Growing up around four-wheel drives and motorbikes, Ashleigh naturally gravitated toward the automotive world. Eager to learn how to repair the vehicles she loved, she enrolled in a pre-trade course, and it didn’t take long for her to realise she had found where she was meant to be.
2026 SCHOLARSHIPS
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Scholarship applications are now open for 2026.
MITO's 2026 scholarship programme is developed in partnership with the Inspiring Futures Foundation to assist aspiring and successful graduate learners to progress their skills and knowledge.
The MITO/Inspiring Futures Foundation scholarship programme contributes funding towards apprenticeships, training programmes, and business management qualifications. Previous recipients have used their scholarships to help fund apprenticeships, graduate business diplomas, advanced technical programmes, and management courses.
Please read the Terms and Conditions in the dropdowns below before beginning your application to ensure you are eligible.
Please note: Scholarship applications will be reviewed after the closing date. If your application is successful, you will be required to complete an enrolment application through MITO’s Portal. We’ll be in touch with information in mid-January 2025. Please wait to hear from us before enrolling. If required, enrolment must be completed by 31 January 2026.
If you need any assistance, please reach out to your MITO Training Advisor or feel free to contact us at scholarships@mito.org.nz—we're here to help.
KEY DATES
| Scholarship applications close | 15 December 2025 |
| Successful applicants to be contacted by | 15 January 2026 |
| Enrol in MITO programme by | 31 January 2026 |
Scholarships Available
The scholarship for Janet Lane MNZM for a future leader pays the programme fee for either the Bachelor of Applied Management, a university Graduate Diploma, or a management, leadership, governance and strategy course at Harvard University (or similar). In addition, MITO will organise a programme of follow-up coaching to build upon the leadership development. One scholarship is available. The scholarship for Clyde Cunningham QSM Memorial covers the programme fee for MITO’s New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4) commencing in 2026. Applicants must have completed a MITO automotive apprenticeship and be based in the Hawke’s Bay region. Up to two scholarships are available. The scholarship for Duncan "Sandy" Fraser Memorial covers the programme fee for MITO’s New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4) commencing in 2026. Applicants must have completed a MITO automotive apprenticeship and be based in the Wellington region. Up to two scholarships are available. The scholarship for Business Skills is awarded to current or aspiring managers or supervisors employed full-time in any of MITO’s industries. This scholarship covers the programme fee for MITO’s New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4) commencing in 2026. Multiple scholarships are available. The scholarship for Business Skills—Māori is awarded to current or aspiring managers or supervisors employed full-time in any of MITO’s industries. This scholarship covers the programme fee for MITO's New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4) commencing in 2026. Multiple scholarships are available to applicants of Māori ethnicity. The scholarship for Business Skills—Pacific Peoples is awarded to current or aspiring managers or supervisors employed full-time in any of MITO's industries. This scholarship covers the programme fee for MITO's New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4) commencing in 2026. Multiple scholarships are available to applicants of Pacific Peoples' ethnicity. Terms and Conditions PDF - 121 KB The scholarship for Alumni Advanced Technical covers the training fee for MITO’s Collision Repair Level 5, Light Automotive Engineering Level 5, Heavy Automotive Engineering Level 5, or Automotive Electrical Engineering Level 5 programme, commencing in 2025. Applicants must have completed a MITO automotive apprenticeship to be eligible. Multiple scholarships are available. The scholarship for Alumni Advanced Technical—Māori covers the training fee for MITO’s Collision Repair Level 5, Light Automotive Engineering Level 5, Heavy Automotive Engineering Level 5, or Automotive Electrical Engineering Level 5 programme, commencing in 2025. Applicants must have completed a MITO automotive apprenticeship to be eligible. Multiple scholarships are available for applicants of Māori ethnicity. The scholarship for Alumni Advanced Technical—Pacific Peoples covers the training fee for MITO’s Collision Repair Level 5, Light Automotive Engineering Level 5, Heavy Automotive Engineering Level 5, or Automotive Electrical Engineering Level 5 programme, commencing in 2025. Applicants must have completed a MITO automotive apprenticeship to be eligible. Multiple scholarships are available for applicants of Pacific Peoples' ethnicity. The scholarship for Alumni Advanced Technical—Women covers the training fee for MITO’s Collision Repair Level 5, Light Automotive Engineering Level 5, Heavy Automotive Engineering Level 5, or Automotive Electrical Engineering Level 5 programme, commencing in 2025. Applicants must have completed a MITO automotive apprenticeship to be eligible. Multiple scholarships are available for applicants who identify as women. The scholarship for MITO Alumni Electric Vehicle covers the programme fee for MITO’s Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering Level 5 programme, commencing in 2026. Applicants must have completed a MITO automotive apprenticeship and be employed full-time in the automotive industry. The scholarship for MITO Alumni Electric Vehicle—Māori covers the programme fee for MITO’s Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering Level 5 programme, commencing in 2026. Applicants must have completed a MITO automotive apprenticeship and be employed full-time in the automotive industry. Multiple scholarships are available for applicants of Māori ethnicity. The scholarship for MITO Alumni Electric Vehicle—Pacific Peoples covers the programme fee for MITO’s Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering Level 5 programme, commencing in 2026. Applicants must have completed a MITO automotive apprenticeship and be employed full-time in the automotive industry. Multiple scholarships are available for applicants of Pacific Peoples' ethnicity. The scholarship for MITO Alumni Electric Vehicle—Women covers the programme fee for MITO’s Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering Level 5 programme, commencing in 2026. Applicants must have completed a MITO automotive apprenticeship and be employed full-time in the automotive industry. Multiple scholarships are available for applicants who identify as women. Terms and Conditions PDF - 115 KB The scholarship for MITO Kickstart covers the first-year fees for a MITO training programme commencing in 2026. Applicants must be employed full-time in any of MITO’s industries. Multiple scholarships are available. The scholarship for MITO Kickstart—Māori covers the first-year fees for a MITO training programme commencing in 2026. Applicants must be employed full-time in any of MITO’s industries. Multiple scholarships are available for applicants of Māori ethnicity. The scholarship for MITO Kickstart—Pacific Peoples covers the first-year fees for a MITO training programme commencing in 2026. Applicants must be employed full-time in any of MITO’s industries. Multiple scholarships are available for applicants of Pacific Peoples' ethnicity. The scholarship for MITO Kickstart—Women covers the first-year fees for a MITO training programme commencing in 2026. Applicants must be employed full-time in any of MITO’s industries. Multiple scholarships are available for applicants who identify as women. The scholarship for New Start—Electric Vehicle covers the training fee for MITO's Electric Vechile Automotive Engineering Level 5 programme for someone new to New Zealand who holds a suitable pre-requisite qualification (not through MITO) and is employed full-time in the automotive industry, commencing in 2026. Multiple scholarships are available. The scholarship for New Start—Advanced Technical covers the training fee for MITO’s Light Automotive Engineering Level 5, Heavy Automotive Engineering Level 5, or Automotive Electrical Engineering Level 5 programme for someone new to New Zealand who holds a suitable pre-requisite qualification (not through MITO) and is employed full-time in the automotive industry, commencing in 2026. Multiple scholarships are available.
HEAR FROM PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS
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With four MITO programmes and over a decade of industry experience, Keith Andrews Trucks service manager Zahid Koya's career exemplifies the rewards of hard work and continuous learning.
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With an impressive four programmes under his belt, Matt Brooker has carved a defined path as a highly skilled and versatile professional in the automotive industry.
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