Nurse Practitioners | Mātanga tapuhi (NP)
These are highly skilled health practitioners with advanced education, clinical training and experience. They have demonstrated clinical competence and have the legal authority to practice as an independent healthcare provider.
Pathways
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are required to have completed a masters degree in nursing through a Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) approved pathway at an approved tertiary education provider. There are two funding streams for nurse practitioner training.
Visit the NPNZ website for more information on Nurse Practitioners and their role advancing NP practice and enabling high quality integrated and accessible healthcare throughout New Zealand.
The NPTSS is a national programme that includes the final year of preparation for NP registration funded by Health NZ.
Expressions of interest from Nurse Practitioner candidates for the NPTSS scholarship have now closed. As per the Health NZ website applications will open for this scholarship funding in September. We would encourage students to look regularly at the Health NZ website for further information. For those who have completed and EOI will be contacted by the NPTSS provider to assist with their application.
Nurses may complete Master's Programmes delivered through other tertiary education providers leading to registration as a nurse practitioner. Students attending these programmes are eligible to access Postgraduate Nursing Funding (Health Workforce Directorate Funding) through their Te Whatu Ora region following the required application processes.
Applications close 20 November 2025.
Applications can be sent to pgnursing@waikato.ac.nz
Applicants should include:
- Cover letter outlining your area of practice and why you want to train as a nurse practitioner
- CV
- Transcript (record of your academic history - courses, grades and achievements)
- A page outlining what you have organised for clinical mentorship as you need to complete 500 hours practicum time over the year
- A page outlining workplace support