The Wānanga Research Capability Fund funding mechanism is issued by the Minister responsible for tertiary education. The funding mechanism outlines the general form and essential components of the fund. It provides the mandate for us to allocate the funding and what the funding can be used for, and details how we administer the fund.

Funding is agreed through the wānanga Investment Plan (Plan). A wānanga that receives Wānanga Research Capability funding is required to:

• comply with the requirements of the Education Act 1989, and
• comply with the funding conditions specified in its funding approval documents.

Funding for the Wānanga Research Capability Fund is set through the Government’s annual budget process. The amount each wānanga is allocated is determined in consultation with wānanga.

Through each wānanga Plan, we agree the activities and/or approach that the wānanga will use to give effect to the funding, and the outcomes to be achieved.

Wānanga Research Capability funding is paid in monthly instalments.

The payment amounts are in equal instalments from January to June, and in equal instalments from July to December.

We are required to recover funding where the results of an audit, reporting or statistical return show a wānanga has not used the funding for the purpose, or in the way, that it was intended (as described in its agreed Plan). See Condition: Repayment of WRC Fund Funding. We will contact the wānanga in these circumstances.

Wānanga are expected to maintain sufficient cash reserves so they are able to repay any recoveries due on demand.  

Recovery is based on information provided in the wānanga annual report. 

Under section 159YG of the Education Act 1989 (the Act), we may suspend or revoke some or all funding given under section 159YA of the Act if we are satisfied on reasonable grounds that:

• the wānanga has not achieved, or is not achieving an outcome anticipated in its Investment Plan in relation to which funding has been given under section 159YA of the Act
• the wānanga has not complied, or is not complying, with a condition on which funding has been given under section 159YA of the Act, or
• the wānanga has not provided, or is not providing, adequate and timely information required by the TEC or Ministry of Education under section 159YC of the Act.   

If a TEO has its funding approval revoked in accordance with section 159YG of the Education Act 1989, the unspent portion of funding is repayable to the TEC (see Condition: Suspension or revocation of WRC Fund Funding). We may arrange to off-set the amount against any funding payable to the wānanga.