Photo - Rob Lambert, Unsplash

Applications for our Academic and Vocational Bursaries are both closed.


Applications for 2027 will open in 2026.

Applicant Requirements

Applicants for the bursary must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, must reside in the Manawatu/Tararua region (the old CentralPower Electricity Trust Area) and be intending to reside and study in the Manawatu/Tararua region for the duration of their course of study.


Bursaries are reviewed annually and their continuation to the next study year is contingent on satisfactory academic progress and personal standards being maintained.

Each Bursary will be awarded for up to three years and have a value of up to $4,000, with the period and amount dependent on the type and duration of study. 50% of the bursary is normally paid for the first year of study and the balance in equal instalments over the remaining period of the bursary.


Bursary candidates will be assessed based on a combination of factors including academic record, participation in cultural, sport or community activities, future leadership potential and financial need. A higher weighting on school academic performance will apply to applications for academic bursaries.


Applications will only be considered from students entering their first year of tertiary study in 2026.


Applications for 2026 bursaries are now closed and applications for the 2027 round will open in 2026.

Applications for our third round of Vocational Bursaries are now closed. The fourth round will open June 2026.

About the Vocational Bursaries:


Central Energy Trust have recently partnered with Talent Central to award Vocational Bursaries. Talent Central is an agency that works to provide pathways for students to become ‘work ready’ potential employees of ‘youth ready’ employers.

 

The Vocational Bursary would be perfect for a student looking to leave school and seek work in a trade. The student would require a good academic record, the right attitude and work readiness. References from both the school and employer/s would be required.

 

The Bursary has a maximum value of $4,000 over a two year period. 


Applications closed 5:00pm, Tuesday 30th September 2025. If shortlisted, applicants would need to be available to attend an interview on Friday 31st October 2025.

 

Applicant Requirements:

 

  1. Must be Year 12 or above
  2. Must be employed or have identified employment
  3. A copy of your CV with supporting references must support your application
  4. Must be prepared to attend an interview with the Central Energy Trust Bursary Committee
  5. If successful it is expected you will attend the Central Energy Trust Bursary Awards Ceremony and promote our Bursaries to other students 



2026 Bursary Recipients

Congratulations to the 20 applicants awarded a Central Energy Trust Bursary, commencing their studies in 2026. The Trustees had a difficult job in deciding this year’s recipients due to the high number and high quality of the applications.

ACADEMIC BURSARIES

Sophie Anderson-Can

Jaela-Paige Auker

Jessica Forno

Ann Gibu Joseph

Rachel Grapentin

Jessica Hagan

Natalia Harding

Amanda Hayward

Elleanor King

Alice Lee

Olivia McIntyre

Caitlin Murphy

Bailey Ngatai-Cribb

Maddison Pearson

Alexus-Anne Richardson

Zara Williams


VOCATIONAL BURSARIES

Harry Dickson

Mac Kowalewski

Zackary Manson

Logan Wheeler



2026 Central Energy Trust Supreme Recipient

The winner of the Central Energy Trust 2026 Supreme Award is Olivia McIntyre.


Olivia previously attended Cornerstone Christian School in 2024 as Dux, and following a gap year where she volunteered at Camp America in Texas, Olivia has enrolled in the Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Massey University. This overseas experience helped her develop independence, people skills and resilience, after deciding to stay on to help clean up after devastating floods swept through the area during her time in Texas. Living on a working dairy farm has developed her passion for animals and their welfare. Her part-time work for Livestock Improvement Corporation has ignited an interest in genetics, and it has been a fascinating experience seeing other farms and how they operate. Her outgoing personality and ability to build rapport and engage people made her stand out in her interview.


This Bursary is to the value of $15,000, $5,000 per year over a period of 3 years.


Congratulations Olivia!!!


FAQs

Got a question? We’re here to help.

  • How many bursaries do you award?

    We generally award 20 Bursaries.


  • I am planning on studying a Trade, do I qualify to apply?

    Absolutely!

  • I currently reside outside of the Central Energy Trust area but will be moving inside the area next year to study, can I apply?

    Unfortunately not, you need to have resided in the area prior to studying.

    However, if you have been boarding at/commuting to a Secondary School in the area, you are eligible.

  • When can I expect a response?

    Once applications close Trustees go through a shortlisting process, you can expect to know if you have been shortlisted within 3 weeks. From then Trustees will interview the shortlisted applications. All vocational applicants will have a response by mid November and all academic applicants will have a response prior to Christmas.

  • When are the bursary instalments paid?

    Academic bursary payments are made at the beginning of each academic year in March, subject to satisfactory results being obtained from the previous year of study.

    Vocational bursary payments are made in 2 instalments, part in February, and the rest in July of the following year.

  • What do you class as Academic Study?

    Academic study is defined as an undergraduate degree course at Massey University, UCOL, Te Wānanga O Aotearoa or International Pacific United NZ.

  • What do you class as Vocational Study?

    Vocational study is defined as study towards a degree, diploma or trade qualification at UCOL, Massey University, Te Wānanga O Aotearoa or International Pacific United NZ or an accredited Private Training Organisation and which is related to a qualification for a specified vocation.

2026 Bursary Recipients

Alexus-Anne Richardson

Alice Lee

Amanda Hayward

Ann Gibu Joseph

Bailey Ngatai-Cribb

Caitlin Murphy

Elleanor King

Harry Dickson

Jaela-Paige Auker

Jessica Forno

Jessica Hagan

Logan Wheeler

Mac Kowalewski

Maddison Pearson

Natalia Harding

Olivia McIntyre

Rachel Grapentin

Sophie Anderson-Can

Zackary Manson

Zara Williams