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Toloa Substantial Provider Fund (STEAM)

Toloa Substantial Provider Fund (STEAM)

The Toloa Substantial Provider Fund has now closed

The Toloa Substantial Provider Fund supported providers to deliver engaging STEAM programmes for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths.

Now in its seventh year, the Toloa funds are achieving its goal of helping Pacific Aotearoa thrive in STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering Arts and Maths.

The Toloa Substantial Provider Fund supported proven and experienced providers deliver STEAM programmes that activate meaningful STEAM engagement for Pacific communities. Programmes must have directly contributed to the long-term growth of Pacific STEAM. Funding was available for 1+ year(s) of programme delivery.

View this year's list of recipients.

STEAM refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths subjects.

STEAM skills and knowledge are not new to Pacific people.

The Toloa programme champions that Pacific peoples come from a lineage of navigators, explorers, innovators, and experts in STEAM. STEAM skills  are adaptable in a vast ocean of career pathways and opportunities.

The Arts is defined within the Toloa programme as creative and innovative skills, processes and knowledge that are transferable into science, technology, engineering and maths careers.

About the fund

Applications opened on Monday 4 October, 2021.

Applications closed on Monday 1 November, 2021.

Applicants were informed of the outcome by Wednesday 8 December, 2021.

To be eligible, applicants must have:

  • Been a proven and experienced provider that was able to deliver STEAM programmes that activate meaningful STEAM engagement for Pacific communities.
  • Been able to deliver programmes that directly contribute to the long term growth of Pacific STEAM.
  • Demonstrated alignment withMPP’s Lalanga Fou Goal: Prosperous Pacific Communities.
  • Demonstrated meaningful commitment to Pacific languages and/or culture.
  • Been able to deliver a programme for a minimum of 1 year.
  • Been based in Aotearoa.

The Toloa Substantial Provider fund was available for:

  • Programmes that directly contributed to the long term growth of Pacific STEAM
  • Minimum 1 year programme delivery.
  • Sustainability development of programme design and delivery.
  • Sustainability development of provider capabilities.
  • Sustainability development of provider infrastructure development.
  • Sustainable Evaluation development and delivery.
  • Purchase of sustainable equipment and/or resources for the provider internal systems and processes.
  • Salary and remuneration for any of the above.
  • The maximum funding request for an application was $250k.


The Toloa Substantial Provider fund was not available for:

  • For-profit activities.
  • Initiatives that were not aligned with the priorities of this fund.
  • Overseas travel and related expenses.
  • Programme delivery under 1 year.
  • Equipment and resources that did not have a long term sustainable function and/or purpose.
  • Programmes and activities delivered overseas, including the NZ realm countries.
  • Debt repayment or debt servicing. 

If you need more information about the Toloa Substantial Provider Fund, email [email protected]