Expanding the Impact of Vision Mātauranga – 2023 investment plan

He aha Expanding the Impact of Vision Mātauranga? What is Expanding the Impact of Vision Mātauranga?

This investment plan outlines the policy context for the Expanding the Impact of Vision Mātauranga initiative, the aims and objectives of the initiative, and the initiative’s funding schemes.

The initiative aims to create a sustainable Māori research and science workforce and making research fit-for-purpose for Māori people, Mātauranga Māori and Rangahau Māori through investments organised around the following themes:

• Talent - attract and grow Māori talent in the RSI system.
• Navigate - enable Māori to better navigate and participate in the RSI system.
• Investment - fund Māori-led RSI.

The initiative symbolises a commitment from the Crown to invest in growing and building Māori-led Research, Science and Innovation (RSI). The initiative is an incremental action in the pursuit of honouring Te Tiriti in RSI by providing dedicated and effective investment in Māori-led RSI.

The initiative supports the themes and outcomes of the Vision Mātauranga policy which aims to unlock the science and innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources and people to assist New Zealanders to create a better future.

Vision Mātauranga policy

Funding is available through the 5 Expanding the Impact of Vision Mātauranga funding schemes as a combination of one-off and annual funding rounds that fund initiatives that focus on:

• creating a sustainable Māori research and science workforce
• making research fit-for-purpose for Māori people, Mātauranga Māori, and Rangahau Māori.

The initiative invests in activity to develop the system as a whole. The initiative focuses on achieving excellence and impact by investing in the development of people and organisations with the skills and capacity to develop high quality research programmes that are relevant to implementing the Vision Mātauranga Policy.

It seeks impact through programmes of work that explore the ways in which scientific research and its development and application can benefit individuals, whānau, Māori communities and Māori organisations. Investment in excellence through the initiative will help the science system develop, retain, and attract talented individuals, and enable Iwi, hapū, hāpori, and Māori rōpū to achieve their priorities through RSI.

Administration of the Expanding the Impact of Vision Mātauranga schemes is by MBIE or devolved to a partnering funding agency under an MBIE funding agreement.

Design of the assessment is guided by our commitment to designing our approaches with Māori, ensuring that the uses to which funding are put are Māori-led and we act in a way that is consistent with tikanga Māori.

Investment decisions are influenced by the level of funds available to invest and may be subject to government changes to investment levels or appropriations.

Tumanakotanga - Investment objectives

The investment objectives of the initiative are:

• Iwi, hapū, hāpori, and Māori rōpū to achieve their priorities through the application of existing knowledge and generation of new knowledge using RSI, including mātauranga Māori.
• Māori entities generate and apply RSI knowledge to benefit Māori communities, researchers, knowledge holders and Aotearoa katoa.
• Māori researchers and knowledge holders included, valued, and retained within the RSI system and have equitable access to opportunities to develop their leadership skills.
• Māori well represented and recognised throughout the RSI sector, particularly in leadership, and Māori researchers are thriving as Māori.
• enabling Māori entities to lead and participate in RSI-enabling activities.
• Māori and Pacific early to mid-career researchers are supported to establish and progress in STEM research careers.
• emerging, tertiary-qualified Māori technology experts and entrepreneurs are supported to obtain offshore experience, develop relevant networks, and access a skills pathway in the agritech industry.

Ka rere te manu - Funding schemes

Funding for this initiative comes from the Science Strategic Investment Fund multi-category appropriation and the Talent & Science Promotion - Science in Society appropriation.  

The Expanding the Impact of Vision Mātauranga initiative has 5 funding schemes:

• Kanapu Programme
• He tipu ka hua fund
• He aka ka toro fund
• Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao Fellowships
• Te Ara Pōtiki 

Kanapu programme

The Kanapu programme receives funding of up to $6.5m (excluding GST) to deliver a Māori-designed and led programme to support and accelerate Māori talent and leadership across the RSI system.

This programme comprises a suite of activities to connect, attract, nurture, and accelerate Māori talent and leadership in the RSI system. The support includes training and development of soft skills, including relational and networking skills, for Māori researchers in the community, Tertiary Education Organisations, Crown Research Institutes, and independent research organisations.

Through this scheme, we expect to see:

• strengthened connections between the RSI system and hapū, iwi, and Māori communities
• support for Māori scientists, researchers, and knowledge-holders to thrive as Māori within the RSI system
• opportunities provided for Māori scientists, researchers, and knowledge-holders to access the right resources and supports to develop their talent and leadership skills
• leveraging and development of customized tools and resources to support RSI system navigation.

Investment objectives:

This funding scheme contributes to the following investment objectives:

• Māori researchers and knowledge holders included, valued, and retained within the RSI system and have equitable access to opportunities to develop their leadership skills.
• Māori well represented and recognised throughout the RSI sector, particularly in leadership, and Māori researchers are thriving as Māori.

The Kanapu Programme is designed and led by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga under a 6 year MBIE funding agreement with the University of Auckland.

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga(external link)

He tipu ka hua fund

He tipu ka hua fund will invest up to $6m (excluding GST) per annum for up to 5 years in Māori-led research programmes.

He tipu ka hua funds investment in Māori-led RSI, Māori communities, mātauranga Māori and kaupapa Māori. He tipu ka hua will allow for stronger deployment of RSI investment towards communities and rohe/takiwā where Māori knowledge is practiced, and where experts and practitioners are based.

He tipu ka hua is intended to make a meaningful difference to the capability and capacity of Māori to engage with the RSI system and by doing so generate new research activity.

