Tertiary institutions are dishing out millions in hardship funding to students - with at least 34 million given out in the past five years five years on from Covid.

Figures from across seven of New Zealand’s universities and national polytech Te Pukenga show the most funds were given in 2021 ($8.95m).

Last year, $5.98m was provided to students.

Auckland University didn’t respond to multiple requests regarding its hardship fund.

Many institutions implemented Covid relief funds during the pandemic, to help students cover electricity and food costs.

AUT -whose fund existed before the pandemic - says its average amount of assistance last year was $452.
For some, there’s no limit on what students can request - others like Canterbury University provide grants up to $800 through its Student Association.

National polytech, Te Pukenga, has provided the most funding out of all institutions in the last five years.

Last year it gave out $4.59m to students through its Manaaki Fund.

The organisation created the measure after modelling undertaken in 2020 and 2021 showed that up to 12% of students were at high risk of dropping out or moving to part-time study due to financial stress experienced during study.

Prior to the Manaaki Fund, the Tertiary Education Commission funded the COVID-19 Hardship Fund for Learners which provided temporary financial assistance for Covid relief, delivered through Te Pūkenga.

Chief Executive Gus Gilmore said removing or reducing financial barriers helps students continue their learning and go into meaningful, fulfilling work.

Its measures continue to see high demand - with 9,988 learners supported by the Manaaki Fund last year, compared with 6,446 in 2023.

Otago University’s student services director, Claire Gallop, said their Pūtea Tautoko fund started out as a Covid relief fund, but it’s now morphed into support for unforeseen circumstances.

She said there’s no maximum amount, but grants are usually between $500 and $2,000.

“It has changed a little bit in terms of the criteria needed to meet, but we’ve essentially broadened it out to ensure that we can help students who are dealing with unexpected challenges financially.”

Gallop believes student hardship is a challenge for institutions across the country.

“Otago in particular, [has] a lot of students who come from out of the region. And so they’re not necessarily living in a family home and support is not necessarily quite so available.”

“So we want to ensure that students do stay and study, but that they’re being well at the same time,” she added.

Gallop said students often have to make hard decisions about whether or not they pay for electricity, heating and eating.

“You don’t study well if you’re really hungry, you don’t study well if you’re really cold. And so part of this is just taking the whole person and making sure that we really wrap care around them.

“And I think Otago is really good at it - this is just one part of holistic care that we can provide.”

Jaime Cunningham is a Christchurch-based reporter with a focus on education, social issues and general news. Cunningham joined Newstalk ZB in 2023, after working as a sports reporter at the Christchurch Star.