Fulbright New Zealand

Ka pai Professor Hona Black (Tūhoe, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Tūwharetoa), for being appointed the first Professor of te reo Māori at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. 👏🏽👏🏽

Hona is a Fulbright Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar from 2024 when he undertook research at the University of Hawaiʻi exploring language interference between te reo Māori and the Hawaiian language.

We’re proud to celebrate this significant achievement and the continued impact of Hona’s mahi.

Apply now for a Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award: https://bit.ly/4bv3pSe, before 1 October 2026.

Completed! Axford Fellow Dr Chris Pagen's final report - Deliberate Adaptation: Structures for Flexibility in International Development - is now available. 🎴

Chris's research explores how development agencies can better navigate complexity and uncertainty by building purposeful structures that allow programmes to adapt while remaining focused on their goals.

Her report identifies three capabilities at the heart of deliberate adaptation:
🤝 Partnership
🔗 Alignment
🔄 Adaptability

Chris’s work also considers what Aotearoa can learn from the USAID experience.

🏁This wraps up Chris's time in Aotearoa as the 2026 Ian Axford Fellow in Public Policy based with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Congratulations to Chris on completing this work and thank you to Axford and to MFAT for providing the opportunity to undertake this research in Aotearoa. 👏🏽👏🏽

Chris returns to the US but before leaving she popped into the Fulbright NZ office for a final goodbye.

Link to the report in the comments ⬇️

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How likely is an earthquake? And just how safe will our buildings really be?

The latest Good Works webinar - exploring how science and engineering can help us understand and prepare for earthquake risk - is now online. 🫨🫨

Join Fulbright alum Dr Ribu Dhakal, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia, as he explains how earthquake risk is identified and how civil engineers design buildings and infrastructure to improve resilience.

With expertise in earthquake engineering, soil liquefaction, seismic performance of foundations and geotechnical design, Ribu brings a wealth of knowledge – including experience contributing to major infrastructure projects and updates to New Zealand’s national seismic loading standard.

🔶This one is for anyone who lives in an earthquake-prone country.

🎥 Watch the Good Works webinar: "Living with Earthquakes – Building on Uncertain Ground". Link in the comments below⬇️


Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

Not one, but three Fulbrighters are part of the new publication: Against the Tide: Aotearoa New Zealand in World Affairs, Volume V 2006–2025. 📖📖

This is a collection examining the last two decades of New Zealand’s engagement with the world, asking what's new and what's long-running, and what more can New Zealand do.

"Against the Tide questions the narrative that we live in a uniquely troubled world and sets the mid-2020s against the longer arc of New Zealand’s engagement in world affairs."

The Fulbrighters include:
🚨Jason Mika (Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Kahungunu), travelled to Stanford University and University of Arizona as a 2019 Fulbright Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar. Jason is an Adjunct Professor at The University of Waikato.

🚨Hamish McDougall, a 2026 Fulbright awardee is about to leave for Georgetown University to research the history of Nuclear-Free New Zealand. Hamish was one of the editors along with Serena Kelly and Mathew Doidge.

🚨Annie Te One (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga), a 2023 Fulbright New Zealand Scholar researched connections between Māori and Hawai'ian political philosophies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Annie is a Senior Lecturer at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

Purchase here: https://lnkd.in/eq9SPq7u
Apply now for a Fulbright NZ Scholar Award: https://bit.ly/4bv3pSe

A huge congratulations to two distinguished New Zealand Fulbrighters, Witi Ihimaera and Darcy Nicholas, who have been named recipients of the 2026 Icon Whakamana Hiranga by The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi.

This is The Arts Foundation highest honour recognising Aotearoa New Zealand's most significant living artists for lifetime achievement and their lasting contribution to our cultural life.

Groundbreaking novelist, Witi Ihimaera had a residency at George Washington University as a Fulbright Scholar in 2004.

Painter, sculptor, writer and curator Darcy Nicholas travelled to the United States on a Fulbright scholarship in 1984 to explore African-American art and Native American art and cultures.

Tune in for a deep-dive into the ground beneath us. 🫨🫨
Living with earthquakes, Good Works webinar presented by Dr Riwaj Dhakal on Thursday 13 August.

❎Register now!

Insight into how science informs engineering decisions that affect everyday life in earthquake-prone countries.

📅Thursday, 13 August 2026
⌛12:00–1:00 pm NZT
❎Register here: https://bit.ly/4fAmzsa
🔶More information: https://bit.ly/3UbRHFZ

Applications are open for the 2026/27 Fulbright Scholar Awards.

• These are for New Zealand academics, artists or professionals to lecture and/or conduct research at US institutions. 🎓
• Must be a New Zealand citizen and hold a PhD or equivalent professional experience.
• Awards valued at up to US$37,500 are granted each year, towards three to five months of lecturing and/or research. 💰

Awards include:
- Fulbright NZ Scholar Awards
- Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award

Applications close 1 October 2026

Find out more and book a one-on-one call here: https://bit.ly/4bv3pSe

Art, science, and biotechnology come together for this seminar with Fulbright US Graduate Award grantee Yitong Tseo presenting; Do biota want to collaborate? at the LASER Auckland, School of Future Environments Thought Leadership Series at AUT - Auckland University of Technology.

In this seminar Yitong will share insights from their Fulbright research alongside some of their unique art projects, inviting audiences to consider new ways of connecting with living systems.

A PhD candidate and bio-artist at MIT, Yitong is in Aotearoa New Zealand hosted by the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau and the Auckland Bioengineering Institute.

If you're in Auckland, don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of the exciting minds in the Fulbright community. More information in the comments.

A shout out to our Fulbright alumnus Peter Griffin who has been honoured as a new Companion to the Royal Society Te Apārangi for his exceptional contribution to science communication in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Peter researched centres of excellence in public interest journalism in the US as a 2012 Fulbright-Harkness Fellow.

Well done Peter!

📢🎉A warm welcome to our 13 new Companions!!! Each has earned this honour for outstanding contributions to science, technology, or the humanities – from climate and marine science to public health, disaster resilience, indigenous education, film-making, theology, and revitalisation of te reo Māori. Our Companions, ngā Takahoa a Te Apārangi, embody the vision and thought-leadership that will guide Aotearoa New Zealand into the future. We look forward to celebrating their achievements at a ceremony in October.
Read more about their contributions here: https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/new-companions-recognised-for-leadership-and-innovation

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Tracy Riley as the new Chair of the Fulbright New Zealand Board, alongside the appointment of our new Deputy Chair, Professor Jennifer Curtin, and the continuation of Patrick Waite as Treasurer. 🎊

Professor Riley is Dean of Postgraduate Research at Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa and a Professor of Education specialising in gifted and talented education. She brings extensive leadership experience across the tertiary education sector. Tracy also serves on a number of national and international committees supporting higher education leadership and academic excellence.

Professor Curtin is a Professor of Politics and Public Policy at the University of Auckland - Waipapa Taumata Rau and Patrick Waite is a business advisor with many non-profit organisations.

🎓Fulbright New Zealand Executive Director Penelope Borland warmly welcomes Tracy into the role.

"Tracy's commitment to educational excellence, research and international collaboration aligns strongly with Fulbright's mission. Her experience and strategic leadership in the tertiary sector will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen educational and cultural connections between Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States. We also look forward to working alongside Jennifer and Patrick as we continue to build on Fulbright New Zealand's legacy."

We also extend our sincere thanks to Alastair Bisley who has completed his term as Chair. We are grateful for Alastair’s guidance and commitment during his time as Chair. 🙏



Link to story in comments.