Tulī Takes Flight Scholarship 2027: Up to NZ$16,500 for Pacific Students in Vocational or Degree Study
New Zealand’s Tulī Takes Flight scholarship supports Pacific people continuing or returning to vocational or degree-level study in 2027, with published awards of NZ$11,500 or NZ$16,500 a year.
Tulī Takes Flight Scholarship 2027: Up to NZ$16,500 for Pacific Students in Vocational or Degree Study
The Tulī Takes Flight scholarship is a New Zealand education award for Pacific people who are continuing, returning to, or progressing into study or training in Aotearoa. The New Zealand Ministry of Education says the scholarship is intended to reduce financial barriers for Pacific families and communities, and it supports both vocational training and degree-level study.
The next application round is for study in 2027. The Ministry’s official page says that applications are currently closed, but that the 2027 application window will open on 1 September 2026 and close on 30 September 2026. That makes this an upcoming opportunity to prepare for rather than a form that can be submitted today. The page says applications will be made online when the window opens.
The award values are unusually clear. The scholarship offers published annual awards of NZ$11,500 and NZ$16,500, with separate vocational and academic categories. The Ministry lists two vocational awards at each value, two undergraduate academic awards at NZ$11,500, and two postgraduate academic awards at NZ$16,500. The Pacific Education Foundation Board may reallocate the number of awards between categories depending on the application pool, so the category counts should be treated as the published starting structure, not a promise that exactly two awards will remain in every category.
Tulī Takes Flight at a glance
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Opportunity | Tulī Takes Flight continuing study or training scholarship |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| Application window | 1 September to 30 September 2026 |
| Current status | Applications closed between rounds; next window is scheduled for September 2026 |
| Award values | NZ$11,500 or NZ$16,500 per year |
| Study types | Vocational training, undergraduate, postgraduate, and eligible doctoral study |
| Location | Aotearoa New Zealand |
| Funding uses | Course materials, equipment, tuition fees, accommodation, transport, and childcare |
| Award decision-maker | Pacific Education Foundation Board |
| Decision timing | Applicants are to be emailed the outcome by mid-December 2026 |
| Official source | New Zealand Ministry of Education scholarship page |
The Ministry page is the controlling source for the 2027 dates and amounts. It does not publish a single guaranteed total for an entire degree, so applicants should not describe NZ$16,500 as a multi-year award. The confirmed wording is an amount each year, and the next application materials should be checked for the duration and any conditions attached to a particular award.
What the scholarship can pay for
Tulī is designed around the practical costs that can make study difficult to sustain. The official page says the scholarship can cover full-time course costs, including course materials, equipment, and tuition fees. It can also help with living costs such as accommodation, transport, and childcare.
That list matters when preparing an application. A strong budget should connect the scholarship to actual barriers rather than simply repeat the award amount. For example, a vocational applicant might need equipment and course fees before training can begin, while a postgraduate student might face a combination of tuition, transport, and childcare costs. A returning learner may need a different mix again, particularly if study is being combined with family responsibilities.
The page does not say that every recipient receives every listed cost automatically, nor does it publish a universal spending formula. It is safer to present the award as flexible support for the named education and living costs, then explain which costs are most important in your own situation. Keep invoices, fee schedules, equipment lists, or other reliable estimates available so that the request is grounded in the real price of continuing your course.
The award can be useful even when it does not cover every expense. An applicant should map the full annual cost of study, identify existing support, and show what the Tulī award would make possible. If the total cost is higher than NZ$11,500 or NZ$16,500, say what other funding or income will cover the difference. The Ministry page does not promise that Tulī is a complete cost-of-attendance award.
Who the 2027 round is for
The Ministry describes Tulī as a scholarship for Pacific people and links it to the education goals of Aotearoa Pacific families and communities. The page does not reduce the programme to a particular profession or subject. Its audience includes people in vocational and academic education, which means fit should be shown through the specific training or study plan rather than through a generic claim that any qualification is valuable.
The basic study-stage requirement is that an applicant has successfully completed at least one year of study or is entering a second or subsequent year of training or study. The Ministry also describes several routes that can fit this structure:
- continuing an existing course;
- returning to study after several years;
- beginning advanced vocational training;
- beginning postgraduate study; and
- pursuing doctoral study.
The page distinguishes between vocational and academic scholarships. It does not state that a person must be a full-time student in every possible circumstance, but its funding description refers to full-time course costs. Applicants should therefore read the 2027 application guide carefully when it is available and describe the actual enrolment status, qualification level, institution, and start date accurately.
The official page does not publish a complete citizenship, residence, income, or age test in the visible eligibility section. Do not invent one from the phrase “Pacific people.” If your background, immigration status, location, or course format is not clearly covered, use the Ministry contact route before the application window closes. The eligibility information in the next application guide and online form may add requirements that are not reproduced in the summary page.
Choosing the right scholarship category
There are two broad categories. Vocational scholarships are for study at NZQA levels 4 to 7. The Ministry lists two awards of NZ$11,500 each year and two awards of NZ$16,500 each year. It specifically says it wants to encourage Pacific people considering vocational training or already undertaking it to apply.
Academic scholarships are for NZQA levels 7 to 10, covering degree level and above. The published structure lists two undergraduate awards at NZ$11,500 each year and two postgraduate awards at NZ$16,500 each year. The Board can move scholarship places between categories depending on the number of applications. A course that sits near a category boundary should be checked against its official NZQA level and the wording of the live form rather than guessed from its title.
Doctoral study receives a specific limitation on the Ministry page: a Tulī scholarship for doctoral studies can be awarded for one year only, and it is available in the continuing-study category rather than the career-changer category. This is an important distinction for a PhD applicant. The scholarship should not be presented as a promise to fund the whole doctorate, and a student should prepare a plan for later years.
