Health New Zealand is committed to supporting nurses through postgraduate funding. This initiative helps nurses advance their careers while strengthening the healthcare system by ensuring that nurses are well-prepared to manage complex patient care.

Nurses can apply via their local district to study papers that build towards a postgraduate qualification such as a Postgraduate Certificate (60 pts), Postgraduate Diploma (120 pts) or Master's degree (180 and 240 pts). 

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Registration: Must be a registered nurse under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003).
  2. APC: Hold a current annual practising certificate (APC) without restrictions.
  3. Employment: Currently employed by Health New Zealand or by a health service funded by Health New Zealand.
  4. Residency: Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
  5. Employer Support: Evidence of support from the current employer to meet training requirements.
  6. Education Provider Criteria: Meet the entry criteria required by the education provider.

Further detail by district is provided below.

Counties Manukau

Counties Manukau
  • Semester 1, 2025 applications are now closed.
  • Notification of results: Before December 2024.

Important Notes:

  • Line Manager Support: Your application must be supported by your line manager(s).
  • Main Contact Method: Email will be used for communication.
  • Career Plan: All applicants must have completed a career plan with their line manager before applying for HWD funding.
  • Funding Application: You need to apply for funding every semester.

Waikato

Waikato

Applications Open: July 2025

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Employment: Must be currently employed as an RN or RM by a health service funded by Health NZ Waikato or the Ministry of Health. 
  • Work Hours: Must work 0.6 FTE or above (equivalent to 3 days per week or more).
  • Funding Pathway: Must apply for a Postgraduate Certificate before a Postgraduate Diploma.

Application Preparation:

  1. Discuss with Manager: Ensure your application is discussed with your manager.
  2. Career Goals: Write down your short, medium, and long-term goals (max 50 words each).
  3. Course Details: Full details of the papers you plan to take.
  4. Previous Papers: Have a record of the papers you have already completed.

Post-Approval Process:

  • Notification: Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by mid-December.
  • Notify Coordinator: Successful applicants need to notify the Professional Development Unit coordinator.

Financial Support:

  • Eligibility: Offered to students working 0.6 FTE and upwards, with higher FTE prioritized.
  • Covers the cost (up to $28 per hour) of releasing you to attend study days during working hours.
  • Full cost of your paper will be paid for successful applicants
  • Travel cost if 100kms or over - up to $1000 for 30-point paper. Complete travel and accommodation form.

Useful Resources:

Contact Information:

Whanganui

Whanganui

Applications for 2025 postgraduate funding closed 18 October 2024.

Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley

Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley

Applications for Postgraduate Funding for the 2025 academic year is close

Application forms

Useful resources

Clinical Mentoring Support:

  • Approval required for up to 10-hours clinical mentoring support
  • Support is only available for courses that require clinical mentoring/clinical mentor in addition to academic teaching/mentoring.
  • It must be negotiated by the nurse enrolling in the course in consultation with their Line Manager and Workforce and Practice Development Unit during your career conversation.
  • Approval will be documented in their confirmation email.

All career conversations for nurses working towards a Prescribing Practicum or the Nurse Practitioner Pathway must be completed by Helen Costello.

Contact:

MidCentral

MidCentral

Applications for Postgraduate Funding for the 2025 academic year close Friday 25 October 2024.

Application Process:

  • Email HWNZ Administrator hwnz@midcentraldhb.govt.nz for an application form.
  • Attend the Post Graduate Nursing Roadshow: Identify your preferred Tertiary Education Provider.
  • Complete your Career Plan:i Discuss with your Professional Lead.
  • Use the Four Steps to Career Planning: Identify the goals, activities, timelines and resources.

Cultural Support funding

  • Open to Māori with whakapapa and cultural links to whānau, hapū and iwi
  • Open to Pacific Peoples with established cultural links to their communities

Prioritisation Criteria and Funding Allocation

  • Priority: Māori, Pacific and Aged Care applicants
  • MidCentral Applicants: Must have a current PDRP and career plan.

Funding Levels:

  • Competent RNs: PG certificate level (2 papers).
  • Proficient RNs (including ACNs and Specialty Clinical Nurses): PG diploma level (4 papers).
  • Expert RNs: PG diploma (4 papers) based on service specifications/role.
  • Nurses on a NP pathway: Masters level based on service specifications.
  • Senior Nurses: Prioritized for funding if a master's degree is required for their role.
  • No clinical release time is funded: nurses on the Health NZ - MidCentral MECA have access to 32 hours per calendar year (pro-rated for part time employees) of professional development leave.

Useful Resources:

Contact

Nelson Marlborough

Nelson Marlborough

2025 Postgraduate funding applications are closed

Useful information

Contact:

Te Tai Tokerau

Te Tai Tokerau

2024 Applications are closed

  • Late Applications: Will be added to waitlist and may miss out on funding. Funding might become available later due to withdrawals.

Application Form:

Useful Information:

Contact:

Wairarapa

Wairarapa

Applications are closed

Application forms

Useful information

  • Professional Development and Career Plan (DOCX 417KB)
  • Career Conversations: Email Hannah Chittick (PG Funding Coordinator) or Kathryn Wadsworth (Clinical Nursing Director) to book your career conversation
  • Professional Supervision: Part of your practicum plan. Email Nursing@wairarapa.dhb.org.nz for a list of supervisors once your application is approved.
  • Clinical Mentoring Support: Up to 10-hours must be approved prior to undertaking a course requiring this. Negotiation with your Line Manager and DON during your career conversation is necessary. Approval will be documented in the confirmation email.

RN Prescribing Practicum or Nurse Practitioner (NP) Advanced Practice:

  • Approval to enrol is required at a service level and the DON.
  • Support relies on organisational agreement for role development during and after the practicum.
  • A Prescribing Practicum Support Plan must be prepared before commencing the paper.
  • This information also informs work-site planning, funding prioritisation and workforce development.

Contacts: