Rangahau

RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP

The Authority offers an annual funding pool of $10,000 to support students who wish to undertake research on the Tūpuna Maunga.

Research project proposals must take into consideration:

• The spiritual, ancestral, cultural, customary, and historical significance of the Tūpuna Maunga to Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau as found in the Integrated Management Plan
• Potential impact e.g: the whenua, cultural values, the public
• Aim to provide value to the Tūpuna Maunga, enhancing the mana of these taonga tuku iho (treasures to be handed down).

Who is eligible?

• You must be a member of a research or education institution
• You must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
• Research must align with the Tūpuna Maunga Authority Research Policy and approved project list (refer to maunga.nz/research/ to view this information)
• Applications are open to research from a range of fields e.g. conservation, archaeology, creative arts, urban-planning, and design, applied sciences, social sciences, cultural heritage, business and commercial.
• Aligns with approved project list.

Timeframe & Expectations

• This year’s scholarship application round is open 30 June 2025 and closes 11.59 pm 31 August 2025.
• Open to both new and on-going research projects.
• Monthly check-ins required with the Tūpuna Maunga Authority research scholarship lead.
• Final research report and presentation to the Tūpuna Maunga Authority Board Members will be advised closer to the time.

If you are a successful applicant for this scholarship, you will be granted a permit that outlines the conditions you will be required to meet.

Applying for a research scholarship 

If you are applying for a scholarship, submit your application via SmartyGrants. Successful scholarship applicants will be awarded a research permit automatically.

Documents to supply with your application

It is important to provide all the requested information as part of your application, so that we can process it efficiently.

RESEARCH PERMITS

If you would like to conduct research on one of the Tūpuna Maunga, you will need a research permit.

The Tūpuna Maunga Authority Research Policy defines research as ‘any activities on the Maunga such as;

• the collection of physical samples (eg. soil, rock, plants);
• the monitoring of conditions over time;
• experiments; and
• any socially-focused studies that take place on the Maunga but fall outside the definition of an event.'

Research activities on the Tūpuna Maunga may only be undertaken by members of research and education institutions. The Tūpuna Maunga Authority is the decision-maker for all research permit applications.

We endorse research projects which align with the Values for the Tūpuna Maunga outlined in the Integrated Management Plan.

Successful research permit applications are subject to fees. You may be eligible for a full or partial fees waiver if your activity aligns with our approved project list. Our permit coordinator can provide fee estimates on enquiry.

Research permits may be subject to conditions (e.g. reporting requirements) that will be laid out in the permit details.

How to apply 

Please complete the application form and submit it to [email protected] with supporting documentation as laid out below. Our permit coordinator will contact you within two working days to confirm receipt of your application and to give you an indication of processing time.

Or if you have any queries, email [email protected]. They can contact you to discuss:

• the feasibility of your study
• which supporting documentation your application would require
• research permit fees.