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).

Eligibility Criteria

• 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 rounds have now closed and will reopen again next year.  
• 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 in June 2026.

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.

Apply through SmartyGrants

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.