The institute’s research is made possible by the research grants it is awarded. Current grants include:
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) | Hīkina Whakatutuki.
Find out about the MBIE National Science Challenges
The National Science Challenges are cross-disciplinary, mission-led programmes designed to tackle New Zealand’s biggest science-based challenges. They require collaboration between researchers from universities and other academic institutions, Crown research institutes, businesses and non-government organisations to achieve their objectives. The Government has allocated funding of $326.4 million over 10 years for 11 National Science Challenges. The University of Canterbury Child Well-being Research Institute (CWRI) is hosting several collaborative projects that are part of the challenge called A Better Start | E Tipu e Rea. Our Director, Co-director and many of the CWRI leadership team are either leading, or are heavily involved in these large scale research projects.
Find out more about the Literacy and Learning theme.
Ngā Pae O Te Māramatanga (NPM) | New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence.
Find out about the CoRE contract at Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga
NPM has 21 partner research entities, conducting research of relevance to Māori communities and is an important vehicle by which New Zealand continues to be a key player in global indigenous research and affairs. The centre's research is underpinned by its vision of Māori leading New Zealand into the future and it is focused on realising the creative potential of Māori communities and bringing positive change and transformation to the nation, and the wider world. In 2016, the centre implemented a new research strategy significantly different in design to previous NPM research programmes. The new focus comprised a suite of research projects within three key themes: Whai Rawa (The Māori Economy), Te Tai Ao (The Natural Environment) and Mauri Ora (Human Flourishing). Our co-director was the Principal Investigator on the Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga project Ka Awatea: An iwi case study of Māori students experiencing success project, and now alongside another esteemed CWRI team member will be engaging in the study Practices of Sustenance: Collaborative explorations into the contours of wellness: Cultural reflections and contentions. This project is asking vital questions about policy and practice for Māori around entering the workforce; how individual and whānau well-being is protected in the process, and what innovative and mana-enhancing ways can be used to achieve this?
Marsden Fund | Te Pūtea Rangahau A Marsden.
Find out about Marsden Grants
The Marsden Fund supports excellence in leading edge research in science, engineering, maths, and social sciences by providing grants for investigator-initiated research in New Zealand. There are two types of grants: Fast-Start grants worth $300,000 (excl. GST) over three years for early career researchers and Standard grants that can be worth up to $960,000 (excl. GST) for three years. These grants pay for salaries, student and postdoctoral positions, and consumables. The Marsden Fund is highly contestable, is for investigator-driven research projects, and is not subject to government priorities. It is administered by the Royal Society Te Apārangi and funded by the New Zealand Government. One of our CWRI theme leaders has been awarded 300,000 to undertake a cutting-edge investigation into the role of the environment and learning-based therapies in treating sleep problems in children with rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorders.
Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) | Nāu I Whatu Te Kākahu, He Tāniko Taku.
Find out about TLRI here: http://www.tlri.org.nz/home
The Teaching and Learning Research Initiative seeks to enhance the links between educational research and teaching practices to improve outcomes for learners. The fund was established by the government in 2003, and supports partnerships between researchers and educators by funding projects expected to improve outcomes for learners. The TLRI is funded by the New Zealand government and administered by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research | Rangahau Mātauranga o Aotearoa. One of our CWRI theme leaders has been awarded $300,000 in funding for a collaborative university-school project bringing together teachers, whānau, hapū and iwi to enable a holistic approach to education. The research partnership will bring together educators and leaders from the University of Canterbury, the Research Institute, Hornby High School, Hornby Primary School, and Te Taumutu Rūnanga in Christchurch. The collective focus for the project is the co-construction of a culturally and linguistically sustaining, Te Tiriti-based Ako framework for socio-emotional well-being in education. You can read more about the collaborative project here: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/news/2018/canterbury-educators-funded-300000-to-improve-wellbeing-for-learners-.html
We would like to sincerely thank the organisations and institutions who fund our research and allow us to provide cutting-edge, innovative research that challenges, changes and grows the practice of those working with children in Aotearoa|New Zealand and globally.
