The Government is investing in a suite of initiatives to unlock Māori and Pacific resources, talent and knowledge across the science and research sector.
Two new funds – He tipu ka hua and He aka ka toro – set to open in April and July 2023 – will provide up to $10 million per year to Māori organisations to build Māori research capacity, capability and aspirations over the next five years.
Minister for Research, Science and Innovation Dr. Ayesha Verrall made the announcement last week and says, “We know Māori and Pacific Peoples are underrepresented in our research workforce. We also know that diversity is vital for our science system to realise its full potential.”
“By supporting Māori and Pacific Peoples, we lift outcomes for all New Zealanders and ensure we are ready to tackle the future.”
As well as the new funds, Dr Verrall also signalled the development of a fellowship programme for early-to-mid-career Māori and Pacific researchers called Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao, and an internship programme for Young Māori innovators, Te Ara Pōtiki. Full eligibility criteria for these two initiatives will be released in the first half of 2023.
The new funds, fellowships and internships will be administered by MBIE and funded in part out of the “Expanding the Impact of Vision Mātauranga” initiative, from Budget 2020, where $33 million was allocated to attract and grow Māori talent in the research, science and innovation sector.
Full details and eligibility criteria for the Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao Fellowships and Te Ara Pōtiki Internships are currently in development however fellowship applications will support early-to-mid-career Māori and Pacific researchers, working primarily in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The internships will support promising young Māori tertiary-qualified entrepreneurs and technologists.
