The Minister for Vocational Education has delegated to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) the establishment of a new fund: the SIP Fund.

The purpose of the SIP Fund is to provide support for ITPs to maintain provision that is strategically important during the transition. This is the transition from Te Pūkenga into a network of regional polytechnics (2026 to 2027). 

SIP funding should be used to support continued delivery of foundation education and strategically important vocational education during the transition.

To view the delegation, see Funding mechanisms and delegations.

Total funding available for TEC to allocate

In 2026 and 2027, TEC will allocate up to $10 million of SIP funding each year.

This funding is in addition to the $10 million per year of grants (under section 556 of the Education and Training Act) funding available to support strategically important provision and maintain ITP operations during the transition. This funding is distributed by the Minister, not TEC.

For background information, see Establishment of Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics