Gateway

Gateway funding enables secondary State, State-integrated and charter schools to give senior students opportunities to access quality, structured workplace learning that is integrated with school-based learning.

Gateway funding supports school students’ transition into the workforce by offering them workplace learning placements while at secondary school. Schools may use Gateway funding for a programme of study, training or a micro-credential.

Through Gateway, students are assessed in the workplace and can achieve credits, which may align to one or more Vocational Pathways, towards the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) or other awards or qualifications on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).

There is no cost to students who participate in Gateway and students must not be paid while undertaking a Gateway workplace learning placement.

Vocational Pathways

We encourage schools to align their Gateway programmes, where appropriate, to one or more of the following six Vocational Pathways:

Construction and Infrastructure
Creative Industries
Manufacturing and Technology
Primary Industries
Services Industries
Social and Community Services.

For more information about Vocational Pathways, and tools to design programmes and help students to plan their future careers, see Vocational Pathways – Ministry of Education.

Resources

Key resources for schools include:

Other resources include:

Tahatū Career Navigator
Digital Passport – Ministry of Social Development – Digital Passport is a free online learning platform that helps students improve their digital confidence, prepare for a job and explore AI.
Youth Service – Ministry of Social Development – Youth Service focuses on supporting young people into education, training and work-based learning.

School responsibilities

Schools must comply with all administrative requirements we specify, including reporting requirements in the Gateway Handbook.

For more information on schools’ responsibilities, see the Gateway funding conditions for the relevant year.

Funding conditions

To receive Gateway funding, schools must comply with the funding conditions for the relevant year.

Eligibility

For the Gateway fund eligibility requirements for schools, programmes and students, see the funding conditions for the relevant year.