Strategic: Manaaki (New Zealand) Scholarships — 2026 Fully/Partially Funded Study Options & How to Meet Selection Criteria

Introduction

If you’ve been dreaming of heading abroad to study, gaining world-class credentials and making a meaningful impact in your home country, then the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships could be a game-changer. Funded by the New Zealand government, this programme supports students from eligible countries to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate study (or short-term training) in New Zealand or in some regional Pacific institutions. It is designed not just to open doors academically, but to nurture leaders who will actively contribute to their country’s social and economic development. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through:

What the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are (and what they cover)
The types of funding (fully vs partially funded) and what that means in practice
Who is eligible, including key country-, subject- and work-experience-criteria
How to understand and meet the selection criteria (including tips for building a strong application)
Strategic considerations (timing, subject-choice, return-home obligations)
A concluding checklist to make sure you’re prepared.

Whether you’re applying from Nigeria or any other eligible country, my aim is to give you a clear, friendly, and actionable guide so you know exactly what this scholarship offers and how to approach it.

What are the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships?

At its core, the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships programme is an international development-focused award. It is administered by Education New Zealand Ngā Tūlau (ENZ) in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand (MFAT). The target is citizens of eligible partner countries (mainly in the Pacific and parts of Asia) who have the potential to contribute back to their home country’s development. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)

Key features:

Study at one of New Zealand’s partner tertiary institutions (universities or institutes of technology). (Victoria University of Wellington)
Fully or mostly funded for tuition, living allowance, travel, insurance, and other supports (depending on level and country) – we’ll unpack the funding details soon.
Must choose subjects aligned with your country’s development needs (not just any degree).
Must commit to returning to your home country and applying your learning. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Applications are cyclical and have firm deadlines; you need to plan ahead.

Because of this design, the scholarship isn’t simply a “get a free education abroad” opportunity — it’s a developmental investment, meaning the selection committee looks for clear indications of impact, leadership potential and alignment with your home country’s needs.

Fully vs Partially Funded — What Does That Actually Mean?

While the general messaging for the Manaaki scholarship emphasises fully funded, it’s important to break down exactly what “fully” covers, and whether there are any “partial” versions or exceptions (for example some short-term training programmes).

Here is a table summarising the typical funding components:

Funding Component	What is covered under full award*	Notes / Variations
Tuition fees	Full tuition fees covered for your chosen programme in New Zealand	Some shorter training scholarships might not include full tuition. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Living allowance (stipend)	Weekly living allowance while in New Zealand (to cover accommodation and daily expenses)	Eg: for one partner institution: NZ$615 per week for full-time study. (massey.ac.nz)
Establishment allowance	One-time payment to help with initial settling in (books, accommodation, materials)	Example: NZ$3,000. (massey.ac.nz)
Travel & travel insurance	Return economy airfare from home country to NZ, travel insurance while travelling	Included in full support version. (auckland.ac.nz)
Medical insurance & visa/immigration costs	Medical insurance while studying, possible reimbursement of visa/medical check costs	See eligibility handbook. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Tutoring / thesis cost support	For postgraduate candidates: financial support for research or thesis costs; extra tutoring help for certain undergraduate programmes	Example listed for some institutions. (massey.ac.nz)
Home-country return / reintegration support	Some allowances to help you transition back home after your scholarship ends	Example: NZ$1,000 reintegration allowance. (massey.ac.nz)

*Note: “Full award” means covering the major cost items above; “partial” awards typically mean fewer components (e.g., maybe tuition only, or living allowance reduced) though the official site emphasises “fully funded” for the primary tertiary scholarship stream. (scholarshipngr.com)

So what does this mean for you?
If you secure a full Manaaki scholarship, you should not need to worry about major costs like tuition, accommodation, and basic living expenses while you are studying. That leaves you able to focus on academic performance and making the most of the opportunity.

However, you must recognise the return-home obligation and the fact that subject choice and country eligibility are constrained. Also, the application process is competitive — so funding is generous, but so is the expectation.

Eligibility: Are You Eligible (and Can Nigerians Apply?)

One of the first questions many applicants ask is: “Is my country eligible?” and “What about my subject or level (undergraduate, master, PhD)?”

Country eligibility

The scholarship is only open to citizens of eligible partner countries in certain regions (primarily the Pacific and parts of Asia). For example:

Eligible Pacific countries include: Fiji (postgraduate only), Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Eligible Asian countries include: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Viet Nam. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)

At present, Nigeria is not listed as one of the eligible countries for the major tertiary Manaaki scholarship stream (according to the official eligibility list we have). Therefore, if you are a Nigerian citizen this particular scholarship may not be open to you (unless there is a special regional window or other scheme — you would need to check the latest official list).

