New Zealand's economic future depends on innovation and scientific capability — yet New Zealand ranks below the OECD average in R&D investment and faces persistent STEM workforce shortages. Girls, Māori, and Pacific peoples are significantly underrepresented in STEM careers. Grant funding supports STEM education programmes, research infrastructure, science communication, and the pathways that bring diverse New Zealanders into science and technology careers.
The challenge
Why STEM matters for NZ
Callaghan Innovation
Government innovation agency:
- R&D grants (up to 20% co-funding for private R&D)
- Student fellowships
- Innovation programmes
MBIE (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment)
Ministry of Education
STEM in curriculum and teaching.
Te Apārangi Royal Society of New Zealand
Fellowships, awards, and science promotion.
Callaghan Innovation Foundation
Business innovation and STEM pathways.
Todd Foundation
STEM education for disadvantaged communities.
Spark Foundation
Digital skills and STEM education.
Vodafone NZ Foundation
Digital and STEM education.
BNZ Partners Foundation
Community investment including STEM.
Science for Technological Innovation (SfTI)
National science challenge — technology research.
School STEM education
Girls in STEM
Māori STEM
Pacific STEM
University access
Research infrastructure
Science communication
Digital skills
Te ao Māori (the Māori worldview) contains sophisticated environmental, ecological, and astronomical knowledge — mātauranga Māori. There is growing recognition that Māori knowledge systems and western science can be complementary:
- Traditional ecological knowledge informs conservation
- Māori astronomical knowledge connects to modern astronomy
- Whakapapa (genealogical systems) as a way of understanding relationships
STEM programmes that acknowledge and incorporate mātauranga Māori are more credible for Māori students and communities — and more intellectually honest.
Equity focus
The strongest STEM grant applications target participation gaps — girls, Māori, Pacific students, students from low-decile schools. Generic STEM enrichment for already-advantaged students has weaker equity rationale.
Teacher as multiplier
Investing in teacher professional development reaches many more students than direct student programmes. Applications that build teacher STEM capability are high-impact.
Mātauranga integration
For funders focused on Māori education outcomes, STEM applications that genuinely integrate mātauranga Māori — not as tokenism but as curriculum — are more compelling.
Rural access
Rural NZ students have significantly less access to quality STEM education. Applications extending reach to small and rural schools address a genuine gap.
Tahua's grants management platform supports STEM funders and education organisations in New Zealand — with programme participant tracking, learning outcome measurement, and the reporting tools that help STEM funders demonstrate their investment in building New Zealand's science and innovation capability.