Our scholarship program supports research shaping Aotearoa's future by enhancing resource management and mātauranga Māori.

RMLA scholarships are intended to:

(1) encourage graduate students from a broad range of relevant disciplines, including but not limited to law, planning, engineering, geography, environmental science, landscape architecture, urban planning, resource management, and related fields, to focus their thesis or dissertation research on topics connected to the practice, policy, and implementation of resource management in New Zealand; and

(2) recognise and support research that has the potential to help shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s future, including research that contributes to mātauranga Māori in the environmental space.

RMLA scholarships are also intended to advance the purposes of the RMLA and to support the development of material suitable for RMLA publications

General Category

The general scholarship is open to any graduate student in a University (New Zealand or overseas) registered for a Masters (including an undergraduate Honours degree involving advanced levels of research and study at Masters degree level). Doctoral studies are not eligible. Preference will be given to applicants with an established record of independent research by dissertation, directed study, or research paper at Honours or Masters level, who are recommended for the award by the supervisor of their previous research. Where relevant a written recommendation from the supervisor should be submitted with the scholarship application.

Māori Category

The Māori scholarship is available to full-time or part-time Māori students studying at University (New Zealand or overseas) registered for a Masters (including an undergraduate Honours degree involving advanced levels of research and study at Masters degree level). Doctoral studies are not eligible. Applicants must be (a) of New Zealand Māori decent, (b) enrolled (or planning to be enrolled) at a tertiary institute for 2025, (c) be attending study for the full year, (d) meet the criteria for the scholarships applied for (e) submit the application and supporting documentation on time.

Both Categories

Only applicants with a Certified Copy of the following need apply:

• current New Zealand passport; or
• proof of New Zealand citizenship; or
• proof of New Zealand permanent residency.

One or more Masters scholarships per annum may be awarded out of an annual fund of $15,000. There will generally be three $5,000 scholarships awarded in any one year.

Awards may be made subject to acceptance into restricted courses. Any scholarship will be tenable for one year only. Commencement may be delayed to coincide with an overseas University academic year. Tenure will be for a year in which thesis or dissertation work is the major academic activity.

The RMLA may choose to pay the scholarship to the recipient in instalments.

Co-Tenure: The Scholarship may be held concurrently with other bursaries, awards, or scholarships, provided that the rules of the other award permit this.

Scholarship holders shall make a report of progress of their programmes to the RMLA Scholarship Selection Committee as required and must make a final detailed report to that body on the conclusion of the award.

Holders must, as a condition of the award, contribute at least one relevant academic article to the Resource Management Journal (RMJ) or New Zealand Journal of Environmental Law (NZJEL) (to the satisfaction of the Editor or Editorial Committee of that Journal) during or at the conclusion of the award. The deadline for submission to NZJEL is mid July and a link to its guidelines can be found here.

• 18 May 2026 - applications open

• 15 June 2026 - applications close

• 24 June 2026 - judging completed and winners notified

• 11 September 2026 - public announcement at annual awards evening

Selection will be based on the extent to which the proposed thesis or dissertation topic advances (a) the study and practice of resource management in New Zealand, including within the context of relevant resource management legislation; and (b) the objectives of the RMLA, being to promote within New Zealand:

(a) understanding of resource management law and its implementation in a multidisciplinary context;

(b) excellence in resource management policy and process;

(c) resource management processes that are legally robust, effective, and efficient, and that deliver high-quality environmental outcomes; and

(d) research that has the potential to help shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s future, including through contributing to mātauranga Māori in the environmental space.

The scholarship will be awarded on the recommendation of the RMLA Scholarship Selection Committee. If there are no suitable candidates, then no scholarship will be awarded.

The Committee may require shortlisted candidates to attend a personal interview as part of the selection process.

Applicants should apply for the scholarship by completing the application form. Applications must reach the RMLA by 11:59pm on 15 June 2026.

Entries are compiled by RMLA and provided to the Scholarship Panel. Your application is treated confidentially, but if you are selected, we will need to make a public announcement and describe the work being recognised.

Successful applicants shall supply RMLA appropriate biographical details and a statement of their relevant future intentions.