Apply for research funding

Funding to support your work

NHC Toka Tū Ake invests approximately $10M per year in research and other initiatives. We make funding decisions based on the criteria listed in our Research Strategy and Research Investment Priorities Statement, linked at the end of this page. We recommend reading these documents before you apply for any funding.

To receive funding, applicants will clearly show how their work has potential to benefit homeowners, reduce cost of natural hazard cover, or both. They’ll also demonstrate how their findings will be put into practice by policy-makers, practitioners, and communities.

Contestable grants

We award contestable grants through two open, competitive funding rounds – Biennial grants and University Research Programme grants. We assess the proposals against published criteria.

Biennial grants

Biennial grants are for projects that answer a specific research question that help us understand natural hazard risk and risk reduction.

Key information:

• For projects of up to $100,000
• Runs every two years.

University Research Programmes (URP) grants

URP grants are for larger programmes of research. Programmes will often involve multiple, distinct projects and require collaboration across organisations. These grants also provide training for postgraduate students, post-doctoral researchers and early career researchers.

Key information:

• For programmes worth up to $450,000
• Runs every three years.

How to apply

Contestable grants open for applications at specific times. Check the website pages below for details on whether the funding round is open or closed, and information on eligibility, timelines, and how to apply.

Find out more:

Biennial grants
University Research Programmes

Negotiated grants

Negotiated grants fund research, modelling and initiatives that support our resilience goals and research priorities. These investments are with researchers or organisations that have proven capability. Projects should be highly aligned to our research investment priorities.

These grants vary in size. Examples may include:

• national-scale hazard risk models
• evidence-based guidance for practitioners
• reports into emerging trends or issues relevant to us.

How to apply

Unlike contestable grants, we can give out negotiated grants at any time if funding is available. If you have an idea that aligns with the priorities set out in our strategic documents, contact us research@naturalhazards.govt.nz. If we agree, we may invite you to submit a full proposal.

Scholarships

Scholarships help build research capability in New Zealand and support the next generation of natural hazards researchers and practitioners.

We grant master’s and PhD scholarships that contribute to understanding natural hazards and how to reduce their impact.

How to apply

Supervisors must apply on behalf of the student. Similar to negotiated grants, you can apply for a postgraduate scholarship at any time. Before you apply, you must have:

• a proposed project that clearly algins with our strategies and priorities
• organised appropriate supervision arrangements at a tertiary institute in New Zealand.

Postgraduate scholarship application form – Documents and templates

Sponsorships

We sponsor professional societies and activities that connect research into New Zealand's natural hazards with professional practice communities.

These may include:

• conferences
• workshops
• relevant specialist training
• awards
• other activities.

Activities should help build capability, share knowledge and connect researchers, practitioners and decision-makers. They also need to align with our goal of reducing the impact of natural hazards on New Zealand homeowners.

How to apply

You can apply for sponsorship funding at any time.

When you apply, you’ll need to provide information about your proposed activity, its objectives, and the expected benefits for participants and the wider natural hazards sector.

Sponsorship request form – Documents and templates

BRiDGE programme

The Building Resilience in Design Guidance for Engineering (BRiDGE) programme improves engineering guidance in New Zealand.

It's a multi-agency initiative with funding from us, MBIE, and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, and hosted by Engineering New Zealand.

BRiDGE supports projects that help develop, coordinate or apply high-quality engineering guidance for buildings and infrastructure assets.

This includes projects that support:

• national resilience
• safety and performance of buildings and infrastructure
• consistent interpretation of the Building Code
• the translation of research into practical design guidance.

How to apply

You can contact the BRiDGE programme with your project idea at any time – even if it’s at an early stage. If the programme is interested in the project, they’ll work with you to shape it into a more developed proposal.

BRiDGE project proposals are coordinated through Engineering New Zealand. Visit their website to find out more about this fund:

BRiDGE - Engineering New Zealand website(external link)
Contact BRiDGE: bridgeprogramme@engineeringnz.org

Resources to read before you apply

To help you prepare your application for funding, we recommend getting familiar with the following documents. Successful applicants will show how the research aligns with the goals and objectives outlined in these documents:

Research Strategy(external link)
Resilience Strategy for Natural Hazard Risk Reduction(external link)
Research Investment Priorities Statement 2025(external link)