Churchill Fellowship NZ has been helping people travel overseas to learn from others and study topics that will advance their occupation, trade, industry, profession, or community, and benefit New Zealand.
The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust was established in 1965 following the death of Sir Winston Churchill with funds from the Aotearoa New Zealand government and the public. Its principal objective is perpetuating and honouring Sir Winston’s Churchill’s memory through the awarding of Churchill Fellowships.
In 1962 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh asked Churchill what type of memorial he would like the world to remember him by. He liked the idea of an unusual type of memorial, to be set up after his death, and suggested something like the Rhodes Scholarships, but available to everybody, on a wider basis. The New Zealand government organised a nationwide appeal after Churchill’s death.
The WCMT is governed by an Act of Parliament – the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Act 1965. The Trust is administered by the Department of Internal Affairs and the Governor-General of New Zealand is patron of the Trust.
The Trust believes international travel is an integral part in understanding one another and achieving world peace. Each year, it awards Churchill Fellowships to provide ordinary New Zealanders with extraordinary travel opportunities that will benefit them, their area of interest and, ultimately, their community and Aotearoa New Zealand.
What is a Churchill Fellowship?
Churchill Fellowships assist people to travel overseas to learn from others and study topics that will be of personal benefit, help them advance their occupation, trade, industry, profession or community and Aotearoa New Zealand in general. Fellows return with new knowledge, skills, inspiration, and networks that enable them to support development in their field.
The Trust welcomes applications from people from different professions, industries, regions, ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds.
Churchill Fellowships fund up to three months travel up to the value of $12,000 to be undertaken in the calendar year following the application.
The Trust has limited income and aims to distribute this as widely as possible each year for the greatest benefit to Aotearoa New Zealand. Generally, eight-to-ten Fellowships are granted each year. The Trust expects applicants to personally meet not less than 20% of the total estimated costs of their proposed travel, and to contribute more if they are able.
Churchill Fellowships fund up to three months travel up to the value of $12,000 to be undertaken in the calendar year following the application. The Trust has limited income and aims to distribute this as widely as possible each year for the greatest benefit to Aotearoa New Zealand. Generally, eight-to-ten Fellowships are granted each year. The Trust expects applicants to personally meet not less than 20% of the total estimated costs of their proposed travel, and to contribute more if they are able.
There is one funding round each year. The funding round usually opens on the first Wednesday in July and closes mid-August. Successful applicants are usually notified by the end of October in the year the application is made.
Applications are reviewed by the Department of Internal Affairs, with the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Board making the final decisions.
Fellows must submit a report about their Fellowship experience within six months of returning.
The Trust does not fund Fellowships for:
- study for academic or professional qualifications
- attendance at academic or professional conferences*
- Fellowships that do not show how the benefits of what is learned or experienced through the travel will be shared with others
- replacement of income or salary during the travel period
- increases in travel costs after a Fellowship is granted.
*Short courses that form part of an eligible project may be considered.
What is Winston Churchill McNeish Writers’ Fellowship?
This partnered Fellowship is for promising writers and journalists to travel and live overseas. The intention is for the recipient’s horizons to broaden and shift so that their writing is enhanced. Priority is given to applicants who:
- are an emerging writer or journalist aged between 25 and 40 years
- have a track record of publications (one or more ublications)
- propose travel to non-English speaking and/or developing countries.
Applications must be for:
In addition to the supporting documents required for any Churchill Fellowship application, applicants for a Winston Churchill McNeish Writers’ Fellowship must include a writing sampleand evidence of one or more publications or writing success achieved to date. One Winston Churchill McNeish Writers’ Fellowship is offered every second year. The next one will be offered in 2026.
- immersion within another culture by living and/or working in ways that will benefit the recipient’s writing
- up to six months travel outside New Zealand during the calendar year following their application.
Patron and the current Churchill Trust Board
Left to right:
Back row: Tony Lepper Julie Hardaker, Ben Brooks (CF2019), Rogena Sterling, Semi Asafo
Front row: Ian McDonald (CF2018), Jason Sebestian (Deputy Chair) His Excellency Dr Richard Davies (CF2018), Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO (Patron), David Ivory (Chair), Alison Cadman (Deputy Chair, CF2013)
