Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships Terms of Reference

General Terms of Reference

Background

The Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia Te Mana Research Fellowships are administered by [the provider] on behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (the Ministry).

The Fellowships will support researchers at different career stages to produce excellent and impactful research and to develop into leaders of the Aotearoa New Zealand research system. It is expected that Fellows, throughout their careers, will contribute to positive outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand. Receipt of an Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia Te Mana Research Fellowship is expected to have significant value for the future career development and leadership potential of a researcher.

Objective

The primary objective of the Fellowships is to develop the future leaders of the Aotearoa New Zealand research, science and innovation (RSI) system. The Fellowships will:

• improve retention of future research leaders within the RSI system, both during the fellowship and in their post-fellowship careers, through development of a strong track record, allowing them to compete with the best researchers in New Zealand and the world for mainstream research funds
• support career development, both individually and as a cohort, to empower Fellows to become leaders in their fields, their institutions and across the RSI system
• improve equity and diversity within the RSI system, in particular by increasing opportunities for Māori, Pacific Peoples and women
• reward and support a range of boundary-pushing research activities, including those that focus on generating impact from research.

Description

The Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia Te Mana Research Fellowships consist of three schemes, targeted at early, mid and late career researchers respectively. The three schemes are:

• New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
• New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
• New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship

These names were inspired by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s karakia, which describes a set of values enabling the aspiration to “Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for all.” Mana Tūāpapa refers to building the foundations of one’s reputation, Mana Tūānuku to building an established and expansive reputation, and Mana Tūārangi to building a reputation that extends far beyond one’s own career span.

These general Terms of Reference are common across all three schemes, with elements that are specific to individual schemes contained in following sections.

Eligibility                                      

The Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia Te Mana Research Fellowships are open to researchers who demonstrate the potential to become leaders in the Aotearoa New Zealand RSI system.

To be eligible applicants must:

• be either a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
• have a PhD, or have completed all requirements for their PhD to be conferred at the time of application
• be supported by a New Zealand-based research institution, with a supporting declaration that affirms that:
  • The applicant satisfies the eligibility criteria.
  • The applicant has good potential to develop and progress their research career.
  • They will employ the applicant at least for the duration of the Fellowship.
  • They will facilitate the provision of support and facilities to enable the applicant to succeed in their Fellowship for the duration of the Fellowship.

Host eligibility

The host institution must be a New Zealand-based research organisation that can demonstrate it is capable and willing to provide support and facilities that will enable the applicant to succeed in their Fellowship.

The host institution cannot be a department of the public service as listed in Schedule 2 of the Public Service Act 2020.

Eligible hosts are research organisations based in New Zealand that meet the following definition: ‘An organisation that has sufficient internal capability for carrying out research, science or technology, or related activities in New Zealand.’

Additional eligibility criteria

In accordance with the Russia Sanctions Act 2022 the applicant and their research must not benefit a Russian state institution (including but not limited to support for Russian military or security activity) or an organisation outside government that may be perceived as contributing to the war effort.

Additional eligibility criteria for the individual schemes may be found in their respective sections.

Criteria

The award criteria must ensure successful proposals are consistent with the background and objectives of the Fellowships stated above.

Eligibility and selection criteria will be determined by the Ministry in conjunction with [the provider]. The Ministry may adjust these from time to time to increase the schemes’ effectiveness. [the provider] will publish these criteria annually at the start of each funding round.

Rules

• An applicant may make only one application for an Tāwhia Te Mana Research Fellowship in any one application round.
• Successful applicants must commence their programme of research within six months of the award notification.
• Successful applicants may not engage in other professional employment during the Fellowship without prior agreement by [the provider].

The host must ensure successful applicants have access to parental leave in line with the host’s normal practice.

Selection process

The selection process will be determined by the Ministry in conjunction with [the provider]. This process will reflect MBIE’s Diversity in Science Statement, with a commitment to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion in the final cohort of funded Fellows. The final award decisions will be made by the Ministry. The selection process will be published when the Fellowship opens for applications.

Reporting, monitoring and evaluation

[The provider] will report to the Ministry on the Fellowships in accordance with the Funding Agreement. The reporting will include information on the applications, monitoring of the Fellows and administration of the scheme, and any suggested changes to improve the effectiveness of the scheme.

Evaluations will be carried out by MBIE from time to time to ensure the objectives of the scheme are being met. In response to those evaluations MBIE, in consultation with [the provider], may update these Terms of Reference.

New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships

Objective

The New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships will support Aotearoa New Zealand’s most talented early career researchers to establish the foundations of an excellent and impactful research career.

Description

Around twenty New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships of four years in length will be awarded on a competitive basis annually, for research in any field based in an Aotearoa New Zealand host institution.

Eligibility

For the purposes of the New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships, an early career researcher is a researcher whose PhD was conferred within six years of the closing date for applications. The eligibility period for PhD conferral may be extended under any of the following scenarios at the discretion of [the provider]:

• extended sickness leave
• part-time employment or career interruptions because of care giving responsibilities
• to account for work or service in the community or an industry.

Criteria

Applicants will be assessed on:

• applicant track record and potential to establish, re-enter or progress their career in research relative to opportunity
• the clear articulation of a research plan with high likelihood to deliver research outcomes
• suitability of the host’s capability to support the Fellow (including cultural support and commitment to embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi) throughout the Fellowship.

