A teaching student at sitting down at a campus
A teaching student at sitting down at a campus
Becoming a teacher in New Zealand
Te Karahipi Tipu Whakarito

Te Tipu Whakarito Scholarship

Embark on your journey to becoming a kaiako and nurture your passion for te reo Māori with the financial support of a Te Tipu Whakarito Scholarship
A teaching student at sitting down at a campus
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Last updated 1 August 2025

Each year, we offer 130 scholarships to students aspiring to teach in Kaupapa Māori/Māori-medium settings, or in English-medium secondary schools teaching te reo Māori.

As a Te Tipu Whakarito scholar you gain access to:

  • course fees to study an approved teaching qualification
  • an allowance of NZD$10,000 over the period of your study (limited to 4 years).

If you are a te reo Māori speaker and want to become a kaiako, this could be the scholarship for you.

Application period open

Applications for 2026 TeachNZ Scholarships are now open from 1 to 31 August 2025.
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Past scholar's story

Key scholarship information

Te Tipu Whakarito Scholarship
Scholarship type
Kaupapa Māori/Māori-medium and immersion settings
Application period
1 August to 31 August 2025
Fees
Paid
Allowance
NZD$10,000 over duration of study
Scholarships available
130

Bonding period

All TeachNZ scholarship recipients must complete a bonding period. You will teach in a New Zealand state or state-integrated school or kura, or early learning centre for a set period of time. The bonding period will depend on the length of your scholarship.

Bonding period length
Less than 1 year awarded, no allowance payment
Teach for 1 year in the 3 years after completing study
1 year awarded
Teach for 2 years in the 4 years after completing study
2 years awarded
Teach for 2 years in the 4 years after completing study
3 years awarded
Teach for 3 years in the 5 years after completing study

To be eligible for the scholarship, you must:

  • be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
  • be enrolled, have applied for, or be planning to enrol, on one of the approved initial teacher education courses listed on the Teaching Council’s programme-finder tool (see the popular resources section of this page.) These courses may be updated during the year. Priority will be given to applicants intending to study short courses.
  • 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
    • Kaupapa Māori/Māori-medium immersion (levels 1-3) primary schools or kura
    • English-medium secondary schools, teaching te reo Māori as a language (levels 2-5).

and

If you want to teach in wharekura, you must:

  • have a degree or graduate diploma with specialist secondary subject content at the 300 level in that qualification, for teaching to a senior level. 

If you want to teach te reo Māori in an English-medium secondary setting, you must:

  • have a degree or graduate diploma with at least one 300-level paper in Māori studies, development, language, culture or society.

You are not eligible for the scholarship if you:  

  • have already received a TeachNZ scholarship
  • have already completed initial teacher education training or are already a registered teacher.

*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
Māori immersion level 4(a) – curriculum is taught in te reo Māori for 12-30% of the time
Māori immersion level 4(b) – students are learning te reo Māori as a separate subject for at least 3 hours a week
Māori immersion level 5 – students are learning te reo Māori as a separate subject for less than 3 hours a week

Contact us

If you have any questions, we’re here to help.  

Send us an Email

Freephone: 0800 165 225

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