For ACE Provision
ACE is funded through a wide range of sources, including a variety of government agencies. Many ACE providers, for example will get some of their funding from the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Education, DHBs etc. Other sources of funding may include local authorities, private trusts, lotteries etc. No matter how you get your funding, if you are delivering ACE, you are a part of the ACE sector.
Because of the difficulty in covering all possible sources of funding, this page focuses on the available funding through the Tertiary Education Commission, for ACE provision.
The Tertiary Education Commission is the main government funder for ACE.
Tertiary Education Commission ACE Funding Priorities
In December 2025, the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) has been updated for 2025–2030 to set long-term direction and current and medium-term priorities for the tertiary education system.
The Government’s overarching objective for tertiary education is:
- A tertiary education system that enables people to succeed with knowledge and skills that advance an innovative, high-productivity economy, and improve quality of life.
Priority 1: Achievement
Ensure students and trainees gain skills that lead to good careers and economic security, with a focus on strong pathways between school, tertiary education, and work.
Priority 2: Economic Impact and Innovation
Increase the economic impact of tertiary education by delivering relevant, adaptable skills, and research that drives productivity, innovation, commercialisation and broader economic opportunities.
Priority 3: Access and Participation
Enable access to education and training for people from all backgrounds and regions, ensuring more people build relevant skills throughout their lives that contribute to a productive economy.
Priority 4: Integration and Collaboration
Deepen collaboration between education providers, employers, iwi, research institutions, and communities to align education with regional and national economic development.
Priority 5: International Education
Boost numbers of international students, supporting the sector to grow and increasing New Zealand’s international connectivity, as set out in the International Education Going for Growth Plan.
The updated TES sets priorities that guide Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) funding decisions and shape tertiary education investment plans. Providers must show how their plans contribute to these five priorities.
The Tertiary Education Strategy includes actions that both tertiary education organisations (TEOs) and the Government can take to help achieve the priorities. TEOs will need to show how they will have regard to the TES priorities in their investment plans. The TEC’s Investment Plan Guidance will support TEOs to do this.
Overview of Tertiary Education Commission for ACE provision
The Tertiary Education Commission fund Adult and Community Education provision for:
- community-based education,
- foundation skills, and
- pathways into other learning opportunities that meet community learning needs.
Adult and Community Education is delivered by different sectors:
- ACE in Communities – ACE in Communities funding is for informal, community-based education provided by private training establishments (PTEs), rural education activity programme (REAP) providers and community organisations.
- ACE in Tertiary Education Institutions – ACE in tertiary education institutions (TEIs) is for community-based education delivered by eligible TEIs.
- ACE in Schools – ACE in Schools funding is for informal, community-based education provided by schools.
ACE Aotearoa manages two types of funding.
Generosity New Zealand
Generosity NZ is the largest digital search facility for funding information in Aotearoa. They have created two search tools that connect people to funding opportunities. See generosity.org.nz