Tāwhia te Mana Fellowships - General Information

Eligibility

Tāwhia te Mana Fellowships - General Information

What are the Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships?

The Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships are a major investment in our research workforce, designed to better support a range of research organisations and talented future research leaders across career stages. The new Fellowships will replace the previous Royal Society Te Apārangi-Led Fellowships for Excellence scheme (Rutherford Discovery, Rutherford Foundation and James Cook Research Fellowships) to provide greater support to more Fellows each year.

Why has this scheme been created?

The Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships are one part of a package of announced initiatives to address the changing needs of the science, innovation and technology sector and its varied workforce, including meeting skills shortages, improving career stability, increasing collaboration and mobility, and providing more opportunity for workforce diversity.

What do you hope to achieve with the new fellowships?

The objective of the Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships is to develop and retain the future leaders of our science, innovation and technology system. It is expected of these fellowships to provide more opportunities for researchers; recognise and reward a broader range of research achievements; and support a wider range of boundary-pushing research activities. The investment profile of these fellowships is intended to ensure that fellows can be hosted by a larger variety of research organisations.

How are the Tāwhia Fellowships being funded?

Budget 2023 allocated $44.38 million over four years in new funding for fellowships for emerging talent. This is baselined and, added to the existing funding, brings the full amount to around $27 million a year. This roughly triples MBIE’s direct investment in research fellowships. This funding will invest in around 300 fellows over the next decade, awarding around 20 early-career, around 10 mid-career and 1 to 2 distinguished researcher fellowships each year.

Following an open tender process to determine a provider for the Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships, the Royal Society Te Apārangi were selected to administer the Fellowships on MBIE’s behalf.

Why are you ending the Rutherford Foundation, Rutherford Discovery and James Cook Research Fellowships?

The previous portfolio of fellowships needed to be updated to be fit-for-purpose so New Zealand can develop a research workforce that meets public and private sector needs. The purchasing power of the funding had eroded over the years and there was a gap in investment in early career stages, which we know is a crucial stage to keep the workforce so they can continue on to be research leaders for New Zealand.

Given the significant uplift in salary and overhead contribution and standardisation of fellowship term length for a number of the fellowships that will be distributed, MBIE found these changes are significant enough that it is important to distinguish the old portfolio from the new one and from other similar international offerings. While there are fewer changes to the distinguished researcher fellowship offering, MBIE decided to increase the flexibility of the terms and shift the assessment criteria as part of the wider Tāwhia Fellowships portfolio.

Therefore, the Budget 2023 workforce support initiative package was focussed on creating a larger and enhanced scheme of fellowships to replace these older fellowships, as well as creating an applied doctorates scheme. MBIE intends these Fellowships to:

• deliver improved career outcomes
• provide better funding for fellows and host organisations
• encourage a wider range of research organisations to host fellows
• simplify the application processes.

How are the ‘new’ fellowships different from the ‘old’ ones?

The Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships have been designed to develop and retain the future leaders of New Zealand’s science, innovation and technology system.

The value of the awards is significantly increased from the current rates to reflect salary and overhead costs. The duration for the Tūāpapa early-career fellowships will be increased to four years to allow greater opportunities for career development, including doctoral student supervision and competing for contestable funding processes. A streamlined application and assessment process will reduce the burden of applications while improving accessibility for Māori and Pacific peoples, who are underrepresented in the research workforce.

What happens to existing fellows still receiving funding from the ‘old’ fellowships?

The Rutherford Discovery, Rutherford Foundation and James Cook Research Fellowships will no longer be offered from 2024, but researchers undertaking these fellowships will continue to be supported at the current funding levels for the duration of those awards. The Royal Society Te Apārangi will continue to manage these fellows for the duration of existing awards.

Who is eligible to apply?

The new fellowships have three schemes that are tailored to support researchers at different career stages to produce excellent and impactful research and to develop into leaders of the Aotearoa New Zealand research system.

• New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships are for early-career researchers looking to build the foundations of their reputation in their field.
  • Eligibility: Within 0-6 years of research experience after PhD conferral.
• New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowships are for mid-career researchers looking to build an extensive reputation for research and leadership in both their field and the wider system.
  • Eligibility: Within 6-12 years of research experience after PhD conferral.
• New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowships are for distinguished researchers to build an expansive reputation that extends beyond on their own career span.

Complete eligibility criteria are available in the Terms of Reference.

My research career has been disrupted by other circumstances since my PhD was conferred, which fellowship should I apply for?

The eligibility period for PhD conferral for any of the fellowships may be extended under any of the following scenarios at the discretion of the Royal Society Te Apārangi:

• extended sickness leave
• part-time employment or career interruptions because of care giving responsibilities
• to account for work or service in the community or an industry
• as otherwise agreed by the Society.

What is the duration and award values of the new Fellowships?

The three individual schemes under the Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships have the following durations and award values that are designed to support the Fellow to succeed at their particular career stage:

• New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
  • Duration: 4 years
  • Total value: $820,000 (Annual payments: $82,500 salary contribution, $82,500 institutional overheads, $40,000 research expenses)
• New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
  • Duration: 4 years.
  • Total value: $1,160,000 (Annual payments: $115,000 for salary contribution, $115,000 for institutional overheads, $60,000 for research expenses)
• New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship
  • Duration: 1-2 years.
  • Total value: $220,000, shared flexibly between salary contribution and research expenses.