Other eligibility criteria

Beyond country of citizenship, here are key criteria you will need to meet (or strategically plan to meet):

Age: Must be 18 years or older when you commence the scholarship. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Residency: For many countries, you must have lived in your home country for at least two years prior to applying. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Work experience (for postgraduate applicants): You will generally need one year of full-time work experience (30+ hours/week) OR two years part-time (≤29 hours/week) in the relevant field. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
English language competency: For most tertiary programmes you must meet minimum English language test requirements (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL, PTE) — usually for postgraduate study at least IELTS 6.5 with no band less than 6.0. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Subject alignment: Your chosen degree must align with one or more of the “study subjects we recommend based on your country’s social and economic needs”. The scholarship is strongly development-oriented. (Victoria University of Wellington)
Post-study return home: Scholars are required to return to their home country (or relevant region) and contribute to its development for a defined period (often at least two years) after completing study. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Previous scholarship history: If you have previously held a Manaaki scholarship, there may be stand-down periods, or you may be ineligible if you withdrew prematurely. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)

Level of study

The scholarship supports a variety of levels:

Undergraduate degrees (typically 3–4 years) (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Postgraduate certificates, diplomas, master’s (1–2 years) (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Doctoral programmes (PhD) for certain countries/streams (up to 3.5 years) (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Short-term training, vocational and English language training for officials, in some cases. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)

Key Insights: How to Strategically Approach the Scholarship & Meet the Selection Criteria

A scholarship this comprehensive attracts many strong applicants. To enhance your chances, you’ll want to treat your application strategically: positioning your subject, your story, and your future-impact plan in a compelling way. Here are some of the key insights and actionable tips.

1. Choose a subject with purposeful alignment

Because the scholarship is framed around development, your choice of programme must show clear relevance to your country’s social or economic development needs. Example subject areas include environment/climate change, agriculture/biosecurity, health, justice, governance, education, renewable energy. (alexandragrants.com)

Tip:

Research your home country’s priority development challenges (for example: job creation, infrastructure, health systems, agriculture).
Anchor your subject choice in one of those priority areas.
In your application articulate how the degree will equip you to make a difference when you return.
Choose an institution and programme in New Zealand that has credible reputation in that area (for example many recognised NZ universities offer strong programmes in environment/engineering).

2. Build a genuine narrative of contribution & leadership

Selection panels are looking for more than just strong grades—they want to see a story of leadership potential, community impact, and a desire to return home and apply learning.

Key elements to emphasise:

Your past work or volunteer experience (especially if you’ve been involved in something meaningful in your community).
A clear “after-study plan” — what you intend to do when you return home, how you’ll use your new skills.
Demonstrated initiative: e.g., you have led or contributed to a local project, or you understand a gap in your country that your study will help fill.
Reflection on how the study and the New Zealand context will enable you to do something different.

3. Meet the technical eligibility strictly

Even if you have a strong narrative, failure to meet technical eligibility can disqualify you. Key things to prepare:

Proof of citizenship in an eligible country (check the list).
Proof of residency in your home country (as required).
Work-experience certificate(s) where applicable.
Academic transcripts and proof of meeting the institution’s entry requirements.
English language test results (if required); you may need to plan ahead to sit IELTS/TOEFL, so consider timing.
Ensure you apply within the official deadline for your country. Note: the portal may close early for countries with many applicants. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)

4. Application timing & sequence

Be strategic: the application is likely to open early in the year (for example many sources refer to early year deadlines like 28 February) for study to commence in the following year. (massey.ac.nz)

Steps:

Monitor the official portal for your country’s opening date.
Take the eligibility questionnaire as soon as possible (some countries have to pre-register). (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Prepare your supporting documents well in advance (transcripts, CV, references, proof of experience).
Draft and refine your personal statement / development plan early.
Submit complete application ahead of the closing time (don’t wait last minute).
If shortlisted, you may need to organise official English language test, or attend interview(s) and complete further steps.

5. Understand the return-home requirement

One of the more important obligations of the scholarship is that you commit to returning to your home country and working in a way that contributes to its development for a defined period (often at least two years) after your study. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)

Why it matters:

This means you should plan realistically what roles or opportunities you’ll target when you return. The panel wants to see not just “I’ll study and then maybe figure it out” but “I’ll study and then do X in my country”.
Your application will strengthen if you identify potential employers or sectors you can join on return, or a community project you can lead.
The scholarship may have monitoring or alumni expectations (stay in touch with New Zealand, become part of the alumni network).

