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Notice Type
Departmental
Notice Title

He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund 2027 Investment Round

Publication Date
20 May 2026

Tags

Research, Science, and Technology Act Funding policy statements Business, Innovation and Employment

Notice Number

2026-go2602
Title
View PDF
File Type and Size
PDF (64 KB)

Notice to the Research Funding New Zealand Board

1. In this notice, I:

  1. specify that the Research Funding New Zealand Board is to make funding decisions on proposals for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund under section 10(3)(b) of the Research, Science, and Technology Act 2010 (“RS&T Act 2010”);
  2. set the criteria for the eligibility and assessment of proposals for the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund under section 8(1) of the RS&T Act 2010;
  3. specify the total value of funding available for the Research Funding New Zealand to award to proposals in the 2027 Investment Round; and
  4. specify the funding schemes to be used, and the value and duration of investments under those funding schemes.

General Policy Objectives

2. The general policy objectives of the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund are to:

  • Support economic growth by investing in the Māori economy and realising its potential through science, innovation and technology (SI&T), by growing Māori participation in SI&T and strengthening capability, capacity, skills and networks between Māori and the SI&T system.
  • Invest in impact pathways for research with a focus on enabling commercialisation and outcomes that promote economic growth from research.
  • Invest in the development of skilled people and organisations to undertake research that promotes economic outcomes, including environmental outcomes with clear economic benefits.

Interpretation

3. For the purposes of this notice and the Schedules to this notice, the terms:

  1. Vision Mātauranga policy means the government policy which aims to enable the distinctive research, science and innovation potential of Māori people, knowledge and resources.
  2. Research Organisation means an organisation that has sufficient internal capability* for carrying out research, science or technology, or related activities.
  3. Māori-facing Organisation means any organisation that has a clearly identified Māori individual or group(s) who play a central role in shaping, guiding, and delivering the proposed work.
  4. Māori Research Organisation means a Research Organisation that is a Māori-facing Organisation.
  5. 2027 Investment Round means the call for proposals made in 2026 and for which funding decisions are announced in 2027.
  6. Investment Plan means the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund Investment Plan approved by the Minister, dated May 2026, and published on MBIE’s website: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/science-and-innovation/funding-information-and-opportunities/investment-funds/he-ara-whakahihiko-capability-fund/he-ara-whakahihiko-capability-fund-2027-investment-plan.

*Internal capability refers to scientific research qualification/s or equivalent demonstrated experience in the science sector.

Funding Available

4. The Research Funding New Zealand Board may invest up to $8.6 million of new, annual funding (excluding GST) through the 2027 Investment Round for the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund with an indicative split of $2.1 million in the Ara Whaihua investment scheme and $6.5 million in the Rangapū Rangahau investment scheme.

5. The figures below show the indicative annual funding amounts available for each scheme in the 2028 and 2029 Investment Rounds:

  1. Ara Whaihua (Impact pathways for research): approximately $2.1 million (excluding GST)
  2. Rangapū Rangahau (Research partnerships): approximately $6.5 million (excluding GST)

For completeness, the Investment Plan covers both the funding available for the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund and an additional $1.982 million per year that is devolved to the Health Research Council of New Zealand. This additional $1.982 million in the He Ara Whakahihiko-Hauora Fund does not form part of this He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund.

Funding Decisions

6. The Research Funding New Zealand Board must make funding decisions on proposals for the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund in accordance with:

  1. the Public Finance Act 1989 and the relevant Appropriation Acts for Vote Business, Science and Innovation;
  2. the eligibility and assessment criteria specified in this notice and the relevant Schedules to this notice;
  3. the investment objectives set out in the Investment Plan, including:
    1. Increase the uptake and application of scientific research results by Māori SI&T users, businesses, and entrepreneurs through commercialisation and other pathways that promote economically focused outcomes, including environmental outcomes with demonstrable economic benefits.
    2. Build Māori users’ understanding of how scientific research can contribute to economic outcomes, including environmental outcomes with demonstrable economic benefits.
    3. Build scientific research capability, capacity, and skills and new partnerships with research organisations in alignment with the Vision Mātauranga policy themes and outcomes.
    4. Promote and improve understanding of Mātauranga Māori relevant to the science, innovation and technology system.

