Health Research Council of New Zealand

Funds health science in New Zealand through grants that support clinical, translational, and public health investigation teams.

The Health Research Council of New Zealand is the country's principal government funder of health research, established under the Health Research Council Act 1990. It is responsible for supporting research that improves health and wellbeing for New Zealanders and is governed by a 10-member Council.

HRC funds work through three streams: Ideas Funding, Priorities Funding, and People-Focused Funding. The record names programme grants up to NZD 5 million, project grants up to NZD 1.2 million, explorer grants up to NZD 150,000, and health delivery projects up to NZD 1.4 million, alongside Māori and Pacific health streams and the He Ara Whakahihiko Hauora Fund.

Its strongest fit is investigator-led or targeted health research with clear public value, especially biomedical, clinical, public health, Māori health, and Pacific health projects. The funding calendar shows staged annual rounds, so applicants need to work to the relevant call and submission window rather than expect an always-open route.