Pūhoro and Bioeconomy Science Institute -AgResearch are proud to offer round two of the Toitū Te Whenua scholarships.

The scholarships aim to support and foster rangatahi in ag science and related subjects by removing financial barriers. The scholarship recognises the importance of building a pipeline of Māori talent in STEMM and will ensure the recipients are connected into industry through AgResearch's employment pathways.

Pūhoro's partnership with BSI - AgResearch is built on a commitment to diversify the STEMM workforce and create more opportunities for rangatahi Māori in STEMM. By assisting rangatahi through this scholarship we hope to create more opportunities to pursue and excel in STEMM careers.

The name Toitū Te Whenua was chosen in reflection of the following whakataukī and whakatauākī:

• Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua = As people perish, the land still remains.
• Toitū te kupu, toitū te mana, toitū te whenua = This whakatauākī comes from Tinirau of Whanganui. He was imploring for us to hold tight to our Māoritanga. As he   saw it, without our language, without our mana, and without our lands, Māori would no longer exist.

Toitū Te Whenua acknowledges both the mahi of AgResearch and our shared desire to see rangatahi Māori hold steadfast in their Māoritanga and Mātauranga.

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Details:

Number of scholarships available: 4

Value of each scholarship: $5,000

Application Criteria:

Age: 17-25

Conditions:

• Registered with Pūhoro's Te Urunga Pae programme, or willing to register with Pūhoro upon acceptance of scholarship.
• Whakapapa Māori.

Pūhoro participation conditions:

• Attend Pūhoro Wānanga (3 per year) and Wānanga Pūrau (1 per year) events as a volunteer.
• Submit academic grades at the end of each semester.
• Partake in interviews, media stories, and communications regarding you and your study.

Area/s of study: Scholarships are available to rangatahi studying at a tertiary level in any of the subjects below.

• Agriculture
• Land use managment
• Environmental science
• Animal Health & Welfare
• Genetics – Plant & Animal
• Social Science
• Plant Science
• Food Science – Protein, Metabolomics, Chemistry  
• Data Science
• Mātauranga Māori

Year of study: The scholarship is available to tauira in any year of study

Applications open: December 3, 2025

Applications close: December 17, 2025

APPLY HERE

Selection Process:

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an online interview.

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