Training and wage subsidies

Apprenticeship Boost

Apprenticeship Boost is a payment to help employers keep and take on new apprentices. It means apprentices can keep earning and training towards their qualifications as the economy recovers from the impacts of COVID-19. The payment is made directly to employers.

View more information at Work and Income New Zealand — Apprenticeship Boost.

Fees Free

Fees Free is a Government initiative for first-time learners of tertiary education. This subsidy covers training and assessment fees for the first two years of on-the-job learning or the first year of on-campus learning, up to a total of $12,000. It is paid directly to the tertiary education provider, like Te Pūkenga. 

Check eligibility and view more information at Fees Free

Mana in Mahi

Mana in Mahi matches employers with people who are keen to start a career and need extra support to begin and maintain their work and training journey.

This is a wage subsidy and other pastoral care for employers of new and currently enrolled first and second-year apprentices through Work and Income’s Mana in Mahi scheme.

The New Zealand Government has announced more funding for additional Mana in Mahi places over the new two years as part of their Budget 2022 announcement.

View more information at Work and Income New Zealand — Mana for Mahi

Regional Apprenticeship Fund

Under the provincial growth fund, this is a wage subsidy and additional business support of up to $40,000 per apprentice. The scheme was previously administered by Work and Income and initially focused on displaced workers and Māori and Pasifika.

The RAI is now closed to new applicants but can still be accessed by small to medium enterprises looking for up to 10 apprentices in specific regions. The funds are now administered by third-party providers whose contact details can be found here.

View more information at Kānoa — Regional apprenticeships initiative