About
Te Rau Ora Scholarships & Bursaries provide financial assistance to students who are undertaking or completing a New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) accredited qualification in health and wellbeing.
Funding Opportunities
OPEN Applications
The Hoe Tahi Scholarships are designed for individuals pursuing studies that contribute to reducing alcohol and drug (AOD) harms. These scholarships aim to strengthen the existing and emerging workforce by enhancing the capacity and capability of those working with whānau who face AOD challenges. Applicants can apply for a scholarship of up to $5,000.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Hoe Tahi Scholarships applicants must:
- Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
- Be currently part of the AOD workforce and committed to ongoing professional development.
- Undertake studies that will enhance understanding and knowledge of working with people experiencing AOD harm.
- Be enrolled in a course provided by a recognised Aotearoa-based tertiary institution or training provider.
Important Notes
- Priority will be given to applicants of Māori descent.
- The person studying must apply individually.
- Employers or their funding coordinators cannot apply on behalf of their employees.
- Applicants may only receive one Te Rau Ora scholarship in each funding round (either the Hoe Tahi Scholarship or the Māori Health Leadership Scholarship).
- The purpose of the scholarship is to minimize the financial burden of study and is encouraged to be used toward essential study costs e.g. course fees.
- Notifications will be sent to the email address registered in Tahua (our scholarship system).
- Late, incomplete, or unsubmitted applications will not be accepted. Ensure you submit your online application before the closing date.
How to apply:
- Applications are to be submitted through the Te Rau Ora funding portal. To access the funding portal visit: terauora.app.tahua.io.
Timeline
|
Scholarships Open |
1 November 2025, 9am |
|
Scholarships Close |
12 December 2025, 5pm |
|
Assessment Panel Decision |
Late January 2026 |
|
Applicants Notified |
Early February 2026 |
|
Confirmation and Agreement completed by: |
March 2026 |
If you have any pātai or difficulties with the application process, please get in touch with scholarships@terauora.com
The aim of the Māori Health Leadership Scholarships is to increase and develop the Māori health workforce and to foster confidence in Te Ao Māori, Māori leadership and excellence in health.
These scholarships are for Māori already working in the health sector and/or who have significant experience in the health sector and are interested in completing an undergraduate or postgraduate health qualification. Applicants can apply for up to $5,000 NZD.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Māori Health Leaderships, applicants must:
- Be of Māori descent.
- Be a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand permanent resident.
- Be enrolled in a course provided by a recognised Aotearoa-based tertiary institution or training provider.
- A current leader in the health sector or potential leader aspiring to work in Māori health leadership roles across the health, mental health and/or the alcohol and drugs (AOD) sector.
This includes kaumātua and kuia, mental health nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, recruitment of doctors into psychiatry or medical students who are committed to the mental health and AOD sector.
Important Notes
- Priority will be given to applicants of Māori descent.
- The person studying must apply individually.
- Employers or their funding coordinators cannot apply on behalf of their employees.
- Applicants may only receive one Te Rau Ora scholarship in each funding round (either the Hoe Tahi Scholarship or the Māori Health Leadership Scholarship).
- The purpose of the scholarship is to minimize the financial burden of study and is encouraged to be used toward essential study costs e.g. course fees.
- Notifications will be sent to the email address registered in Tahua (our scholarship system).
- Late, incomplete, or unsubmitted applications will not be accepted. Ensure you submit your online application before the closing date.
How to apply:
- Applications are to be submitted through the Te Rau Ora funding portal. To access the funding portal visit: terauora.app.tahua.io.
Timeline
|
Scholarships Open |
1 November 2025, 9am |
|
Scholarships Close |
12 December 2025, 5pm |
|
Assessment Panel Decision |
Late January 2026 |
|
Applicants Notified |
Early February 2026 |
|
Confirmation and Agreement completed by: |
March 2026 |
If you have any pātai or difficulties with the application process, please get in touch with scholarships@terauora.com
Each year since 2020, Te Rau Ora has delivered $1.6m of funding to whānau, hapū, Māori community groups, and Iwi & Māori Providers to run community-led initiatives for suicide prevention.
The purpose of the Fund is to build the capacity of Whānau Māori, Hapū, and Iwi to prevent suicide within communities and respond effectively if, and when, a suicide occurs.
This funding empowers community-led initiatives throughout Aotearoa to help alleviate distress and support whānau known to be at higher risk of suicidal distress such as tāne, rangatahi, rainbow communities and rural communities as well as whānau impacted from loss through suicide.
The fund is a by-Māori, for-Māori approach to suicide prevention and encourages community solutions within Te Ao Māori – drawing upon mātauranga Māori and the strengths of hāpori Māori for hope, healing and oranga. The $1.6 million contestable fund has four funding streams:
- Whānau & Hapū Groups can apply for up to $10,000.
