SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY – Manaaki NEW ZEALAND SHORT TERM TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP

Manaaki New Zealand Short Term Training Scholarships Public Sector Leadership Mid-Level (Public Financial Management) Pacific 2026-2027

Overview

The New Zealand Government’s Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Programme is pleased to offer a Public Sector Leadership Mid-Level (Public Financial Management) course for Pacific scholars, supported by the New Zealand International Development Cooperation Programme.

The Public Sector Leadership Mid-Level course has been created to increase the knowledge and skills of Pacific officials in Mid-level public sector leadership roles that will lead to improved public sector efficiency and effectiveness in participant home countries.

This is a three-week (continuous) residential course to be held in Auckland, New Zealand.

This is a fully funded scholarship covering course fees, visa costs (excluding passport fees), accommodation and other programme related expenses.

The design, management and delivery of the programme will be led by Programme Director – Professor Jennifer Curtin and is managed and supported by the Kāpuhipuhi Wellington Uni-
Professional Programmes team.

While the course does not constitute a formal tertiary qualification it will provide scholars with unique insights into New Zealand approaches and best practice in each sectoral study area.

On completion each scholar will be awarded a completion certificate from the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Programme.

When?

The Mid-Level Public Sector Leadership course for participants from Pacific timeline:

This course will be delivered on a full-time basis in Auckland, New Zealand.

Successful applicants should be available to travel to New Zealand the week prior to course commencement and will receive an orientation on arrival.

Who should attend?

This course is designed for Mid-level public service officials with at least 5 years’ work experience in the relevant course sector.

Participants should have basic level computer literacy and numeracy skills and Intermediate level English language proficiency.

To be eligible for a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship, all the following statements must be true:

• From the date my application is submitted, I will have lived in my country of citizenship for the last two years or more.
• Exception for diplomatic corps and their family: A member of the diplomatic corps or a dependant of a member of the diplomatic corps, living outside their own country, can apply for a Scholarship.
• I am not a citizen or permanent resident of any of the following countries:New Zealand, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, any European Union country, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America.

Exception:

• People from the following countries and territories are eligible to apply: Niue, Cook Islands, and Tokelau, even though they are New Zealand citizens;
• French Pacific Territories, even though they are French citizens;
• New Zealand–Samoan dual citizens
  • I will be at least 18 years old at the time I start the scholarship.
  • I am not currently serving in the military.
  • Within the last five years, I have not had a New Zealand Scholarship terminated.

Applicants must also acknowledge and agree that:

• • They have received endorsement from their employer to attend this training programme.
  • They expect to meet the academic entry requirements (including English language requirements) for their planned training programme.

Course Schedule

Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course the following Learning Outcomes will be delivered:

• Improved ability to critically assess how a range of strategic leadership models for effective public service organisations can be applied in a variety of contexts.
• Enhanced familiarity with, and ability to apply, a range of leadership success skills modelled on the Leadership Development Centre’s (Public Service Commission) Leadership Success Profile.
• Improved understanding of Public Financial Management (PFM) processes and tools, and the role of public sector leaders in strengthening PFM.
• Enhanced ability to identify and manage public sector crises and risks; learn to evaluate organisational resilience and develop a Business Continuity Plan.
• Strengthened understanding of, and ability to apply, principles of inclusive policy design and delivery (with a particular emphasis on diversity and gender mainstreaming).
• Improved understanding of the importance of civic engagement and communication to deliver impact.
• Improved ability to develop strategies for communicating in a culturally diverse workplace and building social media networks.
• Improved ability to reflect on, and apply, public sector leadership ethics and integrity principles to combat corruption.
• Enhanced ability to critically appraise and synthesise evidence from a range of sources.
• Build skills relevant to leadership, including self-assessment and coalition-building.
• Thematic learning outcomes:
  • Public Financial Management:
  • Improved understanding the fundamentals of public financial management (PFM), and the role it plays in delivery of efficient and effective public services, and to ensuring accountability.
  • Increased understanding of the roles and responsibilities across the public sector that contribute to strengthened PFM.

Delivery & Programme Management

The course will be managed and supported by Kāpuhipuhi Wellington Uni-Professional and will be led by Professor Jennifer Curtin and Dr Mohammad Salimifar through the Public Policy Institute.

Professor Jennifer Curtin, Director of the Public Policy Institute, oversees all aspects of the programme delivery and supports the Public Sector Leadership components. Dr Mohammad Salimifar is an economist and public policy expert with knowledge of, and connections to public finance experts. Professionals and academics from a range of sectors and disciplines will also contribute to module design and delivery.

Dr Gay Francisco is the Course Coordinator, and is supported in this role by Dr Suzanne Woodward and Juanita Rojas. Together they manage the pre-course induction process, access to our learning management system, and maintain connections with scholars throughout the course.

The Public Policy Institute appoints scholar success advisors who have knowledge of the regions from which the scholars are drawn. This is done on a course-by-course basis, to provide both intellectual and culturally sensitive care and support.

Application

Applicants can apply via an online application form accessed through the Manaaki TSTTS website.

Enquiries

All enquiries should be directed to the Wellington Uni-Professional Scholarships team in the first instance.
Please direct queries to: manaaki-tstts@wup.nz and include the course name and your country in the subject line.