Selection process

The selection process will be determined by the Ministry in conjunction with [the provider] and will include suitability assessment conducted by an independent panel followed by a stratified selection ballot of panel recommended applicants. The stratified selection ballot will ensure that:

• around 20 per cent of fellowships are awarded to applicants who whakapapa Māori
• around 10 per cent of fellowships are awarded to applicants who identify as being of Pacific ethnicity
• around 50 per cent of fellowships are awarded to applicants who identify as female.

The final award decisions will be made by the Ministry. The selection process will be published when the Fellowship opens for applications.

Scheme operation

Fellowships are awarded on 0.8 Full Time Equivalent basis, unless otherwise agreed by the [the provider]. The remainder of Fellows’ time may be used for other research, teaching and non-research related development opportunities.

The duration of the Fellowship will be for 4 years. The Fellowship may be undertaken on a part-time basis to enable the Fellow to fulfil family and/or care responsibilities, including personal care, subject to agreement by the host and [the provider], in which case the duration of the Fellowship may be extended up to a maximum of 8 years.

The total value of the Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship is $820,000. The Fellowship will award per annum (excl. GST):

• $82,500 contribution to the researcher’s salary
• $82,500 in organisational overheads
• $40,000 for research-related expenses.

By exception, with agreement of the applicant, the host and the provider, the contributions above may be shifted between the different components, as long as the sum of the contributions does not exceed the total value of the award.

New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowships

Objective

The New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowships will support mid-career researchers to firmly establish themselves as experts in their research domain and as leaders within the research landscape.

Description

Up to ten New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowships of four years in length will be awarded on a competitive basis annually, for research in any field based in a Aotearoa New Zealand host institution.

Eligibility

For the purposes of the New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowships, a mid- career researcher is a researcher whose PhD was conferred more than six years and less than twelve years from the closing date for applications. The eligibility period for PhD conferral may be extended under any of the following scenarios at the discretion of [the provider]:

• extended sickness leave
• part-time employment or career interruptions as a result of care giving responsibilities
• To account for work or service in the community or in industry.

Criteria

Applicants will be assessed on:

• calibre of the applicant as a research leader, which may include: vision for their field of work, team leadership, knowledge transfer activity, entrepreneurial activity
• applicant track record and potential to establish, re-enter or progress their career in research relative to opportunity
• the clear articulation of a research plan with high likelihood to deliver research outcomes
• suitability of the host’s capability to support the Fellow (including cultural support and commitment to embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi) throughout the Fellowship.

Selection process

The selection process will be determined by the Ministry in conjunction with [the provider] and may include suitability assessment conducted by an independent panel followed by a stratified selection ballot of panel recommended applicants. The process will ensure that:

• around 20 per cent of fellowships are awarded to applicants who whakapapa Māori
• around 10 per cent of fellowships are awarded to applicants who identify as being of Pacific ethnicity
• around 50 per cent of fellowships are awarded to applicants who identify as female.

The final award decisions will be made by the Ministry. The selection process will be published when the Fellowship opens for applications.

Scheme operation

Fellowships may be awarded between a 0.4 and 0.8 Full Time Equivalent basis as requested by the applicant at the time of application, unless otherwise agreed by [the provider]. The remainder of Fellows’ time may be used for other research, teaching and non-research related development opportunities.

The duration of the Fellowship will be for 4 years. The Fellowship may be undertaken on a part-time basis to enable the Fellow to fulfil family and/or care responsibilities, including personal care, subject to agreement by the host and [the provider], in which case the duration of the Fellowship may be extended up to a maximum of 8 years.

The total value of the Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship is $1,160,000. The Fellowship will award per annum (excl. GST):

• $115,000 towards the researcher’s salary
• $115,000 in organisational overheads
• $60,000 for research-related expenses.

These amounts will be pro-rated depending on the agreed FTE basis of the Fellowship. By exception, with agreement of the applicant, the host and the provider, the contributions above may be shifted between the different components, as long as the sum of the contributions does not exceed the total value of the award.

New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowships

Objective

The New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship will support researchers with expansive, international and transdisciplinary reputations to make contributions that will extend beyond their own career span.

Description

Two New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowships of between one and two years of length will be awarded on a competitive basis annually.

Criteria

Applicants will be assessed on:

• Research quality (sustained excellence in research)
• Leadership quality (calibre of the applicant as a research leader, which may include vision for their field of work, team leadership, knowledge transfer activity, entrepreneurial activity).
• Benefit to the wider New Zealand RSI system (strengthening international or domestic research connections, mentoring and training of early career researchers and research students)

Selection process

The selection process will be determined by the Ministry in conjunction with [the provider] and will involve a strong element of peer assessment.

Scheme operation

The total value of the Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship is $220,000. The funding is able to be used over a period of between one and two years, as indicated by the applicant at the time of application. Up to $100,000 per year can be taken as a contribution to the researchers’ salary, with the remaining amount to be used for research related expenses to deliver the research and benefit to the Aotearoa New Zealand RSI system outlined in the application.

This study or research may be undertaken in a location and institution whether in Aotearoa New Zealand or overseas, as agreed by the Fellow and the host institution at the time of application.