$6.5 million to accelerate Māori research skills and opportunities

Published: 18 August 2022

The Government is investing $6.5 million over 6 years to accelerate skills and opportunities for Māori researchers, scientists and mātauranga practitioners, through the Kanapu programme, hosted by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, New Zealand's Māori Centre of Research Excellence.

The Kanapu programme will offer initiatives in Māori values-based leadership, research management and grant writing, wānanga aimed at building connections between the research, science and innovation sector and mātauranga Māori practitioners, professional coaching for mentors, and placements for Māori to engage with the wider Research Science and Innovation system.

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga will work with Māori researchers, scientists and knowledge-holders over 6 years to design and deliver Māori-led initiatives.

The $6.5 million contract is for 6 years. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment provides the funding for the investment.

The Kanapu programme will be delivered by a team based at Te Ngira: Institute for Population Research, University of Waikato, and has been assembled alongside Professor Tahu Kukutai, Pou Matarua (Co-Director) of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga.

Vanessa N. Clark (Waikato: Ngāti Tiipa, Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Āmaru) is Pouhere Kanapu (Executive Director) of Kanapu. She has direct experience working alongside Māori researchers, knowledge holders, hapū, iwi and hāpori Māori advocating for authentic engagement and connections with Māori. 

Read the Minister’s Press Release(external link)

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