Boarding allowances information for schools
A boarding allowance can help ākonga living in remote areas or facing significant barriers to their education, board away from home. A barrier is a circumstance that is preventing ākonga from achieving in and attending school. Parents or caregivers apply for this allowance and funding is paid directly to the school.
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Inform
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- Information for parents and caregivers
- Information for schools
- Closing dates for applications
- More information
Information for parents and caregivers
If you're a parent or caregiver, visit the Parents section of this website for information on boarding allowances and how to apply.
Boarding allowances – Parents and whānau(external link)
Closing dates for applications
All applications for the following school year are due by 31 October each year.
Decisions are issued early December. We may consider applications outside of this annual date at our discretion.
Information for schools
There are 2 types of boarding allowance:
- access barrier boarding allowance
- multiple barrier boarding allowance.
A barrier is a circumstance that is preventing ākonga from achieving in and attending school.
How is the boarding allowance paid?
The boarding allowance is paid directly to the ākonga school. It is a contribution to their boarding costs and may not cover all of their boarding fees. The difference will need to be paid by the ākonga guardian.
If an ākonga is boarding privately, the person providing the board will need to contact the school to arrange receipt of the boarding allowance funding.
We will send you a list of boarding allowance ākonga each term asking you to confirm they are attending your school and are boarding. You will need to indicate any changes that may affect an ākonga boarding allowance. When this is confirmed, payment is made around week 3 of each term.
Changes that may affect boarding allowance eligibility
- Transfer to another school, leave school, not attending school or completed their schooling.
- Move back home with legal guardian.
- No longer boarding.
How much is a boarding allowance?
The amount of boarding allowance funding a student receives depends on:
- what type of barrier they are facing – an access barrier or multiple barriers
- where they board.
Boarding allowance 2024 funding
| Funding | 2024 rate |
|---|---|
| Access barrier boarding allowance | |
| Rēkohu| Chatham Islands | $6,300 |
| Aotea | Great Barrier and Rakiura | Stewart Island |
$4,500 |
| Eligible students from all other locations |
$4,000 |
| Multiple barriers boarding allowance | |
| Hostel (all locations) | $8,500 |
| Private boarding (Rēkoh| Chatham Islands) |
$6,300 |
| Private boarding (all other locations) | $4,500 |
Multiple barriers additional funding
Additional funding is provided for ākonga receiving the multiple barriers allowance to support them at school. For example, counselling, uniform, extra-curricular activities.
The additional funding is an annual one-off payment of $540 and is paid in addition to the Term 1 multiple barriers payment.
Additional travel funding for island communities
When receiving a boarding allowance, additional funding is provided to assist with the cost of travel for ākonga between the mainland and Great Barrier Island (GBI). GBI additional travel funding is $920 per year and is paid in termly instalments with their boarding allowance.
For ākonga that live on Pitt Island or Chatham Islands and are receiving a boarding allowance, the Ministry funds the travel provider 4 return trips each year between their home and the mainland.
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