- Māori Community Groups can apply for up to $25,000.
- Iwi & Māori Providers may apply for up to $50,000.
- Iwi/Māori Provider Collaborations may apply for up to $100,000.
More information can be found here
The Mason Durie Pae Ora Scholarship was created to support Māori students to study in the areas of mental health, addiction, and allied health.
The Scholarship acknowledges and recognises the significant leadership and contributions that Mason Durie has given to Māori health, Māori development, indigeneity and Māori futures over many years and reflects his belief that leadership is a shared enterprise rather than a dependence on one person alone and that, by working together, communities can develop and enact plans based on their own aspirations of pae ora.
This prestigious scholarship is valued at up to $20,000 and is open to tauira Māori who are current or aspiring leaders, committed to advancing hauora Māori and the wellbeing of hapori Māori.
To apply, please read the funding guidelines and submit an application form to scholarships@terauora.com.
Applications close 5pm, 30 November.
If you have any pātai, please contact scholarships@terauora.com.
The Hinepare Scholarship award acknowledges and recognises the life of Hinepare Patricia Hollingsworth, a cherished kuia to the wider Mana Enhancing STOP whānau in Rotorua. Her compassion, strength, and dedication to uplifting others through recovery have left a lasting legacy. Hinepare’s encouragement of people in their darkest moments continues to inspire the kaupapa of Mana Enhancing STOP Trust today.
This scholarship was established to honour her memory and to continue her mahi by supporting Māori with lived experience with Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) challenges who are pursuing further education.
To apply, please read the funding guidelines and submit an application form to scholarships@terauora.com.
Applications close 5pm, 30 November.
If you have any pātai, please contact scholarships@terauora.com.
CLOSED Applications
Kōwhiringa | Opportunity:
- Support Māori Mental Wellbeing and Resilience focused providers and Community Based Organisations to implement development projects that enable Rangatahi to lead or influence the design, development, or delivery of services.
Pūtea | Funding:
- Applications up to $10,000
Heipūtanga | Conditions:
- A community hauora Māori partner delivering services to rangatahi Māori that improve mental wellbeing and resilience. A completed online application form is required.
Whakatapoko | Application Process:
- Online Application and Video Submission
Applications are closed
Kōwhiringa | Opportunity:
- Support the development and implementation of by rangatahi for rangatahi initiatives that positively improve Rangatahi Ora and Mental Well-being.
Pūtea | Funding:
- Applications up to $25,000
Heipūtanga | Conditions:
- Be a rangatahi-led project or initiative submitted by a legal entity. Must have a registered bank account in the name of the group or be a registered legal entity or charity.
Whakatapoko | Application Process :
- Online Application and Video Submission
Applications are closed
Te Pae Tawhiti | Vision
He whakawhanake i te tūāpapa o nāianei, he whakakaha hoki i te ahumahi. Building on the foundations of today to grow and strengthen the workforce.
He Kaupapa | Mission
A key priority within the 2023-24 Health Workforce Plan is to streamline pathways for tauira Māori into health careers.
This includes actions to extend opportunities for rangatahi and tauira Māori to have paid work experience opportunities in the health system that are within their own rohe with primary and community hauora Māori partners.
Internships are an excellent way for our tauira Māori studying health to gain exposure, learn how to work in various work settings, strengthen skills and make important contributions to their own hapori and whānau with their newly developed skills and knowledge. This is a co-commissioning initiative between Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora administered by Te Rau Ora.
Kōwhiringa | Opportunity
Community Hauora Māori Partners are invited to apply for funding to supports rangatahi and tauira Māori to gain paid work experience opportunities in the health system that are within their own rohe.
Pūtea | Funding
A fixed rate of $10,000 per internship for tauira Māori completing health or health related studies.
Heipūtanga | Conditions
Host organisations will be required to:
- Recruit tauira Māori who are studying health or health related studies, who are committed to completing 200 hours of paid work experience.
- The provision of supervision, pastoral care and support and cultural supervision throughout an intern’s employment.
- Host providers will meet all contractual and reporting requirements.
- Host provider and interns agree to complete an exit survey at the completion of employment.
- Funding supports the implementation of the internship programme from February 2024 to 30 June 2024.
Whakatapoko | Applications
The attached PDF is a guide for the questions within the application form. To view click here
Angawā | Timeframes
- Monday 18 December 2023: Applications Open
- 4pm Wednesday 7 February 2024. Applications Close
- Monday 12 February 2024: Assessment Panel
- Wednesday 13 February 2024: Notifications to Host Providers
- Sunday 30 June 2024: Agreements End