Funding – Transitional Support for Strategically Important Provision Fund

Te hora pūtea – Transitional Support for Strategically Important Provision Fund

Last updated 2 March 2026
Last updated 2 March 2026

This page has information about Transitional Support for Strategically Important Provision (SIP) Fund funding. It also covers transitional grant payments from the Minister.

We allocate up to $10 million each year

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) allocated $10 million in SIP funding in 2026, and will allocate up to $10 million again in 2027. This funding is to support polytechnics to maintain strategically important provision during the transition.

TEC will work with polytechnics to agree 2027 SIP funding amounts by the end of 2026.

Funding amounts paid in 2026

The table below shows the SIP amounts paid to each polytechnic in 2026.

This funding was in addition to the $10 million per year of transitional grant funding (under section 556 of the Education and Training Act) available to support strategically important provision. That funding is distributed by the Minister, not TEC, and is also shown in the table below.

Polytechnic

SIP funding for 2026 (distributed by TEC)

Section 556 grant funding for 2026* (distributed by the Minister)

Combined funding for 2026
NorthTec Tai Tokerau Wānanga $898,645 $2,750,000 $3,648,645
Tai Poutini Polytechnic $1,103,279 $2,000,000 $3,103,279
Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) $546,283 n/a $2,296,283

Telford (SIT) n/a $1,750,000
Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki $944,171 $1,000,000 $1,944,171
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology $721,263 $1,000,000 $1,721,263
Universal College of Learning $825,107 $750,000 $1,575,107
Eastern Institute of Technology $809,660 $750,000 $1,559,660
Whitireia/WelTec $963,307 n/a $963,307
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology $895,519 n/a $895,519
Otago Polytechnic $861,466 n/a $861,466
Unitec Institute of Technology /Manukau Institute of Technology $733,967 n/a $733,967
Wintec $697,333 n/a $697,333
Ara Institute of Canterbury n/a n/a $0
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand n/a n/a $0

* An equal amount of section 556 grant payments will also be provided in 2027.

SIP funding is additional to standard TEC funding provided for delivery.

Conditions of funding

Polytechnics are required to continue to deliver strategically important provision for which the funding has been provided.

SIP funding must be used to support qualification delivery, specifically teaching, training and learning services, while maintaining the delivery of foundation education and strategically important vocational education.