Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is a major vocational and tertiary education provider in New Zealand, serving students across the Bay of Plenty and South Waikato. It focuses strongly on career-oriented, practical and industry-connected education, with study pathways ranging from foundation-level learning and certificates through diplomas, bachelor's degrees and postgraduate study.

Toi Ohomai describes itself as the largest tertiary education provider in the Bay of Plenty and South Waikato. It emphasises smaller class sizes, personalised support, pastoral care and practical learning designed to help students become work-ready.

For international students, Toi Ohomai provides dedicated international admissions and support services. International applicants receive an Offer of Place after their application is assessed and can then proceed with tuition payment and the New Zealand student-visa process. The institute also provides airport-arrival assistance for new international students. 

University Ranking / Reputation

Toi Ohomai is not a university, so conventional university rankings such as QS World University Rankings or Times Higher Education rankings do not apply in the same way.

For sector positioning, New Zealand's official Study with New Zealand profile describes Toi Ohomai as:

• The largest tertiary education provider in the Bay of Plenty
• The third-largest institute of technology in New Zealand
• A provider with more than 14,000 students
• Offering more than 150 study options, from certificate through postgraduate level
• Supported by more than 1,000 staff

Types of Courses / Study Levels

Toi Ohomai offers a broad vocational-to-higher-education pathway. The current course portfolio includes:

• Foundation and bridging programmes
• Certificates
• Diplomas
• Bachelor's degrees
• Graduate-level qualifications
• Postgraduate certificates/diplomas and other postgraduate study
• English-language programmes
• Short courses
• Professional and industry training
• Apprenticeships and trades training

Its academic subject areas are particularly broad. Current subjects include:

• Accounting
• Agriculture
• Animal Care & Veterinary Nursing
• Architecture
• Automotive
• Beauty Therapy
• Built Environment & Engineering
• Business
• Carpentry & Construction
• Computing & IT
• Creative Arts
• Culinary, Baking & Hospitality
• Electrical/Electrotechnology
• Engineering & Fabrication
• English Language
• Environmental Management
• Forestry
• Graphic Design
• Health & Healthcare
• Horticulture
• Maori studies
• Land & Quantity Surveying
• Legal Studies
• Marine & Maritime Studies
• Massage Therapy
• Music & Performance
• Nursing
• Real Estate
• Social Practice
• Sport & Recreation
• Teaching
• Tourism & Travel
• Visual Arts

Highlights

Career-focused education:
Courses are designed around practical skills and employment outcomes, with strong links to industries and employers.

Wide range of study areas:
Students can choose from business, IT, engineering, healthcare, nursing, hospitality, creative arts, trades, tourism, environmental studies and many other fields.

Practical learning facilities:
Students can learn in industry-style workshops, laboratories, studios, hospitality facilities, healthcare facilities and other specialist environments.

Strong regional presence:
The institute has a substantial footprint across the Bay of Plenty and South Waikato, rather than being concentrated in a single city.

Personalised student support:
Toi Ohomai highlights smaller classes, one-to-one academic support and pastoral care designed to support students' wellbeing and academic success.

International student support:
International students have dedicated application and international-centre support, orientation and airport-arrival assistance.

English-language pathways:
The institute offers English-language programmes, including Level 3 and Level 4 options, which can help learners improve their English proficiency.

Industry and professional connections:
Recent activities include partnerships and engagement with organisations such as Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and health-sector organisations, helping students connect their studies with professional practice.

Latest Updates — 2026

Return to independence:
One of the most important institutional developments is Toi Ohomai's return to independence in January 2026, accompanied by a new Chief Executive and Council.

2027 study planning:
The website is now actively promoting study in 2027, with prospective students encouraged to explore upcoming course options and plan their study.

New AI learning initiative:
In June 2026, Toi Ohomai announced its rollout of Cogniti, an AI platform designed to allow teachers to create course-specific learning agents. The institute described itself as among the first tertiary organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand to implement the platform.

New scholarship partnership:
Tauranga Crossing launched a $20,000 scholarship programme in June 2026 to support Bay of Plenty students entering tertiary education.

International engagement:
More than 120 international alumni, staff and community leaders attended the Global Alumni Evening at Mokoia Campus in July 2026, highlighting Toi Ohomai's international community and alumni connections.

International student welcome:
More than 200 international students commencing studies in Tauranga were officially welcomed in February 2026.

Growing digital-technology focus:
In October 2026, Toi Ohomai reported that more than 80 teachers from 15 Bay of Plenty schools and kura had completed an Apple digital-technologies programme, demonstrating its continuing involvement in regional digital-skills development. 

Scholarship

1. Toi Ohomai Secondary School Leavers Scholarship

Value: NZ$1,000
Current application period: 1 September 2026 – 30 October 2026

This scholarship is designed for secondary school students who demonstrate leadership, academic, cultural or sporting achievement, community contribution and financial need.

However, it is not suitable for international students because applicants must:

• Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
• Attend a secondary school in the Bay of Plenty or South Waikato region.
• Have applied for and met the entry requirements of their Toi Ohomai programme.
• Enrol full-time in a course of at least one year.
• Be attending and progressing satisfactorily when the scholarship is paid.

