Winter Energy Grant

Need help keeping your flat warm this winter? Student Finance is offering a Winter Energy Grant to help pay a winter power bill.

Applications for 2026 are not yet open. Check back here for more details.

Warm your whare—winter energy support

Are you needing support with your winter power bill? If the answer is yes, then the Winter Energy Grant may be for you. Follow the link below to apply for this assistance.

One application per address

Only one application per address is accepted.

Group applications

If you live with other Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington students, please submit one group application together.

Individual applications

If you're the only VUW student at your address, you can still submit an individual application.

Who can apply

All New Zealand-based VUW students are eligible to apply, as long as you are not living in a hall of residence with all-inclusive costs.

Grant amount

Thanks to generous support from businesses that work with the University, alumni, and staff, via donations to the Student Hardship Fund, Student Finance offers grants of up to $350 per household to help cover the increased costs of warming your home over winter.

How to apply

Applications for the 2025 Winter Energy Grant have now closed.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, applications to the standard Hardship Fund are open year-round.

Supporting evidence

To complete your Winter Energy Grant application, you’ll need to provide:

  • a copy of your current or previous month's power bill or prepaid electricity tokens
  • a copy of your bank statement and bank account number (a flat account is preferred; the address and name must match the application
  • the address on the application must match the address on both the power bill and the nominated bank account
  • the main applicant must also be named on the bank account.

If you do not have a flat account, explain in the application how your household manages bill payments and provide an appropriate nominated account with your flat address.

If you are unable to match your flat address across your supporting evidence, you can provide a current tenancy agreement with your name and flat address, alongside your bank account details.

Email supporting evidence to student-hardship@vuw.ac.nz.

Acknowledgements

This initiative would not be possible without the generous donations and support from alumni, staff, and the following businesses: