Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (free trades training)

Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (free trades training)

Last updated 7 June 2023
Last updated 7 June 2023

The Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF) – also known as free trades training – supported learners to undertake vocational education and training without fees. 

The TTAF ended on 31 December 2022. For more information, see our guidance for TEOs on the end of the TTAF (PDF 505 KB).

The TTAF covered learners fees from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2022, which the TEC paid directly to tertiary education organisations (TEOs). This let TEOs provide a range of training and apprenticeship programmes at sub-degree level free for learners. It was targeted towards industry skills where demand from employers was strong, or expected to grow, during New Zealand’s recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.

See the list of eligible programmes and qualifications.

The TTAF covered:

  • all apprenticeships
  • Level 3–7 sub-degree programmes in targeted areas delivered by tertiary providers
  • industry training, outside of apprenticeships, in targeted areas.

See the list of targeted areas.

For those that studied eligible programmes at tertiary providers, the TTAF covered: 

  • tuition fees 
  • compulsory course costs, and  
  • compulsory student services fees. 

For those within industry training (including apprenticeships), the TTAF covered fees for training and assessment.