A teacher and a student having a conversation in a classroom
A teacher and a student having a conversation in a classroom
Becoming a teacher in New Zealand
Te Karahipi Huri Aramahi o Te Waka Whakarei

Te Waka Whakarei Career-Changer Scholarship

If you want to change careers and follow your passion for te reo Māori, a Te Waka Whakarei Career-Changer Scholarship can financially support you on your journey
A teacher and a student having a conversation in a classroom
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Last updated 5 August 2026

Each year, we offer 90 Te Waka Whakarei Career-Changer Scholarships to people looking to change their career and teach in Kaupapa Māori/Māori-medium settings or teach te reo Māori in English-medium secondary schools. The scholarship gives you financial support to offset the loss of income you experience while studying, and to reduce the barrier to becoming a qualified teacher.   

As a Te Waka Whakarei Career-Changer scholar you gain access to:

  • course fees to study an approved teaching course
  • an allowance of NZD$30,000 per year, over the period of your study (limited to 3 years).

If you're a te reo Māori speaker or aspire to grow your proficiency in te reo and tikanga, have a wealth of life experience, and want to become a kaiako, this could be the scholarship for you.

Application period now open

Applications are for Te Waka Whakarei Career-Changer Scholarships are now open
Apply now launch

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 Waka Whakarei Career-Changer Scholarship
Scholarship type
Career-changer – Kaupapa Māori/Māori medium and immersion
Application period
3 August to 31 August 2026
Fees
Paid
Allowance
NZD$30,000 per year
Scholarships available
90

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 Waka Whakarei Career Changer 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
2 years of part-time study, no allowance payment
Teach for 1 year in the 2 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 4 years in the 6 years after completing study
3 years of full-time study or 6 years of part-time study
Teach for 6 years in the 10 after completing study

 

Requirements

To be eligible for the scholarship, you must:

  • be changing your career or profession to teaching
  • have at least 7 years of work experience or equivalent experience (either paid or unpaid) since leaving school
  • 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
    • Kaupapa Māori/Māori-medium immersion (levels 1-3) secondary schools or wharekura
    • English-medium secondary schools, teaching te reo Māori as a language (levels 2-5).

or, you can

  • be an unqualified teacher currently working in a centre or school – such as a teacher aide
  • be an unqualified teacher with a Limited Authority to Teach
  • be working as a kaiārahi i te reo or kaiāwhina.

and

  • 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.

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

Unpaid work experience 

This includes:

  • any involvement you have had in the community or with community groups
  • stay-at-home parents who have community/school involvement
  • vocational placements
  • unpaid internships.

Contact us

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

Send us an Email

Popular Resources

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