Fulbright New Zealand and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence, are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2025 recipient of the Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Awards.
- Kelly Tikao (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) receives the 2025 Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award
- Leteisha Te Awhe-Downey (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngaa Rauru), receives the 2025 Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Graduate Award
Kelly will research how native Hawaiian practitioners and traditional healers rejuvenate customary native Hawaiian maternity practices in the hospital and community environments at the University of Hawai’i West O’ahu. She is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Nursing and the Department of Māori Indigenous Health Innovations at the University of Otago, Christchurch.
Reflecting on her personal goals for her award, Kelly says, “I want to grow a greater maternity, research and Indigenous network that is lifelong and reciprocal. To build trust and support for what we might be able to achieve collectively towards shared goals that promote positive and progressive reclamation of Indigenous maternity health practices in clinical and community settings.”
Leteisha will will be a Visiting Student Researcher looking at Indigenous experiences of diaspora at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, and the University of California, Berkeley. She graduated with a BA in Geography and Indigenous Development from Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago in 2020, and a BA (Hons First Class) in Geography and Māori Studies in 2021.
Leteisha says, “I want to learn from the people at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and the University of California, Berkeley, as well as other connections across the United States. Nurturing long-standing relationships with other Indigenous scholars and communities will be key to my research so I can continue to contribute to the collective well-being of our people.”
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Co-Director Professor Melinda Webber says, “Kelly’s Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award will enable her to travel to Hawaii to share her knowledge about Māori birthing practices, including the practices of taonga puoro, oriori, ipu whenua, pūrākau, and rongoā – among others. She is excited to learn more about the origins of our Indigenous birthing practices from our tuakana in Hawaii. Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga is proud to support this important research.”
“Leteisha’s research focuses on Māori migration away from tūrangawaewae [ancestral homelands] and Māori journeys of (re)connection. This kaupapa is one that resonates with many and will make deep contributions to NPM’s focus on Indigenous flourishing futures. Through engaging with US scholars at the University of Hawai’i and the University of California, Leteisha will have a unique opportunity to expand her understandings of the lived experiences of those in the Indigenous diaspora,” said Professor Webber.
Fulbright New Zealand Executive Director Penelope Borland says, “We are thrilled to be supporting Kelly and Leteisha in their important research. I’ve no doubt the results of their time in the US will be of great benefit to her and, by extension, the communities they are committed to serving.”
The Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award is for a New Zealand academic, artist or professional to lecture and/or conduct research at a US institution in the field of Indigenous development. One award valued at up to US$37,500 is granted each year, towards three to five months of lecturing and/or research. Previous recipients include Dr Hinekura Smith (Te Rarawa, Ngā Puhi), Dr Will Flavell (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Whatua, Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto) and Dr Rangi Matamua (Ngai Tuhoe). Applications are open now and close on 1 October. Click here to apply.
The Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Graduate Award is for a promising New Zealand graduate student to undertake postgraduate study or research at a US institution in the field of indigenous development. One award valued at up to US$50,000 (plus NZ$4,000 travel funding) is granted annually for up to one year of study or research in the US. Click here for more information.
About Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM), New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence, is hosted at the University of Auckland comprising 22 research partners and conducting research of relevance to Māori communities.
The NPM vision is Māori leading New Zealand into the future. NPM research realises Māori aspirations for positive engagement in national life, enhances our excellence in Indigenous scholarship and provides solutions to major challenges facing humanity in local and global settings. Click here to find out more.