PEF Scholarships
The Foundation offers two scholarship pathways. The Tulī Takes Flight (Tulī) Scholarship was established as part of the goodwill and reconciliation response to the Government’s 2021 apology for the Dawn Raids, and it supports Pacific people to overcome financial barriers to study and training. The Pacific Education Foundation Scholarship has been awarded since 1972 to support Pacific learners in undergraduate and postgraduate study.
Both scholarships are designed to reduce financial pressure and support Pacific students to continue their studies.
Statistics from 2023
In 2023, the Pacific Education Foundation awarded 12 scholarships through its core PEF scholarship stream, including 9 undergraduate and 3 postgraduate awards.
The Tulī Takes Flight scholarships also supported students across academic and vocational pathways, with the 2023 report showing 18 Tulī awards in total across continuing study and career changer categories.
Previous Recipients
Janet Tuitama
Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge
Janet balanced study, work, family, church leadership, and community commitments while completing her master’s degree. Her scholarship supported study expenses and a community workshop project, helping her finish the year with an A+ result.
Outcome: Completed her studies with an A+ and continued work on a community-focused wellbeing project.
Ruby Tukia
Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Ruby studied dentistry at the University of Otago while managing the pressure of everyday costs. Her scholarship helped cover essentials like food, transport, and study equipment, allowing her to focus on her clinical training and outreach work.
Outcome: Scholarship support helped her concentrate on dentistry, outreach, and academic excellence.
Marlene Sua
Bachelor of Science
Marlene studied at Victoria University of Wellington and used her scholarship to ease the pressure of rent, food, and bills. With those costs reduced, she was able to focus fully on her studies and achieve strong academic results.
Outcome: Made the Dean’s List at Victoria University of Wellington.
Bodene Neale
Bachelor of Business
Bodene was in his third year at the University of Waikato and faced the usual pressures of study and living expenses. His scholarship helped manage costs and encouraged him to keep striving for academic excellence and give back to his Pacific community.
Outcome: Continued progressing well in his degree and stayed motivated to give back to his community.