A full copy of the ACE Nursing timelines can be downloaded from the ACE Nursing Resources section.
Intake Dates
Mid Year 2026
| Milestone | Date |
| ACE RN applications open | 9am Wednesday, 8 April |
| ACE RN applications close | 12pm (noon NZT) Tuesday, 5 May |
| ACE assess complete applications | Wednesday, 6 May - Friday, 15 May |
| Employers interview, shortlist and rank applicants | Monday, 18 May - Friday 26 June |
| Applicants must have all employer preference changes to ACE | 9am Monday, 29 June |
| ACE RN national match | Monday, 29 June - Monday, 13 July |
| ACE RN match outcome notified | Wednesday, 22 July |
| ACE RN Talent Pool Released | Thursday, 23 July |
End of Year 2026
| Milestone | Date |
| ACE RN applications open | 9am Wednesday, 5 August |
| ACE RN applications close | 12pm (noon NZT) Tuesday, 1 September |
| ACE assess complete applications | Wednesday, 2 September - Friday, 11 September |
| Employers interview, shortlist and rank applicants | Monday, 14 September - Friday, 23 October |
| Applicants must have all employer preference changes to ACE | 5pm Friday, 23 October |
| ACE RN national match | Tuesday, 27 October - Friday, 6 November |
| ACE RN match outcome notified | Wednesday, 18 November |
| ACE RN Talent Pool Released | Thursday, 19 November |
Nursing School Presentation Dates
For End of Year 2025 Recrutiment Round
- Massey University BN Students (AKL & MTU Campuses) - 05 May 2025
- University of Waikato Master of Nursing - 19 May 2025
- Whitireia GDNP students - 20 May 2025
- Unitec Institute of Technology Auckland - 27 May 2025
- Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology - 13 June 2025
- Wintec Master of Nursing - 16 June 2025
- University of Waikato Bachelor of Nursing - 18 June 2025
- Otago Polytechnic - 23 June 2025
- University of Canterbury - 3 July 2025
- Manukau Institute of Technology - 4 July 2025
- WITT - 7 July 2025
- Ara Institute of Canterbury - 8 July 2025
- Eastern Institute of Technology - 9 July 2025
- Massey University BN Students (Wellington Campus) - 11 July 2025
- University of Auckland - 14 July 2025
- NorthTec - 15 July 2025
- Victoria University of Wellington - 17 July 2025
- Eastern Institute of Technology - 21 July 2025
- Whitireia BN Māori and BN Pacific - 22 July 2025
- Whitireia BN - 23 July 2025
- UCOL Wairarapa - 28 July 2025
- Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi - 29 July 2025
- Unitec - 30 July 2025
- AUT - 31 July 2025
- Wintec BN - 1 August 2025
- UCOL - 6 August 2025
- University of Otago - 7 August 2025
- Toi Ohomai - 12 August 2025