Through this scheme, we expect to see:

• Māori communities generating tangible benefits from RSI activities
• Māori communities building on existing knowledge, including mātauranga Māori, and generating new knowledge towards achieving their economic, social, cultural, environmental aspirations
• increased capacity to navigate the wide RSI ecosystem as a viable locus for solution seeking
• Māori entities leading RSI projects for the benefit of Māori communities.

He tipu ka hua is a new fund of up to $6 million per year and will be administered by MBIE as a one-off investment round. He tipu ka hua focuses on achieving excellence and impact by investing in Māori-led organisations that have the capacity and capability to manage a substantial research programme.

It seeks excellence through scientifically rigorous research that reflects the interests and aspirations of Māori. It seeks impact through research programmes that expand the capacity of Māori communities and researchers to harness RSI and result in tangible benefits for Māori communities.

Investment objectives

This funding scheme contributes to the following investment objectives:

• Iwi, hapū, hāpori, and Māori rōpū to achieve their priorities through the application of existing knowledge and generation of new knowledge using RSI, including mātauranga Māori.
• Māori entities generate and apply RSI knowledge to benefit Māori communities, researchers, knowledge holders and Aotearoa katoa.

Funding considerations

When making funding decisions, MBIE will seek to ensure:

• diversity of project by foci and organisational type and reasonable dispersion among rohe and takiwā
• the quality of proposals received, with final allocations of funding to successful proposals made by MBIE.

He tipu ka hua is administered by MBIE as a one-off investment round. 

He aka ka toro fund

He aka ka toro fund invests up to $4m per annum (excluding GST) in projects that advance iwi, hapū, hapori, and Māori rōpū RSI priorities and allow for stronger deployment of RSI investment towards communities and rohe/takiwā where Māori knowledge is practiced, and where experts and practitioners are based.

Through this scheme, we expect to see:

• Māori entities developing new or additional capabilities to navigate and receive benefit from the RSI funding ecosystem
• more Māori entities being inspired and enabled to lead and participate in RSI activities
• new connections or initiatives between Māori entities and the RSI sector, including mātauranga Māori and STEM
• more Māori communities benefiting from research, science and innovation
• Māori being empowered to decide on research priorities and how they will go about responding to these.

He aka ka toro is a new fund of up to $4 million per year established in 2023. He aka ka toro will be administered by MBIE on ongoing basis. Funding will be non-contestable, and assessment would be conducted on a first in, first served basis. Assessment will occur periodically during each year.

At launch, there will be 3 tiers of grants: small @ $50,000 (excluding GST) to get research ready, medium @ $100,000 (excluding GST) to conduct small scale research projects or more extensive capability development and large @ $250,000 (excluding GST) to undertake translational research. Each project will have a duration of between 3 months and 2 years. 

He aka ka toro achieves excellence and impact by investing in Māori-led organisations that have needs and aspirations that can be met through RSI.

It seeks excellence through projects that develop the capacity and capability of Māori organisations, respond to an identified information or research need or translate research discoveries into practical actions that will benefit Māori. It seeks impact through projects that expand the capacity of Māori communities and researchers to harness RSI and result in tangible benefits for Māori communities.

Investment objectives

This funding scheme contributes to the following investment objective:

• enabling Māori entities to lead and participate in RSI-enabling activities.

Funding considerations

When making funding decisions, MBIE will seek to ensure:

• the desirability of funding a portfolio of projects undertaken in a range of rohe and takiwā across Aotearoa New Zealand and across a range of organisational types
• evidence of alignment with the published minimum quality standards, with final allocations of funding to successful proposals made by MBIE.

He aka ka toro is administered by MBIE with 5 funding rounds available each year. Projects may have terms of between three months and 2 years.

Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao Fellowships

Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao Fellowships will provide total funding of $19.3m (excluding GST) to early and mid-career Māori and Pacific researchers working primarily in STEM fields at eligible New Zealand research organisations. These fellowships will be allocated on a competitive basis and awards will include funding for salary contributions, overheads, and research-related expenses. 

Through this scheme, we expect to see

• more stability and security of employment for Māori and Pacific early- and mid-career researchers
• more Māori and Pacific early and mid-career researchers involved in the STEM workforce
• increased investment in Māori and Pacific researchers’ contributions to the STEM workforce

Investment objectives

This funding scheme contributes to the following investment objectives:

• Māori and Pacific early to mid-career researchers are supported to establish and progress in STEM research careers.

Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao Fellowships will be devolved to Te Apārangi – the Royal Society to administer under a four-year MBIE funding agreement.

Te Apārangi – the Royal Society(external link)

Te Ara Pōtiki

MBIE is providing 3 years of seed funding ($796,000 excluding GST) to Te Ara Pōtiki, a global Māori agritech knowledge exchange programme, designed and administered by and for Māori.

Grounded in cultural and commercial imperatives, Te Ara Pōtiki will place high calibre Māori talent in world-leading technology businesses in the United States. The goal is to provide experience, networks, and career pathways for emerging Māori researchers and entrepreneurs/innovators.

In turn, the participants will contribute to research and business that strengthens iwi commercial asset development. They will also enrich their placement company, bringing fresh diverse thinking that will give the company an edge in the competition for talent.

Te Ara Pōtiki(external link)

Context

Expanding the Impact of Vision Mātauranga supports delivery of The National Statement of Science Investment and He Kai Kei Aku Ringa as well as the Vision Mātauranga policy.

National Statement of Science Investment

He kai kei aku ringa: Strategy and action plan

Vision Mātauranga policy

This initiative is the first investment that delivers on the outcomes of Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways.

Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways

Contact us

For queries about the Expanding the Impact of Vision Mātauranga initiative, email EIVM@mbie.govt.nz.