What is a new provider?

A provider is considered “new” when they do not currently receive on-Plan TEC funding or have not received any on-Plan funding from TEC in the past 12 months, even if they receive other types of TEC funding.

On-Plan funds are:

• Adult and Community Education (Communities) Fund
• Adult and Community Education (Schools) Fund
• Adult and Community Education (TEIs) Fund
• Delivery at Levels 1 and 2 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) Fund (DQ1-2)
• Delivery at Levels 3 to 7 (non-degree) on the NZQCF and all industry training Fund (DQ3-7)
• Delivery at Levels 7 (degree) to 10 on the NZQCF Fund (DQ7-10)
• English Language Teaching – Intensive Literacy and Numeracy Fund (ELT)
• English Language Teaching – Refugee English Fund (Refugee English)
• Equity Fund
• Intensive Literacy and Numeracy Fund (ILN)
• TEO-led Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Fund (TEO-led WLN)
• Youth Guarantee Fund (YG).

Check you are using the correct process

If your organisation is currently funded by TEC through an Investment Plan and you wish to be considered for new or additional funding, you do not need to apply as a new provider. More information about additional funding is available at Investment Plan guidance, templates and timeframes.

If you wish to apply for work-based learning provision funded through DQ3-7, you need to follow a different process. For further information see Work-based learning provision in 2026

If you wish to apply for other funds (off-Plan), you need to follow a different process. See Resources for applying for off-Plan funds. 

For information on how to apply for these funds, please refer to the specific fund web pages in Fund Finder.

New provider applications for on-Plan funding will be limited

We will only invite and approve new providers that meet our criteria. New providers need to be proposing to deliver provision aligned with our strategic priorities for investment and meeting unmet needs.

Please refer to our Plan Guidance and Supplementary Plan Guidance (once available) for more information on strategic priorities and under-served learner groups. See Investment Plan guidance, templates and timeframes.

Our approach to new provider applications is informed by funding availability, network of provision considerations and evidence of demand, as well as good financial viability and educational capability.

Application process for all on-Plan funds

The on-Plan Funds that will be open for new providers for the 2027 year will be listed in the initial Plan application form. Not all on-Plan funds may be open for new providers every year.

You must contact us to discuss your situation before applying for on-Plan funding. If you are invited to apply, we will send you the initial Plan application form and you will be required to provide evidence that you meet one or more of the criteria. Filling in the initial Plan form is step one of a two-step process.

If you are invited to proceed to the full Plan application stage as a new provider, this does not guarantee that you will be approved for funding.

Funding request timeframes

We have one main funding round each year for our on-Plan funds. New provider initial Plan application forms for the 2027 funding year must be received by 1 May 2026.

Your initial Plan will be assessed, and we will advise you of our decision by the end of May 2026.

If you are invited to proceed to the full Plan application stage, you must send us your full Plan (including any revisions to the initial Plan application) by 24 July 2026. We will assess your Plan and notify you of our decision from November 2026. Funding for approved applications will commence in January 2027.

If your application is unsuccessful at either the initial or full Plan application stage, we will give you the opportunity to respond and provide further information before making a final decision.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss submissions outside of this timeframe.

Contact details

If you have any questions, or wish to request an initial Plan application form, please email customerservice@tec.govt.nz with the subject line New provider initial Plan funding application, or phone 0800 601 301 or +64 4 462 5201.

Initial Plan application forms for the 2027 funding year must be received by 1 May 2026.