Letters

NERF 2026 grants and scholarships applications open after administrative pause

May 25, 2026

Applications open tomorrow, Tuesday May 26, for 2026 Nursing Education and Research Foundation (NERF) grants and scholarships.

NERF is opening a new round of scholarships and grants as it transitions to an operationally independent organisational model.

Previously, NERF operated with administrative and operational support from Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa-NZNO.

However, NERF is now moving to an independent administrative and operational model, after a decision by the NZNO national executive to conclude the existing agreement.

Some members of the NERF Board and wider team supporting the transition work, left to right (rear): NZNO president and NERF co-chair Anne Daniels, NZNO researcher Sue Gasquoine, NZNO representatives/NERF trustees Melinda Jordan and Aroha Hudson. Advisor/trustee Marie Burgess is at front. Absent: Kerri Nuku and Juliet Manning.

While the organisational structure is evolving, NERF’s mission remains unchanged — supporting nurses, midwives, caregivers and students across Aotearoa through scholarships, grants and research funding.

After a pause, applications for the latest funding round are open from Tuesday 26 May to Friday 10 July at 5pm.

Funding opportunities available in this round are:

Undergraduate Study Scholarship
Postgraduate Study Scholarship
Dr Jane Nugent Scholarship

Further information on how to apply will be available on the NERF scholarships and grants webpage from Tuesday.

NERF co-chair and NZNO president Anne Daniels
NERF co-chair and NZNO kaiwhawkahaere Kerri Nuku

Daily doses – uncut news

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21 May	Bupa nurses take pay equity claim over historic wage discrimination NZNO nurses working at Bupa aged residential care homes throughout Aotearoa New Zealand have raised a pay equity claim to address historic gender-based wage discrimination.
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28 Apr	CTU launches Roving Health and Safety Representatives policy on Workers’ Memorial Day The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has today launched our Roving Health and Safety Representatives policy at the Workers’ Memorial Day commemoration in Wellington, with further events held across the motu in Manawatū, Christchurch, and Otago.
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16 Apr	Tribute to Professor Lester Levy’s service to healthcare Health New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Dale Bramley is paying tribute to Health NZ Board Chair Professor Lester Levy, who finishes in the role at the end of the month.
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9 Apr	New group education clinics speeding up knee and hip surgery care Health New Zealand is rolling out a new group education approach for people waiting for hip and knee surgery in north and west Auckland, resulting in more patients being seen sooner.
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19 Mar	ICN at CSW70: Violence against nurses is a gendered crisis threatening global health The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has warned that violence against nurses is a global gendered crisis that threatens health systems, patient safety and workforce sustainability
17 Mar	Additional winter health care workers a drop in the ocean of need The Government’s announcement today of 378 extra staff to help hospitals cope with winter demand is a drop in the ocean of what patients need, NZNO says.
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9 Mar	Questions over dilapidated and cramped renal unit forced to ration dialysis The Health Minister must explain why after years of concerns from nurses about Christchurch Hospital’s barely functioning dialysis unit, he only stepped in late yesterday when life-saving treatment had to be rationed, NZNO says.
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2 Mar	Public and Mental Health Nurses settle collective agreement Health New Zealand welcomes the ratification of the two Public Service Association (PSA) Public and Mental Health Nurses collective employment agreements for Auckland and the Rest of New Zealand.
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