Portfolio Approach

7. Where the Research Funding New Zealand Board chooses to take a portfolio approach to funding decisions on proposals for the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund, the approach must include:

  1. ensuring that each proposal funded meets a sufficient standard of merit, as assessed against the Excellence and Impact criteria in the relevant Schedules to this notice;
  2. considering the extent to which the overall mix of investments made, and the resulting portfolio of new and existing contracts, aligns with the investment objectives set out in the Investment Plan;
  3. exercising discretion to assess the relative contribution, value, and strategic fit of proposals within the portfolio;
  4. avoiding duplication, or excessive concentration, of research effort within the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund and the broader public science system; and
  5. ensuring consistency with the government priorities and policy objectives set out in the Investment Plan.

Eligibility Criteria

Ara Whaihua (Impact Pathways for Research)

8. To be eligible for funding, proposals must:

  1. Be made by a New Zealand based single legal entity, that is a Māori-facing Organisation or a Māori Research Organisation.
  2. Not be made by a government department listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Public Service Act 2020.
  3. Be for activities relating to the translation of existing or new science to address a known problem or identify a route to market. Projects must include a science element; projects focused solely on product development are not eligible.
  4. Be for activities that clearly align with the funding purpose and requirements of the scheme as outlined in the Investment Plan.
  5. Not be for activities that already receive government funding.
  6. Not include any full-time tertiary students or school students.
  7. Not include work programme activities eligible for funding from Ministry of Education.
  8. Be for science translation activities, the majority of which are to be undertaken in New Zealand, unless RFNZ considers there are compelling reasons to consider the proposal despite the amount of science translation activities being proposed to be undertaken overseas*.

* If the majority of the work programme will not be carried out in New Zealand, then explain in your proposal the reasons for this and why they are compelling. If a work programme is to have significant linkages with indigenous knowledge practitioners in other countries, demonstrate how this will be of benefit to New Zealand.

  1. 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.
  2. Be made by an applicant who is not in material breach of any MBIE science funding contract and who does not have any outstanding remedial actions associated with any termination of any MBIE science funding contract.
  3. Be submitted in https://pitau.mbie.govt.nz/ (MBIE’s Investment Management System) and meet any applicable timing, formatting, content, or other administrative requirements set by MBIE.
  4. Address one or more of the Vision Mātauranga policy themes: Taiao, Indigenous Innovation and/or Mātauranga.

Rangapū Rangahau (Research partnerships):

9. To be eligible for funding, proposals must:

  1. Be made by a New Zealand based single legal entity, that is a Māori-facing Organisation or a Research Organisation.
  2. Not be made by a government department listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Public Service Act 2020.
  3. Be co-developed between at least one Research Organisation and one Māori-facing Organisation, where:
    • one of these parties takes the lead as the applicant and the other(s) as the partner(s),
    • no more than one of the parties is a public research organisation (for example a Crown Research Institute or a university),
    • two or more of the parties are not part of the same group of companies* or departments within a single organisation (for example, a university), and
    • the application includes:
      • a co-development letter that demonstrates how the work programme has been co-developed and is signed by the applicant and partner(s), and
      • information on how the Māori-facing Organisation(s) meets the definition of Māori-facing Organisation.

*Parties will be in the same group of companies if one is a holding company and another is a subsidiary or two or more are subsidiaries of the same holding company (as defined in section 5 of the Companies Act 1993).

