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Manaaki fund

Manaaki Fund

Unexpected life costs can make it harder to stay on track with your training. The MITO Manaaki Fund offers one‑off financial support for learners who are experiencing hardship, helping with everyday expenses like food, childcare, and travel.

What is the Manaaki Fund?

The MITO Manaaki Fund is designed to provide temporary financial assistance to currently enrolled learners who are facing unexpected hardship that is impacting their studies. Successful applicants receive a one‑off payment to help alleviate financial barriers.

This payment is not intended to cover programme fees, but may be used to support day‑to‑day living costs such as groceries, transport, childcare and other essential expenses.
 

What is considered financial hardship?

This is when you have difficulty paying your bills and/or purchasing items for essential day-to-day living. You may be facing difficult/challenging situations that impact your financial situation. For example:

  • Necessary medical costs
  • Inability to buy day-to-day essentials
  • Transport costs
  • A disability or temporary illness
  • Unforeseen family issues
  • Death or illness of an immediate family member
  • Natural disasters
  • Family violence
  • Other financial problems that adversely impact your livelihood.

You may not use the funding for:

  • Course/tuition fees or related costs
  • Technology hardware or software
  • Any other items that do not directly support hardship.

Eligibility

This fund is available to currently enrolled MITO learners* who are experiencing financial barriers that are impacting their training. The amount of funding provided will be at MITO’s discretion. 

You do not need to provide evidence of hardship, however you must explain why you’re applying for the funds and what you intend to use them for in the application form.

Learners may apply once only during 2026.

*Excludes learners enrolled in school micro-credentials and learners enrolled in the free Introduction to Automotive Engineering Micro-credential and the free Introduction to Commercial Road Transport Micro-credential.

Need help or have questions?

Please direct any questions to manaakifund@mito.org.nz. 

Manaaki Fund application form