Ngā Hoe a Kupe Pathfinder Scholarships

Application process

A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4.30 pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.

Applications will normally open one month prior to the closing date. If no application link is provided below, check back again closer to the closing date. Contact us if you have any queries.

Apply online

Applicants will be shortlisted and invited to an interview.

Scholarship specific documentation

• A personal statement outlining how the applicant has shown resilience or determination in achieving their academic and personal goals; and what they hope to achieve with their degree (maximum 1500 words).
• A reference from the school principal, dean, teacher or careers adviser (to be requested via the online application).
• Endorsement of Māori or Pasifika heritage and evidence of refugee status if applicable.
• A copy of Year 12 and Year 13 results to date.
• A statement of earnings from parents and/or caregivers who provide financial support or a bank statement if self-supporting.

Selection process

The interview panel will comprise representatives from the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori & Kaitiakitanga, the Office of the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Pasifika, and Future Students. Other relevant University staff may also be invited to join the panel where their expertise aligns with the applicant cohort.

How and when do students learn of the decision?

All applicants will be advised by email of the outcome of their application, including applicants selected for an interview. Successful applicants will receive formal notification by email and will be invited, along with their families, to attend a scholarship award ceremony, at which the scholarship will be formally awarded. Further details regarding the event will be provided in due course.

Additional information

The University provides a comprehensive wrap-around support programme to assist recipients successfully transition into their first year of study and to support them throughout their undergraduate journey. Recipients will also have opportunities to contribute to student life and develop leadership, social responsibility and employability skills through participation in the Kitea Impact Programme and other extra-curricular activities designed to broaden their learning, engagement, and personal development.

The scholarship covers full accommodation costs in a catered hall of residence at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington during the first year of study, as well as tuition fees in the first and second years of study. In addition, recipients who continue to be enrolled full-time and maintain satisfactory academic progress will receive up to $5,000 towards course-related and living costs over three years.

Central to the Ngā Hoe a Kupe Pathfinder Scholarship programme is an active partnership between the recipient, their whānau, family or support network, and the University, ensuring students are well supported to thrive throughout their academic journey.

Pastoral support

Recipients’ progress will be monitored throughout the programme to support their academic success and personal development. This includes regular meetings with the Equity Scholarships Programme Manager to review progress and address any challenges that may rise. Recipients are expected to actively engage proactively with relevant University student services to make the most of the opportunities and assistance available to them.

Recipients will also have opportunities to connect with fellow Ngā Hoe a Kupe Pathfinder Scholarship recipients, fostering a supportive peer network that promotes learning, mentoring, and mutual encouragement. These relationships help students develop confidence, build a strong sense of belonging, and thrive both academically and personally throughout their university journey.

Regulations and conditions

1. A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4:30 pm on the closing date for the application to be considered.
2. Scholarship offers will be conditional upon the recipient gaining NCEA Level 3, University Entrance, and admission to a full-year degree programme (this will be at the level of points considered by Studylink as full time) within the stipulated criteria and tenure of the scholarship. No payment of the Scholarship will be made until this condition is met.
3. The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year.
4. The Scholarship may not be held in conjunction with other awards. Exceptions will be considered by the Deciding Authority on a case-by-case basis.
5. Recipients must live in a Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington hall of residence in the first year of study.
6. Recipients are strongly encouraged to participate in the Kitea Impact Programme to develop leadership, social responsibility and employability skills.
7. Recipients are expected to act as ambassadors for the University and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
8. The Scholarship is a partnership between the University, the recipient and their family and/or a trusted guardian.
9. Financial support in subsequent years is conditional on students continuing to be enrolled full time and demonstrating satisfactory academic progress and engagement with the University community.
10. At the discretion of the Deciding Authority, the application of the terms and conditions of the Scholarship may be modified in special circumstances or to avoid hardship to any candidate.

Contact

Gail Ah-Hi – Equity Scholarships Programme Manager
Phone: +64 4 886 5629
E-mail: Gail.Ah-Hi@vuw.ac.nz

For questions about the criteria or the application process, please contact:

Scholarships Office
scholarships-office@vuw.ac.nz
Phone 0800 04 04 04