Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce announced that Tahuna Normal Intermediate School, Otago Boys' High School and Otago Girls' High School were among 20 New Zealand schools to receive a share of $50,000 from the New Zealand-China Sister Schools Fund.
The fund was established during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to New Zealand in November last year.
It is administered by Education New Zealand and most schools would use their grants to support pupils and staff to travel to China.
Mr Joyce said it was important New Zealand built strong ''people-to-people links'' with China, which was now one of New Zealand's largest trading partners.
''Having more New Zealand school students building a personal understanding of China and its people is an investment in the future of New Zealand in this Asia-Pacific century.
''In China, strong personal relationships are essential. The initiatives supported by this funding will foster learning opportunities and links between our two countries,'' he said.
Mr Joyce said sister school partnerships were designed to benefit participating schools from both New Zealand and China, and would help ensure both countries had the cross-cultural understanding and language skills to see good relationships thrive.
Otago Girls' High School and Otago Boys' High School will use their award to fund a trip to perform at the prestigious Shanghai Spring International Music Festival Choral Week.
They will also visit their sister schools in Shanghai and take part in Nanjing Choral Week.
Mr Joyce is in Shanghai to foster ties between the two countries' marine, education and technology sectors.
