Dawn Raid apology gesture – Tulī scholarships for Pacific people

The Associate Minister of Education, Aupito William Sio, this week announced the establishment of the ‘Tulī Takes Flight’ scholarships as part of the gesture of reconciliation to accompany the Government’s apology to Pacific families and communities impacted by the Dawn Raids.

“Education is the key to unlocking success, opportunity, and fulfilment for our Pacific communities. These scholarships acknowledge the importance of education for Pacific families and highlight the need to support and grow Pacific education capacity and capability,” said Aupito William Sio.

“The scholarships will be offered to New Zealand citizens of indigenous Pacific heritage.“

Every year, up to 12 scholarships, valued between $10,000 and $30,000, will be made available to New Zealand citizens of indigenous Pacific heritage who are 18 years old and over, and who are looking to undertake vocational or academic study or training or thinking about a career change. To mark the inaugural year, there will be a total of 30 scholarships for study commencing in 2022.

The first round of applications opens next month. The scholarships will be awarded for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years.

The scholarships, worth $2.1 million, are funded by the Ministry of Education and will be administered by the Pacific Education Foundation. Further information is available on the Ministry of Education website. 

Study or training can include vocational and academic courses at Levels 4 to 10 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework: certificates or diplomas, degree-level study and post-graduate study.

“I strongly encourage Pacific people aged 18 years and over to apply for the scholarships to support them to achieve their education aspirations. These scholarships will act as an inspirational and cautionary reminder of a dark episode in Aotearoa’s past,” said Aupito William Sio.

The scholarships are named after Tulī, the bird also known as the Kūaka and the Godwit, which flies 22,000 kilometres non-stop from Alaska to Aotearoa and back again. This is one of the greatest journeys of any living creature. The determination of the Tulī is symbolic of the Pacific Aotearoa narratives, of resilient people with the aspirations and determination to succeed.

Further information:

Tulī Takes Flight scholarships and frequently asked questions (external link)

For further information, please contact tuli.scholarships@education.govt.nz