The Rutherford Discovery Fellowship was for 5 years. Why is this new Fellowship better?

The fellowships include salary contributions and research expenses appropriate for a mid-career researcher. They will encourage a greater diversity of both applicants and hosts, and have improved overhead funds which will provide better support to the fellows during while they complete the fellowship.

When do applications open?

We expect the first round of the Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships to open for applications in mid-2024.

How many Fellows will be awarded?

We expect the Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships will support about 30 new Fellowships each year, consisting of:

• New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship
  • Estimated awards per year: 20
• New Zealand Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship
  • Estimated awards per year: 10
• New Zealand Mana Tūārangi Distinguished Researcher Fellowship
  • Estimated awards per year: 2

Why is there a focus on early-career researchers with these new schemes?

Researchers at early career stages are particularly vulnerable to dropping out of the system, and structural barriers can make it challenging for researchers to re-enter the science, innovation and technology system. The previous fellowships did not provide much support for those who had recently received their PhD, so the fellowships and applied doctorates are therefore targeted at providing an increased number of opportunities and more diverse career pathways for researchers at these career stages. This will ensure Aotearoa New Zealand has the vibrant, diverse and skilled science, innovation and technology workforce it needs to take on the opportunities and challenges ahead.

There will still be the same amount of fellowships offered for mid-career and distinguished researchers, ten and two respectively, and the investment is higher.

How will successful applicants be chosen?

The selection process will be determined by the Ministry in conjunction with the Royal Society Te Apārangi. This process will reflect MBIE’s Diversity in Science Statement, with a commitment to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion in the final cohort of funded Fellows. The selection process will be published on the Society’s website when the Fellowships open for applications.

What sort of research will the fellowships fund? Will they prioritise any field of research?

The new fellowships will be open to researchers from all fields of research with no emphasis or prioritisation of subject area.

How will the fellowships create opportunities for Māori, Pacific peoples and women / Why are these communities a priority?

The assessment process for the new fellowships will ensure a minimum number of awards are made each year to outstanding Māori and Pacific researchers so the research workforce better reflects New Zealand’s population. It will also ensure that around half of the awards are made to researchers who identify as female.

These communities are under-represented in New Zealand’s science, innovation and technology workforce. MBIE is committed to eliminating barriers to entry, as the diversity, equity and inclusiveness of our workforce is vital to a thriving science, innovation and technology system that contributes to the wellbeing of all New Zealanders. There are several pressing issues that Aotearoa New Zealand faces that will require more varied research production and application, and investing in a wider range of researchers will help us to do so.

Will the Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships be ongoing?

Yes, the Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships funding is baselined and the scheme will continue to operate for the foreseeable future.

How will you know if the new schemes are working better than existing ones?

The new scheme will be monitored by MBIE to track the objective of developing and retaining Aotearoa New Zealand’s next generation of science, innovation and technology leaders. MBIE has the flexibility to review the settings of the schemes to better deliver on this objective.

What does the naming of the Aotearoa New Zealand Tāwhia te Mana Research Fellowships schemes mean?

The Māori terms in the fellowship names reference the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s values karakia, which includes Tāwhia tō Mana (building and retaining your reputation) as part of enabling the aspiration to “Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for all”. Tāwhia te Mana Fellowships contribute to building excellence in the SI&T sector.

• early researchers/future leaders building the foundations of their career (Mana Tūāpapa)
• mid-career researchers further establishing themselves as research leaders (Mana Tūānuku)
• distinguished researchers with expansive career success and a prominent international reputation (Mana Tūārangi).

Do the Fellowships increase the financial burden on universities hosting Fellows, given the recent budget cuts?

The Fellowships substantially increase overhead funding going to the host organisation, as well as increasing the contribution to the Fellow’s salary. Compared to the old Fellowships, this new configuration would lessen the financial burden on universities to host and support Fellows.

Eligibility

Visa Status:

I have a New Zealand Resident Visa, am I eligible to apply?

Unfortunately, you must hold New Zealand Citizenship or a New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa at the time of application to be eligible to apply for a Tāwhia te Mana Fellowship.

I am an Australian Citizen (or Australian Permanent Resident Visa Holder), am I eligible to apply?

Unfortunately, only New Zealand Citizens or New Zealand Permanent Residents at the time of application are eligible to apply for a Tāwhia te Mana Fellowship.

As an Australian Citizen you can be granted a resident visa upon arrival in New Zealand. However, you can only apply for a permanent resident visa after having continuously held a resident visa for 24 months and fulfil other criteria for a permanent resident visa.

Host Eligibility:

Who can host a Tāwhia te Mana Fellowship?

The host must be a New Zealand-based research organisation that can demonstrate it is capable and willing to provide support and facilities that will enable the applicant to succeed in their Fellowship.

The host cannot be a department of the public service as listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Public Service Act 2020.

Eligible hosts are research organisations based in New Zealand that meet the following definition: ‘An organisation that has sufficient internal capability for carrying out research, science or technology, or related activities in New Zealand.’

For more information please see Host a Tāwhia te Mana Fellowship.