Tahua Taunaki Akonga
– Learner Support Fund

The purpose of Tahua Taunaki Akonga- Learner Support is to enhance the choices of our tamariki, by providing funding for the specialist support required to meet their learning needs.

Tahua Taunaki Akonga (formerly Out-of-School Tuition) was initiated by the Ngāi Tahu Trust Board in 1994. The initial incarnation of the programme provided after-school maths tuition and was operated in Christchurch and Dunedin. By 1996, it was expanded to include reading. Tahua Taunaki Akonga now includes funding towards support with NCEA (or equivalent) subjects and funding towards special assessments (on a case by case basis).

Key Information

For your child to be eligible for tuition funding, they must be:

• Registered with Whakapapa Ngāi Tahu;
• Attending school*; and
• Aged between 5 and 21

*Must be enrolled at a New Zealand Primary or Secondary school,
OR be in a Ministry of Education approved New Zealand Home School Programme,
OR be enrolled through the Correspondence school and be resident in New Zealand,
OR if the applicant resides outside of New Zealand he/she must be enrolled in an equivalent educational setting that is approved by the government in the applicants country of residence.

Available Funding

The amount of funding available (per financial year) for tuition support is as follows:

• $470 (+ GST where applicable) is available to tamariki who meet the eligibility criteria above
• $940 (+ GST where applicable) is available to tamariki who meet the eligibility criteria above, and one of the following criteria:
  • is seeking remedial support (the child must be at a remedial level in the subject area where tuition is sought as evidenced by the pre-tuition assessment report)
  • is studying at NCEA level (or equivalent) and needs support in two or more subject areas (a pre-tuition assessment report must be completed for each subject where tuition is sought)

Overseas residents are eligible for equivalent NZ$470 (incl. GST) or NZ$940 (incl. GST) depending on which
criteria are met.

To apply for funding please download the Tahua Taunaki Akonga – Learner Support application form

Special Assessment Funding

Funding is available (on a case by case basis) for special assessments if your child has or may have a learning difficulty. Please contact us if you would like to know more regarding funding for special learning assessments.

If you have any questions regarding Tahua Taunaki Akonga please contact the Mātauranga team at [email protected].