Tonganui Scholarship

Advancing mātauranga Māori in the oceans sector

Ko Tonganui te ingoa o te whare i mau ai te matau a Māui. We acknowledge Māui Tikitiki a Taranga as the embodiment of the qualities to which we aspire as Māori; Māui the curious, the courageous, the quick-witted, the adventurer, the seeker and provider of well-being for his people.

Tonganui is the name of the ancient whare whakairo within the pantheon of Tangaroa. When Māui cast his hook into the ocean, it descended through the roiling seas, of Rehua, of Ere Toro, to the house of Tonganui. Te Matau a Māui lodged in this house, and by this House was the Ika a Māui brought to the ocean surface.

Tonganui represents attainable educational potential; and through it, prosperity for Māori. Its marine origins invokes our whakapapa to Tangaroa and Hinemoana, and acknowledges Māui’s quest for the prosperity of our Māori people. It was through grasping the house of Tonganui that Māui was able to attain prosperity.

About the scholarship

The Tonganui Scholarship offers three, $10,000 grants, to advance tikanga Māori, mātauranga tuku iho and Te Ao Māori within the oceans sector. The scholarship aims to:

  • Foster and grow an active and reciprocal relationship with Tangaroa and Hinemoana.
  • Accelerate talented and committed Māori to pursue excellence in the oceans sector
  • Advance kaupapa and mātauranga tuku iho within Western management and knowledge systems pertaining to the oceans
  • Strengthen the presence of Māori experts throughout the oceans sector; from decision-making to conservation, from innovation to research.
  • Strengthen Ngāi Māori’s ability to meaningfully influence and guide the future direction of the oceans sector.
  • Strengthen the adoption of and advocacy for Te Ao Māori, tikanga and mātauranga throughout the oceans sector.

Successful Tonganui Scholarship applicants must:

  • Be at least 22 years old at the time of application
  • Whakapapa Māori
  • Have four years or equivalent experience in the oceans sector, including but not limited to:
    • Policy and regulations
    • Science and research
    • Commercial or operational (including start-ups, Mandated Iwi Organisations or fisheries and aquaculture companies)
    • Community-based oceans initiatives
    • Conservation, biosecurity and resource management
  • Propose a programme that meets the requirements of the Tonganui Scholarship

Please note, receiving this scholarship does not impede your ability to seek additional grant funding if your selected programme of study or research costs exceed the maximum amount awarded in the Tonganui Scholarship.

Required documents

To apply for this scholarship, fill out the online application form and supply the following documents:

  • Curriculum vitae
  • Two letters of endorsement from two referees (one from the oceans sector and one from a Māori entity/organisation is preferable)
  • A short summary of your intended use of the funding (max 2,000 characters, approximately 300-350 words)
  • A short ‘cover video’ (120 seconds) outlining/illustrating the following:
    • How this scholarship experience will help you contribute to the scholarship’s objectives
    • How your kaupapa (eg choice of programme or activity) will strengthen your connection to Tangaroa, Hinemoana and the oceans sector
    • Your ongoing commitment to the oceans sector and to advancing tikanga, mātauranga tuku iho and Te Ao Māori within it, particularly post-grant and following the completion of your proposed kaupapa.

Application process and timings

You must complete and submit an online application by August 28th, 2025

A selection panel will consider applications on their merit against the purpose of the Tonganui scholarship and Tapuwae Roa’s impact outcomes.

The successful candidate will be notified by September 12th, 2025 and announced via Tapuwae Roa’s website and associated social media channels.

Terms and conditions

By applying for the Tonganui Scholarship you will agree to the following: 

  • You agree that the information provided your application and the supporting document is correct in all respect and represents the true nature of your application.
  • You consent to Tapuwae Roa – and / or the selection panel contacting you and/or anyone named in this application to verify or obtain further information if this is required, or to seek clarification on any information provided therein.
  • You agree to provide further information pertaining to any questions of your application is true and correct.
  • You agree to abide by the rules relative to this application.
  • You agree that Tapuwae Roa may publish your name publicly as a recipient if successful.
  • You agree that Tapuwae Roa may report on and publish content of your use of the scholarship/grant.
  • You agree to refund in full any monies paid by Tapuwae Roa if you have not used the funds for the express purposes as outlined in this application.

Terms of accepting funds

By accepting funding from Tapuwae Roa you will accept the following:

  • You agree that the information provided in your acceptance form and the supporting document is true and correct. 
  • You accept that as a recipient of the fund, Tapuwae Roa will make a one-off payment into the nominated bank you have detailed in your acceptance form.
  • You agree that the funds received will be utilised within 12 months and that the funding cannot be deferred to a subsequent date or used for other purposes than what was detailed in your application.
  • You agree to Tapuwae Roa publishing your name or organisation’s name and associated imagery, and agree for the funded project to feature across all Tapuwae Roa marketing and communication channels.
  • You agree to fulfil some media requirements (e.g quotes for press releases) in regard to the project you are receiving funding prior to, during, or following the completion of the funded programme. 
  • You agree to provide the Tapuwae Roa with a final report within one month of the completion of the project or within 12 months (whichever comes sooner) and give permission for excerpts of the report and videography/photography used within it to be published across our communications channels. This report is submitted via Tapuwae Roa’s Funding Accountability Portal and includes detail on the following: An overview of the completed funded project, main goals and expectations of the project, key outcomes, who was involved in the project, what were the key successes and learnings, what are the hopes and dreams for this kaupapa going forward. 
  • You agree to refund in full and monies paid by Tapuwae Roa if you have not used the funds for the express purposes as outlined in your application or fail to provide accountability on how the funding was utilised within 12 months. 

A successful Tonganui Scholar is unwavering in their commitment to our oceans, strengthening our bonds with, and responsibility to, Tangaroa and Hinemoana. They have experience working within the oceans sector, and are pursuing pathways to accelerate and grow the impact they will have in the sector in the future.

Whether scientific research, mahinga kai, ocean navigation or biodiversity advocacy, we consider the oceans sector to be holistic, encompassing all interactions with the ocean.

Your programme of work, and your continued commitment to the oceans sector, will contribute to the advancement of one or more of the following priority areas:

  • Sustainability
  • Science and research
  • Policy development
  • Mātauranga tuku iho
  • Effects of climate change

In addition to the grant, successful awardees become part of Ngā Auahitūroa – Tapuwae Roa’s Alumni network of over 300 diverse, passionate, and highly talented Māori throughout Aotearoa.

View previous recipients of the fund here.

Tapuwae Roa (formally, Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust) was established under the Māori Fisheries Act 2004 as part of the settlement of Māori fishing rights claims. As an independent charitable trust, its role is to provide strategic leadership in education, training, and workforce development for Māori, and to manage the Trust’s fund made available for these purposes. Tapuwae Roa has a particular obligation to ensure benefits are made available to all Māori and give regard to Māori who do not associate with their iwi and/or do not receive benefits from a Mandated Iwi Organisation. 

Applications for the 2025 funding rounds are now open.