2. Tauranga Crossing Scholarship

Value: 2 × NZ$5,000
2026/27 application period: 1 October 2026 – 31 January 2027

This scholarship supports new Toi Ohomai students with tuition fees, transport, study equipment, digital equipment and other study-related costs.

However, the scholarship is specifically intended for students who:

• Are new students to Toi Ohomai.
• Have a residential address within the Tauranga or Western Bay Council area.
• Are applying to study predominantly at Windermere Campus.
• Are enrolling for the first time in Semester 1, 2027.

3. Southern Cross Scholarship – Bachelor of Nursing, Year 1

This is one of the most substantial new scholarship opportunities at Toi Ohomai.

Value: NZ$31,740 per scholarship
Number: 2 three-year scholarships
2026/27 closing date: 28 February 2027

The scholarship provides substantial support towards nursing study, including fee contributions, clinical placement support, wellbeing support and Nursing Council examination fee support. The Southern Cross Health Trust is investing more than NZ$115,000 over five years from 2027.

However, the eligibility conditions specifically require applicants to:

• Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
• Have lived in New Zealand for at least the previous two years.
• Have applied to the Bachelor of Nursing full-time.
• Have a provisional or firm offer of place.
• Come from a diverse/underrepresented group or a background of hardship that creates barriers to education.

Application documentation includes:

• NCEA or equivalent secondary/previous tertiary transcript.
• Personal statement of up to 500 words.
• Information about community involvement and motivation for nursing.
• Future personal and professional aspirations.
• Challenges and how the applicant plans to overcome them.
• Optional CV of up to two pages.

4. Southern Cross Scholarship – Bachelor of Nursing, Years 2 & 3

Value:

• Second-year scholarship: up to NZ$25,240 over two years.
• Third-year scholarship: NZ$13,240 for the final year.

Current closing date: 31 October 2026.

This is for existing Bachelor of Nursing students and requires applicants to:

• Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
• Have lived in New Zealand for at least two years.
• Be currently enrolled full-time in the Toi Ohomai Bachelor of Nursing.
• Have a provisional or firm offer for the following year.
• Meet the hardship/diversity/underrepresented-community criteria.

5. Toi Ohomai Study Award

Value: 10 × NZ$1,000
Application period: 1 November 2026 – 1 March 2027

The Study Award is intended to encourage people from the Bay of Plenty and South Waikato to undertake vocational qualifications and overcome financial barriers.

Applicants must:

• Be 18 or older.
• Have applied and met the entry requirements for their chosen course.
• Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident.
• Preferably reside in the Toi Ohomai region.
• Be enrolled full-time in a minimum one-year course.
• Demonstrate motivation and ability to complete the qualification. 

6. Tahua Tautawhi – Share 2 Care Single Parent Scholarship

Value: 10 × NZ$2,000
Application period: 1 November 2026 – 1 March 2027

This scholarship supports single parents beginning a diploma or degree at Toi Ohomai.

Applicants must:

• Be a single parent.
• Reside within the Toi Ohomai rohe – Bay of Plenty or South Waikato.
• Begin their first year of full-time diploma or degree study.
• Meet the academic entry requirements.
• Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident

7. Whakapumau Pae Tawhiti – Retention Scholarships

Value: NZ$3,000 per scholarship

The scholarship provides:

• 2 × NZ$3,000 for M?ori learners.
• 2 × NZ$3,000 for Pacific learners.
• 2 × NZ$3,000 for learners with a disability and/or learning challenge.

2026/27 application period: 1 November 2026 – 1 February 2027.

Applicants need to:

• Have graduated from a Toi Ohomai course within the previous two years.
• Have applied and been accepted into a higher-level full-time course.
• Complete the appropriate M?ori, Pacific or disability/learning-challenge application.
• Provide a supporting letter from a Toi Ohomai staff member or appropriate support person.
• Submit a cover letter explaining relevant background, study/career pathway and financial situation.

8. Environmental Management (Terrestrial) Scholarship

This scholarship is associated with the New Zealand Diploma in Environmental Management (Level 6), Terrestrial Strand. The current course page specifically lists the scholarship as an associated scholarship.

The scholarship is intended for students progressing into the Level 6 Environmental Management qualification and considers:

• Attributes indicating potential to succeed in the programme.
• Potential contribution to terrestrial environmental management.
• Financial circumstances.

9. Howie Hinton Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is associated with sport and recreation study at Toi Ohomai. The current scholarship listing shows applications opening 30 October 2026 and closing 23 February 2027.

Previously published scholarship information describes it as support for students demonstrating a high level of commitment to sport and recreation studies, with financial need also considered. The previous award was NZ$1,500 credited towards second-year course fees and was listed as domestic-only.

10. Te Ara Poutama – M?ori and Pasifika Trade Training

Toi Ohomai also lists Te Ara Poutama – Maori and Pasifika Trade Training (MPTT) under other scholarships/funding opportunities. The listed benefit is coverage of tuition fees.

This is not a general scholarship for international students. It is specifically associated with M?ori and Pasifika trade training and therefore should not be presented to an overseas applicant as a standard international tuition scholarship.

11. Youth Guarantee

Youth Guarantee is also listed by Toi Ohomai as another funding opportunity. The institution states that it provides funding for certain Level 2 and Level 3 programmes, but eligibility criteria apply and places can be competitive.