Māori medium education study award

The Māori Medium Education study award provides an opportunity for a teacher or principal to improve their proficiency in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga and develop their skills as a bilingual or immersion teacher.

The study award provides paid leave to study an approved post-graduate qualification for up to two years, a contribution towards course fees and, in some cases, a contribution towards accommodation and travel or relocation expenses. You will receive your normal salary while on study leave. 

There are 42 study awards available to teachers and principals in early learning, primary or secondary education.

Applications for the 2024 Māori Medium Education Study Award are now closed. Notifications will be sent on Wednesday 25 October 2023.

If you are also interested in applying for the Bilingual Education study award, you must send in a separate application. 

Am I eligible for a Māori Medium Education study award?

If you wish to apply for a Māori Medium Education study award, you must:

• be fully registered as an early childhood, primary or secondary teacher
• be permanently employed in immersion and bilingual settings in a kōhanga Reo, ngā puna kōhungahunga, puna reo, licensed ECE service, or a state or state-integrated school
• have proficiency in te reo Māori
• have teaching experience in immersion and bilingual settings
• be committed to developing te reo Māori and tikanga Māori knowledge and skills
• have applied to enrol in one of the approved qualifications
• provide evidence in your application that you have the approval and support of your employer (principal and board of trustees or ECE centre manager)

This year priority will be given to teachers and principals employed in immersion settings level 1 (te reo Māori use 81-100% of the time) and level 2 (te reo Māori use 51-80% of the time).

If you are employed part-time, you may still apply for a study award, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. Your award will be pro-rated to your current full-time teaching equivalent (FTTE).

If your registration is subject to confirmation, you may apply if you will be fully registered by the December prior to starting your study. Please contact us if your registration status changes at any time.

If you are a Resource Teacher: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB), who works in a number of schools, please ask the principal or board of trustees from your lead school to support your application.

You cannot undertake a study award at the same time as being appointed to a Community of Learning/Kāhui Ako (across community) Teacher role.

Approved courses

For further information on each course and the admission criteria for each tertiary provider please visit their websites:

University of Waikato - Te Rōpū Tohu Paerua 

Te Wānanga o Raukawa - Poutāhū Whakaakoranga 

Te Wānanga o Raukawa – Tāhuhu Whakaakoranga 

University of Canterbury - Hōaka Pounamu

What does the award provide?

You will receive your normal salary from the school or ECE centre while on study leave. This includes permanent salary units and allowances. You need to check with your principal whether any fixed term units and allowances will be paid while you are on leave. The study award funds relief costs to your school or ECE centre for the duration of leave. In addition the award:

• funds up to $2,000 towards your course fees, paid directly to your tertiary provider. You are responsible for paying the remaining balance
• may contribute towards travel, accommodation or relocation expenses.

To be eligible for assistance with travel, accommodation or relocation, you must be travelling more than 100km return between your usual work place and your study centre. For a full year course, you can claim a maximum of $2000 – same island or $3500 – other island. Travel, accommodation and relocation assistance will be paid in two instalments: the first in March and the second in July.

Please note that if you fail to complete your study award, you may be required to repay any travel, accommodation or relocation contributions.

The amount of leave awarded is based on the length of your course. If your application is successful, we will confirm the course dates with your tertiary provider. 

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact TeachNZ by calling 0800 165 225 or emailing teacher.studyawards@education.govt.nz.