South Waikato Mayoral Scholarship

Powered by SWIFT

Applications are open until 31 October 2026

Dedicated to enhancing education opportunities in South Waikato

Up to $5,000 towards your study, for South Waikato people at any stage of life.

SWIFT are delighted to have launched a $50,000 scholarship scheme to South Waikato residents of all ages with their tertiary education. The South Waikato Mayoral Scholarship helps locals pay tuition fees at university, polytechnic or whare wānanga.

Apply for the first time Reapply as a past recipient

Fund amount

$50,000

You can receive

Up to $5,000

Closes

31 Oct 2026

Can I apply?

You can apply if all three of these are true:

✔ You live in the South Waikato district when you apply

Tokoroa, Putāruru, Tīrau and the surrounding area.

✔ You're enrolled, or about to enrol

At a university, polytechnic or whare wānanga.

✔ Your course is NZQA accredited

If you're not sure, ask your provider, or ask us.

The scholarship programme is not only for school leavers.

This includes you if…

You're working and want to upskill
You're changing industries or returning to the workforce
You're studying part-time, online or extramurally
You already hold a qualification
You've received a SWIFT scholarship before

The scholarships are not a 'one and done'. If an individual continues to study beyond their first tertiary qualification or for extended years beyond their programme, they can apply each year.

Most applications are successful.

More than two thirds of 2025 applicants were awarded a scholarship. If you meet the criteria, it's worth applying.

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Awarded every year

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Applications in 2025

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Scholarships awarded

Scholarship stories

"Even if you don't think you'll get it, give it a go"

Some careers start long before the first day of class. Brooklyn Webber's began in a Tokoroa driveway, with a borrowed set of tools and someone else's car, and carried on through the farms where she learned to work on heavy diesel. She was one of 33 people awarded a SWIFT scholarship in the 2025 round, studying automotive engineering at Toi Ohomai's Pūkenga Rau campus, and heading towards an apprenticeship in the district that taught her the trade in the first place.

Read Brooklyn's full story here