Māori Cancer Research Awards 2025

Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa (Cancer Society) and Hei Āhuru Mōwai are once again partnering this year to award the Māori Cancer Researcher Awards 2025. Both Master's and PhD Scholarships are available. Applications are due at 1 pm Monday 13 October 2025.

Ka whati te tai, ka pao te tōrea (seize the opportunity that this could bring)

Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa (The Cancer Society of New Zealand) is a major funder of life-saving and world-class cancer research through its Research Grants Programme. Hei Āhuru Mōwai (Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa) is a network of internationally and nationally renowned Māori cancer experts who deliver indigenous expertise to cancer control in Aotearoa.

Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa and Hei Āhuru Mōwai are continuing their partnership this year to award a round of Research Master's and PhD scholarships to Māori cancer researchers.

The Māori Cancer Researcher Awards 2025 demonstrate our shared commitment to advance Māori aspirations in cancer research, and our recognition of the importance of representation in the research workforce in achieving this.

Eligibility

The Māori Cancer Researcher Awards 2025 are for researchers who are committed to hauora Māori, maximising Māori cancer health gains, addressing existing cancer inequities, and/or fostering Māori health aspirations. We value applications that include kaupapa Māori and mātauranga Māori.

To be eligible, you must: 

  • Be of Māori descent

  • Be resident in Aotearoa New Zealand

  • Have academic supervision which includes at least one Māori supervisor. Those unable to identify a Māori supervisor are encouraged to get in touch prior to applying. Information on supporting Māori students through their studies can be found here: https://www.heiahurumowai.org.nz/rangahau

  • Intend to enrol or already be enrolled in a Research Master's or PhD. Those who have not yet enrolled for their proposed course of study but are intending to do so may apply for this scholarship. In this case any award will be conditional on the applicant’s successful enrolment in either a Research Master's or PhD at a University or Whare Wānanga in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Each Master's Scholarship will comprise the following components and will last for one year (12 months):

  • Stipend of $35,000

  • Tuition fees of $10,000

Each PhD Scholarship will comprise the following components and will last for three years (36 months):

  • Stipend of $40,000 per year

  • Tuition fees of $10,000 per year

  • Tikanga contribution of $10,000 across the course of the award

Part-time students are welcome to enrol, noting that for such students the scholarship would be pro-rated. The award will not be granted for a period longer than the equivalent of one year (Master's) or three years (PhD) fulltime.

How to apply

Applications will be through the Cancer Society Grant Portal. You can set up your Grant Portal Account here: https://cancersociety.app.tahua.io/users/sign_up

Masters Scholarship: Link to application

PhD Scholarship: Link to application

Applications are due at 1 pm Monday 13 October 2025.

For more information

If you have any pātai, please email Research Manager Dr Nicole Stanton at research@cancer.org.nz

Cancer Society and Hei Āhuru Mōwai Logos