Māori Health Research Projects (Rangahau Hauora Māori)

Māori Health Research Projects (Rangahau Hauora Māori)

Supports Māori-led health teams in New Zealand with practical research-to-service projects.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) operates a dedicated Māori health investment stream — Rangahau Hauora Māori — governed by the HRC's Māori Health Committee. The stream is built on core values of rangatiratanga (Māori leadership), mana, tika, manaakitanga, and whakapapa, and funds researcher-led, investigator-initiated projects that aim to improve Māori health outcomes. Rangahau Hauora Māori Projects sit within this stream alongside Programme Funding and Explorer Grants, paralleling the structure of HRC's mainstream Ideas Funding suite but applying Māori-specific governance and cultural eligibility requirements.

The 2026 Rangahau Hauora Māori Projects round ran an expression of interest (EOI) stage from 14 August to 17 September 2025, followed by a full applications window from 6 November to 11 December 2025; the round is now closed. The award quantum for this stream is not separately published in HRC source materials and cannot be confirmed as equivalent to mainstream Project Grants (which cap at NZD 1,200,000 over up to five years). Individual researchers are not eligible to apply; proposals must be submitted through a host organisation such as a university or non-profit research entity based in New Zealand.

Proposals must demonstrably uphold rangatiratanga and other Māori values throughout the research design and execution. The Māori Health Committee makes funding decisions for this stream, providing an independent governance pathway from the mainstream HRC assessment process. Applicants should demonstrate engagement with Māori communities, evidence of Māori leadership in the research team, and clarity on how the work will contribute to improved health outcomes for Māori. Applications are submitted via the HRC Gateway portal; the next cycle is expected in late 2026 based on the 2026 calendar pattern.