Strengthening Māori research partnerships across the science system

“The He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund Rangapū Rangahau will invest $5.95 million in 17 research programmes focused on growing our economy and improving our environment," Dr Willy-John Martin, Director of Māori Science, Innovation and Technology, says.

“Mā ēnei rangapū rangahau ka tau ai, ā, ka renarena ai ngā taura hou i waenganui i te ōhanga Māori me te pūnaha pūtaiao - These research partnerships will forge new, enduring connections between the Māori economy and the science, innovation and technology system,” he says. “Ko ngā mahi kōtuitui nei he ara pai e puāwai mai ai ngā pūkenga, ā, ka hua ai – these collaborations provide a strong pathway for skills to flourish and deliver outcomes.”

“We are committed to supporting Māori capability and participation in science and innovation, recognising this as a powerful driver of Aotearoa New Zealand’s economic strength through the growth of the Māori economy.”

More than 100 proposals were submitted to Rangapū Rangahau, demonstrating the scale of ambition and the strong appetite for new partnerships across the science, innovation and technology system.

Each project will receive $350,000 over two years. Among them:

• The New Zealand Institute for Earth Science Limited is co-developing bespoke AI forecasting tools with Māori tourism operators, starting with Whale Watch Kaikōura, to turn weather and environmental data into business-ready insights that strengthen resilience, support informed decision-making, and grow long-term economic opportunity for Māori tourism.
• Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, with the University of Otago, is co-developing a fast, easy-to-use point-of-need diagnostic tool for kauri dieback that supports kaitiaki and other frontline practitioners to rapidly detect disease, enabling timely intervention, and reducing the cost and delays of current monitoring methods.
• The University of Waikato, working with Muka Innovations and iwi partners, is developing scalable, eco-friendly mechanical processing techniques to transform harakeke into soft, high-quality textile fibres and yarns, enabling new Māori-led economic opportunities while supporting sustainable cultivation and modern product development.

Dr Martin says these programmes highlight the strong interest and capability in strengthening connections across the science, innovation and technology system.

This is the second of the two funding schemes in the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund, first announced in 2025. The successful recipients of Ara Whaihua Scheme, which funded research programmes with clear pathways to commercialisation and economic growth, were announced in December 2025.

“The strength of these projects shows He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund is delivering on its purpose, growing capability and breaking down barriers in our science system, while creating real benefits for communities and the wider economy.”

View the full list of successful proposals from the 2026 Rangapū Rangahau funding round:

Rangapū Rangahau successful proposals

Find out more about the fund:

He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund