Ngākahu Ruruhau | National Repatriation Fund

Whether you’re just beginning your repatriation journey or continuing long-standing mahi, this fund is here to help.

Ngākahu Ruruhau provides access to expert assistance and practical support for projects that progress the repatriation of human remains from collections held in Aotearoa New Zealand museums and collecting institutions.

The fund provides up to $7,000 for costs associated with progressing repatriation, research, and care of ancestral remains held in Aotearoa New Zealand museums and collecting institutions.

For information email NSTPGrants@tepapa.govt.nz

The next funding round opens on 31 July 2025 and closes on 31 March 2026.

We welcome applications from organisations of all sizes.

Eligibility

Your organisation is eligible if it:

• is a museum, gallery, or iwi group

• has a project able to be achieved prior to 31 December 2026, that is working towards the return of ancestral remains

• is able to clearly demonstrate the need for expert assistance and / or operational funding (e.g. “we have kōiwi in our museum, but we do not have the curatorial/professionally trained staff to undertake the work”; “we do not have the capacity to undertake the work”; "we participated in the 2018 Survey and identified our needs”)

What types of project can be funded?

Ngākahu Ruruhau funding might be used to:

• engage a bioarchaeologist to undertake identification of human remains

• engage a provenance or whakapapa specialist to help determine the origin of ancestral remains

• engage logistic support to assist in returns

• increase workforce capacity for a short term to undertake research on ancestral remains

• improve the storage, housing and security of ancestral remains in your care

• organise hui or wānanga to discuss options and approaches to repatriation

• fund travel to build relationships with source communities and or support them to travel to you

• assist in the design and purchase of resting place memorials

• assist in the costs associated with respectful return and receiving of ancestral remains

• assist in the costs associated with burial and interment.

Multiple organisations who are collaborating on a repatriation project can apply to the fund for the same project if discrete costs are identified in each application.

Activities we don’t support

Activities we don’t support include:

• items or services that have already been purchased

• items or services for projects that have already been completed

• items or services for projects that do not adhere to current museum best practice

• ongoing operational costs (rent and recurrent bills etc).

National and international travel for professional development is not covered by this fund, although support to attend training opportunities is available through NSTP Travel Subsidy and Professional Development Grants

Find out more about NSTP funding and grants

How to apply

Download and complete the application form below, then send it with your supporting documentation by email to NSTPGrants@tepapa.govt.nz

Applications will be considered until 31 March 2026, for projects taking place up to 31 December 2026, unless funds are exhausted prior.

Application decisions will be communicated within 20 working days of application submission.

All decisions made by our assessment panel are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Contact us

Phone: 0508 678 743
Email: NSTPGrants@tepapa.govt.nz

Payment and reporting requirements

If funding is approved, you will be provided with a funding agreement and invoicing instructions.

A funding agreement needs to be signed and returned before funds are released.

You will need to submit a report to NSTPGrants@tepapa.govt.nz following the project completion, and no later than 1 March 2027, identifying the costs expended and needs met by this grant.

Download the reporting template:

It is important that you include copies of all relevant receipts or invoices in your Ngākahu Ruruhau report.    

Standard Te Papa terms are payment within 7 days after invoice received and matched to a valid purchase order.