6. Financial support is strong — but also personal & cultural adjustment matters

While the financial support is generous (tuition, living allowance, travel, insurance etc), you will still need to adapt to studying in a new country (New Zealand) — culture, climate, academic expectations, perhaps being away from home. Choose a university/institution that you feel aligns with your style and ensure you prepare mentally and practically (accommodation, living costs, support services).

7. Partial funding / short-term streams

While the primary tertiary scholarship appears “fully funded”, there are also shorter-term or training streams which may operate differently (e.g., English language training, short-term training for officials). These might have different coverage. When you check the official portal, look carefully at which stream you are applying for and what exactly is covered. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)

Comparison Table: Manaaki Scholarship vs Other Major Fully Funded Scholarships

Here’s a quick comparison of the Manaaki scholarship with general features of similar fully-funded international scholarships. This helps clarify where Manaaki sits in the landscape.

Feature	Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships	Typical Other Global Fully-Funded Scholarship*
Host country	New Zealand (and selected Pacific institutions)	Varies (UK, USA, Europe, Canada, etc)
Funding level	Full tuition + living allowance + travel + insurance + establishment allowance (for full award) (massey.ac.nz)	Often covers similar items, but specifics vary by scholarship
Country eligibility	Only citizens of eligible partner countries (mainly Pacific & parts of Asia) (nzscholarships.govt.nz)	Some are open to all nationalities, others restricted by region
Primary aim	Development: equip scholars to return and contribute to home country’s growth	Some are general academic excellence; others have development goals
Subject-focus requirement	Yes — study areas aligned with home country development priorities (alexandragrants.com)	Varies: some restrict subjects, some open
Return-home obligation	Yes — commitment to work in home country for a period after study (nzscholarships.govt.nz)	Some scholarships have full commitment, others none
Age/work-experience criteria	Yes: 18+, work experience for postgrad, residency requirement (nzscholarships.govt.nz)	Varies by scholarship
Application deadline/concurrency	Early in year; may close early if many applicants (nzscholarships.govt.nz)	Varies significantly
*Examples: Chevening (UK), Fulbright (USA), Erasmus Mundus (EU) etc — each with their own terms.

What this tells us: The Manaaki scholarship is quite competitive but offers strong support. If your country is eligible, the strategic positioning (subject-choice, story of impact) can significantly boost your chances.

What Does “Partially Funded” Mean Here?

While the literature emphasises “fully funded”, it’s important to note some caveats and what a “part-funded” model might look like in practice:

In some cases, there may be short-term training scholarships, or vocational streams, where the funding is limited compared to full degree programmes. For example, English language training might not include the full suite of allowances. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Even within “fully funded” awards, different countries might have different weekly stipend amounts (depending on local living costs) or conditions (for instance if you commence your programme online from your home country, the living allowance may be adjusted). (massey.ac.nz)
Some applicants might fail to secure full funding if their subject or level does not match the highest priority categories; although from public documentation the tertiary stream seems uniformly “full award”, you should check the country-specific guidelines and make sure your submitted application is for the full degree award, not short-term training.

In short: Always check the “benefits” section for your country’s intake and ensure you understand exactly what items are covered (tuition, stipend, travel, etc). Don’t assume that “fully funded” means every cost (for example accommodation might still require personal budgeting). But for the main cost items, the support is strong.

How to Craft a Strong Application: Step-by-Step Guide

Here’s a polished step-by-step process you can follow — treat it like a checklist, and tailor your preparation for your country and subject.

Step 1: Confirm your country eligibility

Visit the official eligibility list for your region (Pacific/Asia) to confirm you are from an eligible country. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
If your country is not listed (e.g., Nigeria at this moment), look for alternative scholarships or check if there are any regional exceptions or newly announced windows.
If listed, note the specific deadlines and streams for your country.

Step 2: Choose the right subject and institution

Research which subjects are recommended for your country by the programme. Some countries have specific “priority subjects”. (Victoria University of Wellington)
Choose a New Zealand institution (or approved Pacific partner) that offers a strong programme in that subject.
Ensure you check admission requirements (grades, English language, prerequisites).
Map how that subject links to a development challenge in your home country. Think: “If I study this, how will I use the knowledge back home?”

