Māpihi Pounamu Financial Support Scheme
The Māpihi Pounamu Financial Support Scheme accepts applications throughout the year. The closing date for applications is the last day of each term, and the selection panel meets during the following school holidays.
Māpihi Pounamu is a capped fund and assistance can only be allocated to those students who are considered most at risk. Please consider this when making an application.
Aim
To help ensure that at-risk secondary students participate and achieve in education. It is available to students of all ethnic groups, and targeted at those students who are required to board away from home because they face barriers to learning, either through difficult home circumstances such as ongoing risk to their wellbeing, or lack of supportive care.
Entitlement
The maximum entitlement per applicant is $7,500 per year, depending on how much the hostel charges. Where the applicant is also receiving a Government Boarding Bursary, this is deducted from the grant. The funding can only be used for hostel boarding fees at a state or a state-integrated secondary school.
A list of secondary schools with boarding hostels is below. Schools are listed from north to south. Assistance begins from the term in which the application is approved. Any additional costs need to be met by the parent or caregiver.
Contacts
Māpihi Pounamu, Ministry of Education, PO Box 1666, Wellington
Phone 04 463 8085, fax 04 463 8252
Email mapihi.pounamu@minedu.govt.nz