone: 0800 165 225
Learn about other scholarships and grants
