Cancer is New Zealand's leading cause of death — responsible for approximately one in three deaths. Over 25,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer each year, and the impact extends far beyond the patient to family, community, and the health system. Despite significant investment, New Zealand lags behind comparable countries in cancer outcomes — with particular gaps for Māori (who have higher incidence and worse outcomes for many cancers) and for access to newer treatments. Grant funding supports the research, prevention, and support services that improve outcomes for New Zealand cancer patients.
Scale
Disparities
New Zealand research landscape
New Zealand has strong cancer research despite small population:
- University of Auckland, University of Otago, Massey, Victoria
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research (immunology and cancer)
- Maurice Wilkins Centre (molecular biodiscovery)
- International collaborations with Australian, UK, and US institutions
Cancer Society of New Zealand
The Cancer Society is both a service organisation and research funder:
- Cancer Society Research Grants (competitive, peer-reviewed)
- Focus on New Zealand-specific research questions
- Support for early career cancer researchers
- Clinical research and survivorship research
Health Research Council (HRC)
The HRC is New Zealand's primary medical research funder:
- Project grants across all health areas including cancer
- Explorer grants (innovative, early-stage research)
- Clinical Research Training Fellowships
- Rangahau Hauora Māori (Māori health research) — including cancer
Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust
A significant NZ philanthropic funder of health and cancer research.
Lindsay Foundation
Some health and cancer research investment.
Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand
Disease-specific research and patient support — grant funding for blood cancer research.
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ
Breast cancer research and awareness:
- Research grants
- Pink Ribbon fundraising for research
- Patient support programme
Melanoma New Zealand
Melanoma research and prevention — NZ has high melanoma rates.
Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Malaghan is New Zealand's leading immunology research institute — with significant cancer research:
- CAR-T cell therapy research
- Cancer immunotherapy
- Clinical trials
- Philanthropically and government-funded
Maurice Wilkins Centre
University of Auckland-based — molecular cancer biology and biodiscovery.
Centre for Cancer Research, University of Otago
Otago-based cancer research — gastrointestinal, breast, and other cancers.
Basic science
Clinical research
Prevention and screening
Health services research
Patient support programmes
Transport and accommodation
Māori cancer programmes
Palliative care
New Zealand relevance
Cancer Society NZ and HRC prioritise research with direct New Zealand relevance — not studies that simply replicate overseas work, but research that addresses NZ-specific questions (Māori cancer disparities, NZ-specific cancers, NZ treatment access).
Māori cancer equity
Māori cancer disparities are a high-priority research area — applications addressing Māori cancer incidence, outcomes, and equity in access to treatment are well-positioned with most NZ funders.
Translational relevance
Basic science research is funded, but translational relevance is increasingly expected — how does your research lead to better outcomes for patients?
Patient involvement
Cancer research increasingly requires patient and survivor involvement in study design, oversight, and dissemination. Show how you've engaged people affected by cancer.
Small country advantage
New Zealand's small size can be an advantage — national datasets, relative geographic containment, and accessible health system data enable research that's harder elsewhere. Show how you use New Zealand's unique research environment.
Tahua's grants management platform supports cancer research funders and oncology organisations — with research grant management, clinical programme tracking, patient support outcome measurement, and the reporting tools that help cancer funders demonstrate their investment in better outcomes for New Zealand's cancer patients.