Mana Toa

Mana Toa enables currently enrolled Māori and Pacific postgraduate students to help them successfully navigate their studies and grow as researchers and academics.

Indigenous methods of journeying and discovery did not occur in one sweep but in a series of systematic journeys back and forth to reach undiscovered realms. This method of discovery is also reflected currently in the academic journeys and experiences of students.

Mana Toa is one form of sustenance in your academic journey.

Mana Toa is a fund available to uplift currently enrolled postgraduate Māori and Pacific students.

A range of activities are supported by the fund with the panel focussed on growing our students' capabilities as researchers and academics and enabling students to complete their studies.

The panel includes representatives from the:

• Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori Office
• Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Office
• Te Kura Akoranga Tohu Paerua | School of Graduate Studies
• Academic colleagues

You can apply for Mana Toa support throughout the year. There are online forms available below, each tailored to a specific activity e.g., Thesis Binding. 

Applications are reviewed monthly, with each funding round closing on the last Friday of each month. 

Please note, applications are not assessed in December. 

Should your application be urgent, please contact tuakana@auckland.ac.nz. 

What can I apply to Mana Toa for?

There are a range of services that you can apply for Mana Toa to help cover them.  

More information on the types of support you can apply for is listed below.

• Contribution to engagement with conferences | wānanga 
• Proof reading costs 
• Other research resources 
• Thesis Binding 
• Thesis Extensions 
  

You will be asked to demonstrate how you have used other funding sources, such as PReSS accounts, to support your research.

For more information about using a PReSS account, please see PReSS account policy and procedures.

Priority is given to students who are sharing their research. The panel will also consider the significance of the gathering to your discipline or practice. 

Please note that prior to filling out the form, you may need to contact Orbit Travel for quotes on how much your travel costs would be.

You can email them at travel.uoa@orbitauckland.co.nz. 

Please note that because it is more difficult to find editors for theses submitted in other languages, priority will be given to students who are submitting their thesis in a language other than English or where their thesis mixes languages.  

The types of costs covered here would be koha, access to journals, and support for manaakitanga with participants. 

Please note that coverage for Thesis extensions under the Mana Toa fund should be applied for in instances where StudyLink is unable to cover the costs.  

To check how much your Thesis extension would cost, please visit Fees charge for extensions of time for research components. 

Your application for support with your Thesis extension will only be considered if 

• Your AS-502 or AS-503 application has been approved within the last 3 months when submitting your application for Mana Toa support 

• You submitted an AS-502 or AS-503 application within the past month when submitting your application for Mana Toa support. 

There is a dedicated webpage with all the information you need to know about the AS-502 and AS-503 forms. Links to the forms are included on these webpages as well. 

• AS-502 - Suspending study of a postgraduate programme (excluding doctoral)
• AS-503 - Extension of time: research component submission