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Toloa Secondary School Scholarships (STEAM)

Toloa Secondary School Scholarships (STEAM)

The Toloa Secondary School Scholarships are now closed

The Toloa Secondary School Scholarships aim to inspire and support Pacific students in their engagement with STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths.

Now in its seventh year, the Toloa funds are achieving its goal of helping Pacific Aotearoa thrive in STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering Arts and Maths.

The Toloa Secondary School Scholarships cover school fees and equipment for one year to the maximum of $2000. The scholarships are available for more than one year depending on alignment to scholarship criteria and the expected academic performance requirements.

View this year's list of recipients.

STEAM refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths subjects.

STEAM skills and knowledge are not new to Pacific people.

The Toloa programme champions that Pacific peoples come from a lineage of navigators, explorers, innovators, and experts in STEAM. STEAM skills  are adaptable in a vast ocean of career pathways and opportunities.

The Arts is defined within the Toloa programme as creative and innovative skills, processes and knowledge that are transferable into science, technology, engineering and maths careers.

About the scholarships

Applications open on Monday 20 September, 2021.

Applications close at midnight on Sunday 24 October, 2021.

Applicants are informed about the outcome by Friday 26 November, 2021.

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be of Pacific descent.
  • Be aged 13-18 years old or Year 9-13 in 2022 or be aged 15–18 years old or Year 11 – 13 in the year 2022 and enrolled in 2 or more STEAM subjects. Or instead be enrolled in a New Zealand secondary school, vocational training provider, alternative education or verified home school.
  • Provide school reports and academic results for the previous 12 months.
  • Hold New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency. Consideration is also extended to applicants with migrant status.
  • Provide a reference letter from one independent referee (such as school, community, church, youth groups, sports coach, tutors, mentors. Anyone except for a family member).
  • Demonstrate commitment to Pacific language or culture.

The Toloa Secondary School Scholarships are only available for:

  • School and/or provider fees.
  • Costs for STEAM specialised programmes or learning.
  • Required study equipment.
  • Any or all of the above up to $2000 per applicant.
  • Wellbeing coaching sessions throughout the year.


The Toloa Secondary School Scholarships is not available for:

  • Students that are not enrolled in a formal New Zealand secondary school, vocational training provider, alternative education or verified home school.

  • Travel expenses locally, nationally, and internationally.

  • For-profit activities.
  • Initiatives that are not aligned with the priorities of this fund.
  • Programmes and activities delivered overseas including the NZ realm countries.
  • Wages, salaries, infrastructure, fixed assets and capital expenditure.
  • Debt repayment or debt servicing. 

If you need more information about the Toloa Secondary School Scholarships, email [email protected]