Step 3: Prepare your documentation early

Academic transcripts (high school, undergraduate, whichever applies).
Proof of citizenship (passport) and evidence of residency in your home country (if required).
Work experience documents (job letters, volunteer records) especially for postgraduate.
English language test results – if you haven’t taken the test yet, schedule early. For example many institutions expect IELTS 6.5 with no band less than 6.0. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Identify referees (academic and/or professional) who can speak to your leadership potential, work ethic, and future goals.
Prepare your curriculum vitae (CV) / résumé focusing on roles, responsibilities, achievements, leadership.
Draft a strong personal statement or development plan (we’ll discuss this next).

Step 4: Write a powerful personal statement / development plan

This is where you differentiate yourself. Your statement should include:

A clear narrative of your background: what you’ve done so far (education, work, volunteering) and why you’re motivated.
Identification of a real challenge in your country that your subject addresses (“In Nigeria I have observed …”, or “In [your country] the challenge of … prompts me to study …”).
How your chosen study in New Zealand will equip you with knowledge/skills to address that challenge.
What you will do after study (two-year minimum) to apply your learning: e.g., join a ministry, start a non-profit, lead a private sector innovation.
Indicators of leadership, initiative, adaptability, cultural awareness (since you’ll be studying abroad).
Engagement with the values of the scholarship: the Māori concept of manaaki (hospitality, care, hospitality, respect) is at the heart of the programme.
Tip: Write the statement and then get feedback from someone (mentor, teacher, workplace supervisor) to refine clarity, tone, authenticity.

Step 5: Submit strong references

Choose referees who can speak credibly to your:

academic ability (if undergraduate) or professional performance (if postgraduate)
leadership attributes / initiative
potential to contribute to your country’s development
Ensure the referee understands the scholarship’s development focus and can contextualise your contribution.

Step 6: Prepare for interview/shortlisting

If you are shortlisted, there may be an interview or further step. Prepare by:

Revisiting your personal statement and being ready to discuss it verbally.
Being clear about your post-study plan and how you will return and contribute.
Demonstrating cultural awareness and readiness to study in New Zealand (or the partner institution) — what you expect to gain, what you will give back.
Having your English language test ready (if required) and any other documentation prepared.

Step 7: Accepting and preparing for the scholarship

If you are offered the scholarship:

Accept within the timeframe.
Engage with the host institution’s onboarding team (New Zealand university or partner).
Prepare to travel: visa application, accommodation, health insurance, flights. The scholarship covers many of these, but you must start procedures early. (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Adjust to being abroad: arrange accommodation, contact student support services, familiarise yourself with cultural norms and academic expectations in NZ.
Plan ahead for return home: keep in mind the two-year (or more) obligation of returning and contributing.

Strategic Considerations & Common Pitfalls

As you prepare, keep these real-world considerations in mind:

Consideration 1: Be strategic about subject and institution

The success of your application can hinge on how well you align subject, institution and home-country impact. If you choose a subject simply because it is easy, but it lacks connection to your country’s priority needs, your application may weaken.

Consideration 2: Manage finances for arrival and adjustment

Although the scholarship covers major costs, you may still require some personal funds (for contingency, travel to home country during holidays, or unexpected expenses). Also, living in New Zealand can present higher cost of living than you are used to — so budgeting ahead helps.

Consideration 3: Be realistic about return-home employment

One of the obligations is to return home and contribute. If you return but can’t find meaningful work in your subject area, or your proposed plan is vague, this may reduce the value of the scholarship and possibly affect future alumni opportunities. So before you go, map potential job/sector paths.

Consideration 4: Don’t treat this like any scholarship — treat it like a development investment

Many applicants focus solely on the “free study abroad” feat. The Manaaki scholarship expects you to think about what you’ll give back. Your mindset should be balanced: what you’ll gain + what you’ll contribute. The selection process explicitly looks for this. (Victoria University of Wellington)

Consideration 5: Deadlines, competition and clarity

Note that application windows may close early if many applicants apply (so don’t wait until the last minute). (nzscholarships.govt.nz)
Make sure you meet every technical criterion — missing a document or failing to complete the eligibility questionnaire can disqualify you before your statement is even read.
Ensure your statement is clear, authentic, and free of errors; avoid generic language.

Conclusion

The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships represent a compelling opportunity for eligible students from partner countries: a full-fledged international education, strategic development focus, and the chance to return home equipped to make real change. While the eligibility is narrower than “open to all”, for those who qualify, the benefits are substantial and the platform is transformative.

Here’s your checklist before you commit:

If you qualify and you prepare intentionally, this scholarship could be your gateway to a life-changing study experience and a meaningful contribution to your country and your community. Good luck