Stage Two Funding  

In December 2010 the Trust launched stage two of MPEI. For the next three years, to 2013, we will be funding a small number of projects each year.

We have been looking for innovative community projects that aim to address increased academic achievement of Māori and Pacific students in the education system. The Trust is interested in projects that are scalable, able to be replicated with potential to impact on future education policy and infrastructural change for the betterment of Māori and Pacific students.

Stage Two funding

Stage two began in February 2011 with hui explaining the process. Short-listed applicants were then assessed by Trusteees.
In stage two of MPEI a further $6 million is available for grants. The Trust will fund three more rounds of MPEI; granting $2 million in 2011, $2 million in 2012 and $2 million in 2013.
In each round the Trust will fund a very small number of projects which will receive funding over 3 to 5 years.
Each year the application process will run from January-November and involve a number of stages. The Trust will consider capacity-building needs for applicants on a case by case basis.

The focus for 2011

In 2011, the Trust planned to invest MPEI funds in the greater urban Auckland area, focusing on:

  • Increased educational achievement of Māori and Pacific students in mainstream schools
  • Māori-medium science education
  • Leadership development of Māori and Pacific youth (interweaving culture, language, identity, commitment to service and pathways to success)

What we looked for

In making decisions, the Trust considered MPEI’s guiding principles and looked for projects that had:

  • Strategic relevance – projects must advance Māori and Pacific engagement in citizenship through education
  • Evidence of innovation and sustainability
  • Outcomes that can be measured
  • The potential to be replicated and scaled up
  • A basis of partnership and self-help
  • Evidence of community ownership
  • The organisational capacity to deliver


Successful applicants will:

  • Have or attain charitable status
  • Engage with the Trust on a partnership basis, including monthly meetings and quarterly reporting on agreed milestones
  • Contribute to the MPEI storytelling project
  • Attend quarterly collaborative hui and training with other MPEI projects
  • Participate in the MPEI evaluation

Contact us

To talk to us about funding under the Māori and Pacific Education Initiative, please contact the Project Manager, Moi Becroft.