Application dates#

Applications are now open for study in 2027.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Wednesday 30 September. Late entries will not be accepted.

You will be notified on the outcome of your application in mid-December 2026.

About the scholarship#

The Tulī Takes Flight (Tulī) scholarship is part of the gesture of goodwill and reconciliation to Aotearoa Pacific families and communities that followed the Government’s 2021 apology for the Dawn Raids that occurred in the 1970s.

The Tulī scholarship acknowledges the ongoing importance of education for Aotearoa Pacific families and communities. The scholarship is intended to support Pacific people to reach their potential by reducing some of the financial barriers towards study or training. There are scholarships for both vocational and academic level study and training in Aotearoa.

For the 2026/27 round, the Pacific Education Foundation are supporting Pacific learners moving into future-focused fields, while still funding the breadth of study Pacific communities need.

A quarter of the scholarships awarded will be targeted to priority pathways of:

• science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM)
• health and allied health
• digital, data and AI
• engineering and skilled trades
• training, research and education workforce
• green, climate and sustainability fields.

If your qualification is not aligned to these areas, there are other Tulī scholarships available. The remaining scholarships will continue to support the full breadth of study including: 

• social services
• construction
• Pacific languages
• Pacific customs and culture.

Eligibility#

To be eligible to apply for a Tulī you must:

• have enrolled or be in the process of enrolling into full-time training or study with a tertiary provider in New Zealand – you are not eligible if you are studying or will be studying part-time
• be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
• have lived in New Zealand for the last 3 years
• be of indigenous Pacific cultural heritage.

What the scholarship covers#

The Tulī scholarship can be used to:

• cover full-time course costs, such as course materials, equipment and tuition fees
• help with living costs, such as accommodation, transport and childcare.

There are 7 Career Changer scholarships worth $32,000 each year, and can be awarded for 1, 2 or 3 years:

• 3 vocational scholarships for study at New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) levels 4 to 7 (non-degree level)
• 4 academic degree and above scholarships for study at NZQA levels 7 to 10 (degree level and above).

The Pacific Education Foundation board can re-allocate scholarship numbers depending on the number of applications. For example, they may allocate fewer academic and more vocational scholarships.

Who can apply – Tulī Takes Flight Career changer scholarship#

The career changer scholarship is for people who have at least 12 years' work experience or equivalent experience (paid or unpaid) since leaving school. It helps people gain a qualification that will allow them to move to a new career or advance to a higher level in their existing career.

The scholarship can be for vocational training, undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate study up to and including masters level. Career changer applicants can be either starting study in a new area or returning to study after a long break.

The Pacific Education Foundation board will make the final decision about whether a course of study fits into the career changer category.

How to apply#

Read the application guidance before you submit your application.

Apply online using the link below.

Tuli Takes Flight application form

After you apply#

Decisions about awarding the scholarships will be made by the Pacific Education Foundation board. Decisions will be final.

The Pacific Education Foundation board will inform you by email on the outcome of your application by mid-December 2026.

The board is unable to provide individual feedback on applications.