  1. Be for activities that clearly align with the funding purpose and requirements of the scheme as outlined in the Investment Plan.
  2. Not be for activities that already receive government funding.
  3. Not include any full-time tertiary students or school students.
  4. Not include work programme activities that are eligible for funding from the Ministry of Education.
  5. Be for scientific research activities where the majority of the work programme is to be undertaken in New Zealand, unless RFNZ considers there are compelling reasons to consider the proposal despite the amount of scientific research activities being proposed to be undertaken overseas**.

**If the majority of the work programme will not be carried out in New Zealand, then explain in your proposal the reasons for this and why they are compelling. If a work programme is to have significant linkages with indigenous knowledge practitioners in other countries, demonstrate how this will be of benefit to New Zealand.

  1. 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.
  2. Be made by an applicant who is not in material breach of any MBIE science funding contract and who does not have any outstanding remedial actions associated with any termination of any MBIE science funding contract.
  3. Be submitted in https://pitau.mbie.govt.nz/ – MBIE’s Investment Management System and meet any applicable timing, formatting, content, or other administrative requirements as set by MBIE.
  4. Address one or more of the Vision Mātauranga policy themes: Taiao, Indigenous Innovation and/or Mātauranga.

10. Proposals determined to be ineligible by the Research Funding New Zealand Board under the eligibility criteria in paragraphs 8 or 9 cannot be awarded funding.

Effective Date

11. This notice will come into effect on 1 July 2026.

12. This notice will be revoked on 1 November 2027.

Dated at Wellington this 20th day of May 2026.

Hon PENNY SIMMONDS, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.

Schedule 1

Ara Whaihua (Impact Pathways for Research): Investment Scheme

Specific Policy Objectives

1. This scheme focusses on scientific research that is ready to be implemented, rather than exploratory. It invests in work programmes of 12 months and focusses primarily on commercialisation and promoting economic growth from science.

Value and Duration of Funding

2. Investments made under the Ara Whaihua scheme will have a duration of one year.

3. Investments made under the Ara Whaihua scheme will have a value of $100,000 per contract.

4. The Research Funding New Zealand Board will aim to fund approximately 21 Ara Whaihua proposals in each investment round.

Assessment Criteria

5. In reaching funding decisions, the Research Funding New Zealand Board must assess proposals for Ara Whaihua having regard to the extent to which each proposal meets the following criterion:

Excellence

6. The Fund seeks excellence by developing, retaining, and attracting talented people and organisations through undertaking high quality scientific research, and innovation solutions relevant to science, innovation and technology.

Leveraging Excellent Science (15%)

7. Key Question: To what extent does the activity build on or leverage excellent science to support commercialisation and/or economic outcomes?

  • Does the activity leverage existing scientific research, capability, networks, and relationships?
  • Will the activity go beyond ‘business as usual’ for the organisations involved, for example by building on excellent science?
Ability to Deliver (35%)

8. Key Question: What is the likelihood that the outputs of the proposed project will be achieved?

  • Are all involved parties and the work programme appropriately resourced and supported, including management and facilities?
  • Will the plan for carrying out the proposed work programme achieve the intended outcomes?
  • How does the calibre, experience, and skills of the team relate to the subject area(s) proposed for the work programme?
  • Have challenges to delivery been identified and mitigated?
  • Does the team have the appropriate mandate to conduct this work?
Impact

9. The Fund seeks impact through programmes of work that explore the ways in which scientific research and its development and commercial application can benefit whānau, communities, the Māori economy and New Zealand.

Outcomes from Science, Innovation and Technology Translation (25%)

10. Key Question: What are the impact pathways of the project and expected benefits to the applicant organisation?

  • Does the proposal describe the expected post contract impact pathways of this activity?
  • Do the expected benefits align with the aspirations of the applicant organisation?
  • Will the project develop new or enhanced science, innovation and technology translation capability in the applicant organisation?
Science, Innovation & Technology Benefits and Vision Mātauranga (25%)

11. Key Question: How will the increased translation capability and capacity benefit the science, innovation and technology sector, and to what extent does the project support the Vision Mātauranga policy?

