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 September 2026

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 now closed.

Applications for 2027 Te Tipu Whakarito Scholarships are now closed.

Please note the following for the 2027 round:

  • All required documents must be certified by an authorised person.
  • Resident visa holders are now eligible to apply.
  • You will be required to upload a video with your application. 

For more information on how to certify your documents, and apply for and accept a TeachNZ scholarship, read the guidance documents in the popular resources section on this page.

Past scholar's story

Key scholarship information

Te Tipu Whakarito Scholarship
Scholarship type
Kaupapa Māori/Māori-medium and immersion settings
Application period
3 August to 31 August 2026
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. For the Te Tipu Whakarito Scholarship, you must teach te reo Māori, or at a Māori Immersion or Bilingual Setting. The bonding period will depend on the length of your scholarship.

Study duration
Bonding period length
Less than 1 year awarded, no allowance payment
Teach for 1 year in the 3 years after completing study
1 year of full-time study or 2 years of part-time study
Teach for 2 years in the 4 years after completing study
2 years of full-time study or 4 years of part-time study
Teach for 2 years in the 4 years after completing study
3 years of full-time study or 6 years of part-time study
Teach for 3 years in the 5 years after completing study

To be eligible for the scholarship, you must:

  • be a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or resident
  • be enrolled, have applied for, or be planning to enrol in an approved initial teacher education course listed on the Teaching Council website or programme finder tool (linked in 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
  • are participating or considering participating in the School Onsite Training Programme (SOTP). 

*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

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