Making education easier to access and improving the achievement of all learners is a core part of the priorities outlined in the Tertiary Education Strategy. 

Tertiary education organisations (TEOs) contribute to this by accommodating the diverse needs and aspirations of learners of all ethnicities, genders, ages, abilities and socio-economic backgrounds.

Equity funding is a "top-up" to:

• Delivery at Levels 1 and 2 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (DQ1-2) Fund (available only for disabled learners), and
• Delivery at Levels 7 (degree) and above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (DQ7+) Fund (available for Māori, Pacific, and disabled learners).

For learners with disabilities, Equity funding seeks to improve their participation in tertiary education and achievement of qualifications. For Māori and Pacific learners, it is to improve participation in and achievement at higher levels of tertiary education (Level 7 (degree) and above).

Equity funding helps cover the costs of any additional support some learners may need and is not intended to be the sole or primary source of funding. Equity funding should supplement DQ1-2 and DQ7+ funding and contribute to ensuring the success of all learners.

Equity funding does not apply to the Delivery at Levels 3–7 (non-degree) on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework and all industry training (DQ3-7) Fund which includes TEOs to put learners at the centre of their organisation and to improve outcomes for learners.

Resources

We expect all providers to offer the support required for learner success. These resources contain helpful information:

• Analysing student data for learner success
• Infosheet – Learner Success Framework
• Ka Hikitia – the Ministry of Education’s Māori education strategy
• Kia Ōrite Toolkit– the New Zealand Code of Practice for an inclusive tertiary education environment for disabled learners
• Learners at the Centre– the Statement of National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) and the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES)
• Project Kāmehameha – research commissioned by Careers New Zealand about the design and delivery of career resources for Māori
• Project Lumana‘i – research commissioned by Careers New Zealand about the design and delivery of career resources for Pacific people
• Youth Service – support for young people to engage in education, training and work-based learning
• StudyLink – financial support and advice for students
• Ako Aotearoa Resource Centre– support and practical information on improving learner success