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Update

The Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau Forestry Scholarship programme is closed and not accepting applications.

Current recipients of the scholarship will not be affected by this closure or review, and scholarships will continue as per contractual arrangements.

Students looking for scholarships for study in 2024 can apply to Southern North Island Wood Council and Wood Industry Development and Education (Wide) Trust.

Scholarships – Southern North Island Wood Council

Funding opportunities – Wide Trust

Greater diversity created through forestry scholarships

Mā ngā karahipi ngahere e nui ake ai te kanorautanga

Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service is committed to creating greater diversity across forestry and wood processing. In particular, we encourage those who are Māori or identify as female, to take up careers in forestry and help transform New Zealand's future.

A Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau (Forestry Scholarship) was a first step to a career in one of New Zealand's largest and innovative industries.

Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau – Forestry Scholarships brochure 2022 [PDF, 1.5 MB]

Nine forestry scholarships were offered

We offered 9 forestry scholarships for students who began study in the 2023 academic year and enrolled in one of these courses:

  • Bachelor of Forestry Science at University of Canterbury, are of Māori descent or identify as female, or both
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) with a major in forest engineering, open to all applicants entering from their first year, or
  • Diploma in Forest Management at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, are of Māori descent or identify as female, or both.

Up to 3 scholarships were awarded for each course.

School of Forestry and its courses – University of Canterbury  

Diploma in Forest Management – Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

The scheme led to more Maori and female students

The scholarships aimed to increase the number and diversity of people studying forestry, particularly Māori and those who identified as female. This was to ensure highly-trained people entered the forestry and wood processing sector.

The scholarship scheme began in 2018 and successfully met its objectives. Since 2019 we have awarded 40 scholarships and there has been:

  • a 180% increase in the number of Māori students studying at the School of Forestry
  • an 89% increase in the number of students who identify as female studying at the School of Forestry.

Forestry scholarship programme invests in young Kiwis (media release)

Forestry scholarship benefits

If you were granted a scholarship, you received:

  • $8,000 a year for 4 years of your degree to help with your tuition fees and living costs
  • $7,000 each year of your 2-year diploma.

You also got:

  • 10-week paid internships each summer with Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service or an appropriate forestry sector employer
  • support from the scholarship coordinator and a buddy throughout the course.

Continuation of your scholarship depended on your successful completion each year.

Videos about the scholarships and forestry careers

He ataata o ngā karahipi me ngā mahi ngahere

See what other students have to say about the scholarships – YouTube

Learn about the benefits of higher-level forestry study and career opportunities – YouTube

Who to contact

Me whakapā atu ki a wai

If you have any questions:

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