  • Will the project increase science translation capability and networks between Māori and the SI&T system to deliver benefit to New Zealand?
  • How does the project address the Vision Mātauranga policy theme(s) selected?

12. Once proposals have been assessed against the assessment criteria in this schedule, the Research Funding New Zealand Board may also assess them for alignment with investment objectives in the Investment Plan and may apply the portfolio approach described in clause 7 of the main notice.

Schedule 2

Rangapū Rangahau (Research Partnerships): Investment Scheme

Specific Policy Objectives

1. This scheme invests in work programmes of two years that strengthen capability and networks by building new connections between Māori and the science, innovation and technology system. It funds research partnerships between Research Organisations and Māori to undertake SI&T relevant research focussing on economic outcomes, including environmental outcomes with clear economic benefits, aligned with the Science Investment Plan. These will be for programmes of work which would not ordinarily be achievable during normal business.

Value and Duration of Funding

2. Investments made under the Rangapū Rangahau scheme will have a duration of two years.

3. Investments made under the Rangapū Rangahau scheme will have a value of $350,000 across the two years.

4. The Research Funding New Zealand Board will aim to fund approximately 18 proposals each investment round.

Assessment Criteria

5. In reaching funding decisions, the Research Funding New Zealand Board must initially assess Rangapū Rangahau proposals for the extent to which each proposal meets the following criterion:

Excellence

6. The Fund seeks excellence by developing, retaining, and attracting talented people and organisations through undertaking high quality scientific research, and innovation solutions relevant to science, innovation and technology.

Development of People, Partnerships, and Skills (25%)

7. Key Question: To what extent are longer-term capabilities and networks likely to emerge to generate excellent science which support economic outcomes, including environmental outcomes with clear economic benefits?

  • Will the project build research capability networks and partnerships for generating excellent science?
  • Will the project go beyond ‘business as usual’ for the organisations involved? For example, establish a new long-term research collaboration.
  • To what extent will the project substantially develop capability and skill of the participants?
Ability to Deliver (25%)

8. Key Question: What is the likelihood that the outputs of the proposed project will be achieved?

  • How does the calibre, experience, and skills of the team relate to the subject area(s) proposed for the work programme?
  • Does the team have the appropriate mandate to conduct this work?
  • Are all involved parties and the work programme appropriately resourced and supported, including management and facilities?
  • Have challenges to delivery been identified and mitigated?
Impact

9. The Fund seeks impact through programmes of work that explore the ways in which scientific research and its development and commercial application can benefit whānau, communities, the Māori economy and New Zealand.

Science, Innovation and Technology Outcomes (25%)

10. Key Question: Will the project deliver SI&T relevant research leading to economic outcomes, including environmental outcomes with clear economic benefits and what are the expected impacts of the research?

  • Does the SI&T relevant research have the potential to lead to tangible economic outcomes, including environmental outcomes with clear economic benefits and impacts?
  • Will the project uplift Māori science capability and capacity to benefit the Māori-facing organisation(s)?
  • Do the expected science outcomes align with the aspirations of the Māori-facing organisation(s)?
  • Will the science outcomes be disseminated to wider Māori and/or other stakeholders?
Science, Innovation & Technology Benefits and Vision Mātauranga (25%)

11. Key Question: Will the increased science capability and capacity benefit the science, innovation and technology sector, and to what extent does the project support the Vision Mātauranga policy?

  • Will the project develop excellent science and partnerships which enables Māori-facing organisations to deliver benefit to New Zealand?
  • Will the project uplift Māori science capability and capacity to benefit the SI&T sector?
  • Will the project identify and support future opportunities for Māori to participate in the SI&T sector?
  • How well does the project address the Vision Mātauranga policy theme(s) selected?

12. Once proposals have been assessed against the assessment criteria in this schedule, the Research Funding New Zealand Board may also assess them for alignment with investment objectives in the Investment Plan and may apply the portfolio approach described in clause 7 of the main notice.