Funding and Scholarship Opportunities
Summer Placement Programme 2025/2026 - Ngai Tahu Tourism
Locations Takapō / Tekapo, Tāhuna / Queenstown, Waiau / Franz Josef, Te Anau, Te Rua-o-te-Moko / Fiordland, Rotorua, Taupō-nui-a-Tia / Taupō, Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland
Hourly Rate Living Wage
Duration Summer Season (Flexible start/finish dates)
Applications close 1 September 2025
He ara hou mōu - Your pathway starts here
Are you ready to celebrate your Ngāi Tahu whakapapa and explore the exciting world of tourism?
Do you want to work in some of the most stunning places in Aotearoa?
Are you looking for experience, guidance, and a chance to grow your Ngāi Tahutanga?
This is a great opportunity for rangatahi and pakeke
Ngāi Tahu Tourism is offering a range of exciting summer placements for passionate, curious, and committed Ngāi Tahu individuals. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take the next step, this programme is designed to support you on your journey.
What you can get involved in
Guide visitors through the All Blacks Experience in Tāmaki Makaurau- share the story of our national teams with pride
Work in our vibrant retail stores across many of our businesses - help manuhiri take home a piece of the magic
Live the rural lifestyle at Agrodome in Rotorua- connect with the land, animals, and visitors
Explore the stars at Dark Sky Project in Takapō - perfect for those fascinated by the night sky and te ao Māori
Support glacier adventures with Franz Josef Glacier Guides in Waiau- help prepare guests for their icy adventure
Share Māori stories and culture with visitors from around the world
Get hands-on with mechanics and learn a trade working on one of New Zealand's most powerful commercial jet boating fleets at Hukafalls Jet, Shotover Jet, or Dart River Adventures
Gain experience in customer service - from front-of-house to behind-the-scenes operations
Not sure which role or location is right for you?
That's totally fine. We've got a team ready to kōrero with you and your whānau to help find the best fit - whether it's the right role, location, or pathway forward. We're here to support you every step of the way.
Spread the word
Even if this opportunity isn't for you, it might be perfect for someone you know. Share it with your whānau, your cousins, your mates - anyone who might be keen. Let's uplift more of our people into exciting careers in tourism.
What we're looking for
You're a registered Ngāi Tahu member (still to register? No problem, we can assist with that too!)
You bring energy, commitment, and a willingness to learn
You're excited to represent your iwi and grow your career
A safe and supportive workplace
Ngāi Tahu Tourism is a fun, unique, and safe place to work - and we want to keep it that way. Before you start, you'll go through a few checks, including drug and alcohol testing. Health and safety is a big deal to us - it's how we look after you, our team, and our manuhiri.
Ready to take the first step?
Apply now - nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai!
If you're excited and ready to jump in, don't wait—submit your application today via our jobs website:
Ngāi Tahu Tourism Jobs - Join our Work Family | Ngāi Tahu Tourism
Need a bit of support with your application? We can connect you with a mentor to guide you through the process.
To get started, reach out to:
Kate Smith - kate.smith@ngaitahu.iwi.nz | 📱 021 241 2579
Jo Mackenzie - jo.mackenzie@ngaitahu.iwi.nz | 📱 021 246 6661
Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui - we can't wait to welcome you to the whānau.
Job Details
Closes 01 September 2025
Summer Placement Programme 2025/2026 - Ngai Tahu Tourism - Te Rūnanga Group
2025 Rūnaka Scholarship Application - te pukenga
The Rūnaka Scholarship will cover tuition fees for up to three years for a learner’s chosen programme of study at Otago Polytechnic. The purpose of this Scholarship is to encourage Kāi Tahu learners to succeed in tertiary education by removing financial barriers to study. The scholarship also acknowledges the contribution learners can make to their Rūnaka and local community.
Māori Trades and Training Fund
The Māori Trades and Training Fund supports community-led employment and training programmes through partnerships between Māori and the Crown. The programme empowers solutions by Māori, for Māori.
The Māori Trades and Training Fund is a flexible programme of grants, open to applications.
The Māori Trades and Training Fund is designed to encourage Māori organisations to try different approaches to engaging and keeping Māori in employment-focused training opportunities. The Fund covers all of New Zealand and includes all sectors and occupations.
If this is of interest to you, Click Here for more information and apply.
Tamariki and Rangatahi Sector Capability Fund
Otago Community Trust’s new capability funding to support organisations working in the youth sector is now open! The Tamariki and Rangatahi Sector Capability Fund is designed to strengthen the youth sector to allow organisations to grow and succeed.
Key facts about the new fund:
The fund opens 1st July and closes - 30th September 2022, with outcomes to be announced late October 2022.
Not-for-profit organisations working in the youth sector can apply for up to $10,000 for projects that develop organisational capacity.
Larger amounts may be considered if the project has potential for significant and wide-reaching impact, is a collaboration of several youth organisations and will impact a large number of staff/volunteers.
Full details on the fund can be found here or in the attached document and eligible organisations can apply using the Trust’s grants portal.
If you have any questions about the new capability fund or anything else you wish to discuss don’t hesitate to get in contact on liz@oct.org.nz or Sue Stewart on sue@oct.org.nz or phone 0800 10 12 40 we look forward to hearing from you!