How to apply in September 2026
The Ministry’s timeline is simple but short. Applications for 2027 study are scheduled to open on 1 September 2026 and close on 30 September 2026. When the window is open, the page says applicants can apply online. The application form is not available in the current closed-round view, so the exact fields and upload requirements should be confirmed when the portal opens.
Use the time before September to assemble information rather than trying to write a polished answer without evidence. Confirm the exact name and NZQA level of your course or training, the institution, your year of study, the 2027 dates, and the costs you expect. If you are returning after a break, prepare a clear account of what you will study now and why this is the right time to return.
The Ministry links an official Tulī application guide from the scholarship page. Read that guide and the live form together. The guide may explain how to define Pacific identity, what supporting evidence is accepted, how the Board assesses need or potential, and whether an applicant may receive other forms of assistance. Those details should come from the 2027 materials, not from a third-party summary or an earlier round.
Submit before the final day if possible. A deadline of 30 September normally means the portal may close at a specific time, and the summary page does not state the exact closing hour. Save the confirmation email or screen after submission. If the portal has an upload problem, contact the Ministry using the published support route while the window is still open rather than assuming an unfinished draft has been received.
Materials and evidence to prepare
The current summary page does not enumerate a mandatory document checklist, so the following is preparation guidance rather than a claim that every item must be uploaded. Have the likely evidence ready in readable digital form:
- proof of enrolment or an offer for the 2027 course or training;
- a current academic record or confirmation that the first year of study has been successfully completed;
- the course or training fee schedule;
- a realistic list of materials, equipment, transport, accommodation, or childcare costs;
- a short explanation of how the award would reduce the barrier to continuing; and
- any information needed to confirm the relevant vocational or academic category.
The most useful evidence is specific. “I need financial support” is true for many applicants but does not explain what the money changes. “The required equipment costs NZ$X, transport to the training site costs NZ$Y each week, and childcare is needed during the scheduled classes” gives the Board a way to understand the request. Use official fee pages, written quotes, or current provider estimates where available, and label estimates honestly.
What makes an application credible
The scholarship exists to reduce barriers, but that does not mean the application should focus only on hardship. Show that the study plan is real, that you meet the relevant stage of study, and that the funding will be used for a defined purpose. A credible application connects four points: where you are now, what qualification or training you are undertaking, what barrier threatens your progress, and what the Tulī support will allow you to do in 2027.
For a continuing student, evidence of progress can be more persuasive than a broad ambition statement. Explain what you completed in the first year and what the next stage requires. For someone returning after several years, explain the reason for the return without oversharing private information and show that the course has been researched. For vocational applicants, describe the practical skill or qualification and how the equipment or course costs affect participation. For postgraduate applicants, make the proposed study and its next milestone clear.
Keep the cultural context personal and concrete. The Ministry connects Tulī to Pacific families and communities and to the Government’s response following the 2021 Dawn Raids apology. That context explains why the scholarship exists; it does not replace an applicant’s own account of study, commitment, and need. Avoid writing an essay about the programme’s history when the Board needs to understand your path.
Common mistakes to avoid
The first mistake is waiting until September to verify course details. A course title may not tell you whether it is vocational or academic, or what NZQA level applies. Confirm that before choosing the category.
The second is treating the award as automatically renewable or as full funding for a whole qualification. The published information gives annual amounts and separately says doctoral support can be for one year only. Unless the live rules say otherwise, budget one award year at a time.
The third is using a vague budget. List the costs named by the Ministry and explain which ones are urgent. Do not pad the request with expenses that you cannot document or that do not support study.
The fourth is ignoring the September closing date because the page currently says applications are closed. The page is being used to announce the next 2027 window, but the form is not open yet. Set a reminder for 1 September, then check the official page for the live link and exact submission instructions.
The fifth is assuming that general Pacific scholarship advice answers a question the Ministry has not addressed. The official summary does not display every possible nationality, residence, income, or enrolment rule. Ask the programme contact when the question affects your eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply today?
Not according to the Ministry page. It says applications are currently closed and that applications supporting study in 2027 will open on 1 September and close on 30 September 2026.
How much is the scholarship?
The published annual awards are NZ$11,500 and NZ$16,500. The Ministry lists those values for vocational and academic awards, but it does not present one universal multi-year total.
Can the money cover childcare or transport?
Yes, the official page says the scholarship can help with living costs such as accommodation, transport, and childcare, in addition to course materials, equipment, and tuition fees.
Is this only for people starting university?
No. Tulī includes vocational training and degree-level study. It is aimed at people who have completed at least one year or are entering a second or later year, including people continuing, returning, starting advanced vocational or postgraduate study, or undertaking eligible doctoral study.
Does a doctoral award fund the entire PhD?
No such promise appears on the official page. It specifically says a Tulī scholarship for doctoral studies can be awarded for one year only.
When will applicants hear back?
The Pacific Education Foundation Board is expected to inform all applicants by email by mid-December 2026. The page says decisions are final and that general feedback will be provided, but individual feedback is not available.
Official links and next steps
Start with the New Zealand Ministry of Education’s Tulī Takes Flight page. Recheck it on or after 1 September 2026 for the live online form, the 2027 application guide, and any updated eligibility or document rules. The page lists the contact phone number as 0800 165 225 for questions.
Before the portal opens, confirm your study category, gather a current fee and living-cost picture, and draft a concise explanation of the barrier the scholarship would remove. During September, use the official form, keep a copy of every answer and upload, and submit early enough to resolve a technical or eligibility question. The opportunity is specific: it is annual support for Pacific people progressing through study or training in Aotearoa, not an unrestricted cash award. That specificity is exactly what should guide the application.