Southern Cross scholarships for WITT nurses

Southern Cross Health Trust is offering student nurses in Taranaki unparalleled support during their studies and clinical placements with six new scholarships just announced.

The Southern Cross Nursing Scholarship – Undergraduate scheme is offering six scholarships for Year 1, 2 and 3 Bachelor of Nursing students for the 2026 academic year, at a total cost of $63K.

The scheme provides two scholarships for each year of the three-year degree. First-year recipients will receive the funding support for the full three years, while second year recipients are covered for two years, and third year students for one year.

WITT’s Head of Nursing, Helen Lelean, says; “We’re really excited to work with Southern Cross Health Trust to offer this generous scholarship to our nursing ākonga. This will not only ease the financial burden of study for the recipients but will also reduce barriers to their learning. This is huge investment for our future nurses and goes some way to ensuring equity of access to education.”

Recipients will get $500 per week while on clinical placement, a $5000 contribution towards course fees each year as well as $500 per year for general health and wellbeing. The Nursing Council of New Zealand state exam, taken to become registered nurses, will also be paid for in the final year of study. In addition, students in the Bachelor of Nursing programme will receive to a welcome pack at the beginning of 2026.

All 2026 nursing students at each of the partner nursing schools will also be eligible for a funded flu vaccine courtesy of Southern Cross Wellness Partners.

Beyond financial assistance, scholarship recipients will receive priority clinical placements in Southern Cross hospitals, and a mentorship with a Southern Cross Healthcare nurse.

The Trust is offering scholarships to students who are “passionate about pursuing a career in nursing and are experiencing personal challenges or disadvantage, including financial and family circumstances,” the Trust says.

Southern Cross Healthcare Chief Nursing Officer Monica Goldwater says the programme reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to New Zealand’s nurses.

“We know that highly skilled, supported nurses are at the heart of great healthcare,” she says.

“Through these scholarships, we’re investing in the ongoing education and development of our nurses, and in doing so, we’re helping ensure New Zealanders can continue to access exceptional care now and into the future.”

The Southern Cross Health Trust established the Nursing Scholarship Programme together with Auckland University of Technology (AUT), with 17 scholarships awarded in 2025. Now in its second year, funding has been increased to offer scholarships at a further five tertiary providers across Aotearoa in 2026. 

The expanded programme will see more than 50 scholarships awarded across the country, as well as covering the cost of shoes and uniforms (around $300) for all first-year nursing students at AUT, University of Waikato, WITT - Western Institute of Technology, Whitireia – WelTec, Ara – Institute of Canterbury and Southland Institute of Technology (SIT).

Overall, the Southern Cross Health Trust is investing more than $1m into supporting New Zealand nursing students next year through the Nursing Scholarship Programme.

Southern Cross Health Trust and Southern Cross Healthcare CEO Chris White says the organisation is proud to be growing its investment in the Nursing Scholarship Programme.

“Increasing the number of scholarships and geographical spread of the programme reflects our commitment to supporting New Zealand’s future nursing workforce.”

Applications for the 2026 Nursing Scholarship Programme open September 8, 2025, and close on October 31, 2025. Further details, including eligibility criteria and application forms, are available here.

Caption: (from left) Izzy Barker (Year 3 transition student) with registered nurse Laura Ashley (WITT graduate) and ‘patient’ Carolyn Phear (registered nurse and WITT graduate).