Māori Cancer Research Awards 2022
Hei Āhuru Mōwai and Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa are once again partnering this year to award the Māori Cancer Researcher Awards 2022. This year we will be offering both Masters and PhD Scholarships.
Hei Āhuru Mōwai and Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa are continuing their partnership this year to award a round of Research Masters and PhD scholarships to Māori Cancer Researchers.
The Māori Cancer Researcher Awards 2022 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 2022 are for researchers who are committed to hauora Māori, maximising Māori cancer health gains, addressing existing cancer and health inequities. 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.
-
Intend to enrol or already be enrolled in a Research Masters 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 Masters or PhD at a New Zealand Wānanga or University.
Each Masters 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 (Masters) or three years (PhD) fulltime.
How to apply
Applications have now closed. Thank you to all those who have applied. We will contact you shortly about your application.
Tirohia mai
Check out our successful 2021 applicants

Irene Kereama-Royal
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto
Kei Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi e rangahau ana
Te Ira Tangata, Te Oranga Whānau - Racism, genetics and Māori health inequity: An examination of the contribution of racism in genetics to cancer inequities among whānau Māori
Irene’s PhD examines the reasons for mistrust among whānau Māori with participating in genetics research and identifying the potential of genomics health to lift Māori health inequities in cancers.
He arohaehae I ngā take mō te hopo o ngā whānau Māori kia kuhu atu ki te rangahau mātai iranga tā Irene rangahau. Ko te whāinga, he turaki I aua taiapa e āhei ai te Māori te kuhu atu.
"The funding is important - it provides a deeper understanding from whānau Māori voices about the barriers and disparities that lead to low participation rates in genetics based research, for example, where whānau have familial cancer.”

Dr Myra Ruka
Raukawa, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kuri
He Clinical Haematologist ki Waikato.
Kei Te Waipapa Taumata Rau ia e rangahau ana
No Quality in Cancer Care, Without Kaupapa Māori Care Everywhere
In her mahi, Myra has identified that health system design is a major contributor to unjust and unfair Māori cancer outcomes. Myra’s PhD project aims to develop an equity and Tiriti o Waitangi led quality improvement framework for cancer care in Aotearoa. It will also include co-design and implementation of a Kaupapa Māori Cancer Service in the early cancer care pathway.
Kua tautohua e ia te moananui ki waenganui I te Māori me te Pākehā. Ko te hanganga o te pūnaha hauora te take. Ko te whāinga o tana PHD he whakatū I tētehi hanganga mana taurite mā te Tiriti o Waitangi.
“This scholarship will enable me to reduce my work in the hospital and focus on completing my PhD. The added benefit of reducing my clinical equity role in the hospital is that it will create a succession opportunity for Māori clinicians to take up the clinical equity lead role.”

Helena Abolins-Thompson
Ngāti Toa Rangatira
Kei Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou ia e rangahau ana
From individual cell transcripts to disease: in-depth analysis for Māori health
Ko te nuinga o ngā maimoatanga mō te matepukupuku, he mea i whakamātauria ki ngā pūtau Pākehā. Heoi, ko tā Helena rangahau ko te mahi kē i ngā pūtau Māori. He mahinga tahi tēnei me ngā tūroro Māori, te manawhenua hoki.
"This funding is incredibly important to me, and I am so grateful to be a recipient of this scholarship. Having had whānau impacted by cancer myself, the cause is very near and dear to my heart."