Māori and Pacific training pathways: trades training, iwi and community providers

Māori and Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT)

• Eligibility varies by provider. Unitec lists Māori or Pacific descent and aged 16 to 40 at course start. Toi Ohomai also lists NZ citizen or permanent resident. Whitireia and WelTec do not state an age limit on their page. Check your provider.
• Covers tuition and course-related costs for eligible programmes (provider pages describe it as covering full fees and course-related costs).
• Often includes work-ready workshops, pastoral support and links to employers and apprenticeships.
• Places are limited. Providers state availability depends on funded places, and application rounds differ by provider.

There's no single national application form. Contact the provider's MPTT team, for example mptt@unitec.ac.nz for Unitec or twa@weltec.ac.nz for Whitireia and WelTec. Complete both the provider enrolment and the scholarship application, and have a back-up funding plan in case you are not selected.

Other places to look

• Wānanga (Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, Te Wānanga o Raukawa) offer programmes grounded in te ao Māori.
• Iwi and hapū education and employment arms: ask your iwi authority what jobs and training programmes they run or fund.
• Pacific community providers and church or community employment programmes: ask local Pacific community leaders.
• Mana in Mahi and Skills for Industry through Work and Income.
• NZQA's Pasifika pages on apprenticeships and pathways.
• Te Puni Kōkiri and MBIE Māori business support if you are thinking of self-employment.

Tips for a strong application

1. Have proof of whakapapa or Pacific heritage ready. Ask your provider what they accept.
2. Have ID and residency evidence.
3. Write why you want the trade and what you've done to test it (work experience, short course, volunteering).
4. Ask about learner support: transport, childcare, laptops, mentoring.