Latest news and updates
IRANZ April news briefs
April 2026: Follow the link for more details on the April 2026 news briefs from our Independent Research Organisations.
- A new chapter - the next generation of BRANZ scientists
- Cawthron: Inaugural Ring Science Scholarship recipients announced during Seaweek celebrations
- Lincoln Agritech-led research highlights pressure on Waikato River system
- HERA: Acknowledging Dr Troy Coyle, former Chief Executive Officer
- Global science communicator partners with Gillies McIndoe to broaden research reach
- Malaghan: From clinical trial to clinical tool
- Mātai: New building now two years old
- Motu Research challenges inclusion on register alongside lobbying organisations
- LASRA: Science that stays with the problem
- Two new trustees join Cawthron Institute's Trust Board
- Motu researcher Livvy Mitchell elevates dialogue on youth adversity
- ...and much more.
The Gillies McIndoe Research Institute has announced a new collaboration with Hip Hop Science, led by internationally recognised science communicator and author Maynard Okereke. Photo: Gillies McIndoe.
TTW secures Rangapū Rangahau Whakahihiko funding for community resilience platform
April 2026: Te Tira Whakamātaki (TTW) has secured a Rangapū Rangahau Whakahihiko grant through the 2026 funding round of the He Ara Whakahihiko Capability Fund, administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
TTW will partner with Massey University's Joint Centre for Disaster Research to further develop Te Hononga, a digital platform designed to improve how isolated communities prepare for and respond to emergencies. The project will combine mātauranga Māori with scientific data to better predict hazard impacts, guide the placement of emergency supplies, and enable faster, community-led response.
Local "kaitiaki data leads" will document conditions and needs following disasters, while the platform will also support coordination of resources across marae.
Melanie Mark-Shadbolt, Tumu Whakarae (Chief Executive Officer) for TTW, says the project "brings together generations of environmental knowledge with modern science to create practical tools that strengthen community resilience and support faster, more effective emergency responses."
Hono: The Māori Emergency Management Network undertakes a training exercise. Photo: Tash Wanoa, Te Tira Whakamātaki.