George Powell Trust 2026

This round will open at 9:00AM 1 July 2026 (NZST) for submissions.

George Powell Trust

Public Trust ("the Trustee") is the Trustee of the George Powell Trust. The Trust was established through the Estate of George Powell who passed away on 4 July 1940. An Order approving a Scheme under was approved by the High Court on 7 April 2014.

Applicants should carefully consider the criteria which may be varied from time to time.

Who is eligible: The scholarship is open to students in their final year of school, and to students who have previously been awarded a scholarship, who reside in the Manawatū‑Whanganui region. A map of the eligible region can be found here.

How much funding is available: Scholarships are an annual award of up to $10,000 and are offered for one year only. Successful recipients may apply again in future years.

What can a scholarship be used for: Scholarships may be used towards your Student Loan, tertiary fees (including course fees and hall of residence fees), or other study-related costs (including laptops, stationery, working dog expenses, work clothing, tools, living costs, and travel costs).

Eligibility: 

Applications are open to students who meet the following criteria and conditions.

  • The scholarship is open to students in their final year of school, and to students who have previously been awarded a scholarship, who reside in the Manawatū‑Whanganui region. 
  • Applicants must be intending to pursue a career in farming, agriculture, or horticulture. Study may be undertaken at a university, an institute of technology, or a private training establishment, including cadetships.
  • Study must be undertaken full-time in New Zealand and be NZQA-recognised.
  • The scheme provides that preference should be given to disadvantaged youth. Applicants must provide information in their application to support this (for example, health, financial circumstances, geographic remoteness, or family circumstances).
  • Preference will be given to students who reside in the Whanganui region.
  • Academic performance will be considered alongside the other information requested.

Please note

  • All applications must be completed and submitted within the specified timeframe.
  • The Trustee will review eligible applications and select the scholarship recipients.
  • The Trustee's decision will be binding on all applicants.

Scholarship Terms and Conditions

  • The decision of the Trustee will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • Decisions regarding scholarships are made on the basis of information provided in the application forms, supporting material and other enquiries.
  • All scholarships are conditional on the applicant being enrolled at the education provider in a course of study as outlined in the application
  • Scholarships may be approved subject to certain conditions. In such circumstances the funds will normally be held by Public Trust until the conditions have been met.

Important dates

  • Applications open from the 1st July 2026 with a closing date of 31st August.
  • Applicants will be advised of the outcome by the end of October.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Any questions should be addressed to Public Trust Charities Team by email to funding@publictrust.co.nz

 IMPORTANT: Please read information below to assist you in completing your application online.

Step 1: Determine eligibility

  • Please ensure you have read the Trust’s criteria
  • If you are unsure if you are eligible to apply please contact us 

Step 2: Register or login to apply online

  • First time users will need to register.

Note: Please store your login details in a safe place for future reference.

  • Once registered, you can login to the system and start your application.

Step 3: Complete your Application

  • The application is best viewed/completed on a non-mobile device.
  • Complete all of the required questions – mandatory questions are marked with an *
  • Attach all required supporting documents.

Note: Our preferred format for attachments is PDF, Excel, Word or JPG.  Supporting materials cannot exceed 25MB in size, as files exceeding this will not upload.

Hint: Save your work regularly so it is not lost if you time out or lose your connection.

You can save your application at any stage and return to it later. Make sure the spell checker is switched on in your browser to prevent spelling errors.

Step 4: Review and submit your Application

  • When you are satisfied with your application press the review button to ensure that all required sections of the application have been completed (you must do this before the submit button is enabled).
  • Submit your application.

  Note: Once you have submitted your application no further editing or uploading of supporting documents is possible.

Step 5: What happens next?

  • You will receive an automated email confirming your submission with a copy of your application attached and information about how/when your Application will be assessed.  This will be sent to the email you used to register. 

If you do not receive a confirmation email then your Application has not been successfully submitted (don’t forget to check your spam email folder when looking for the email).

  • We will contact you if we require any further information to consider your Application.

If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's).

If you have any technical difficulties using the online SmartyGrants portal email service@smartygrants.com.au.