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

Opening Date early June

Scholarship applications open 15 June each year and are announced to the Membership via our weekly News Brief and other forms of communication.

Closing Date early August

Closing date for Scholarship applications is 15 August each year. Late nominations will be received at the discretion of the committee.

Announcement of successful applications early September

Successful applicants will be notified by early-September. Official announcement will be made at our annual conference mid-late September and via other forms of communication.

  • RMLA scholarships are designed to:

    (1) encourage graduate students from a range of disciplines (law, planning, engineering, geography, science, landscape architecture, urban planning and resource management) to focus their research theses or dissertations on topics related to the application of resource management in New Zealand;

    (2) recognise and encourage the advancement of research that has the potential to shape Aotearoa’s future by contributing to mātauranga Māori in the environmental space.

    RMLA scholarships are also intended to promote the purposes of the RMLA, and to produce material for RMLA publications (see below).

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Selection will be based on relevance of the proposed thesis or dissertation topic to advancing:

    (a) the study of resource management (within the context of resource management legislation in New Zealand); and

    (b) the objectives of the RMLA. The objectives of the RMLA are to promote within New Zealand:

    (c) an understanding of resource management law and its implementation in a multi-disciplinary framework;

    (d) excellence in resource management policy and process;

    (e) resource management processes which are legally sound, effective and efficient and which produce high quality environmental outcomes;

    (f) research that has the potential to shape Aotearoa’s future by contributing to mātauranga Māori in the environmental space

    In cases where there is no suitable candidates, no scholarship will be given.

    The scholarship will be awarded on the recommendation of the RMLA Scholarship Selection Committee. The RMLA Scholarship Selection Committee may require 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 15 August.

    Download the application form here.

  • Applicants shall agree to cooperate with any public announcement of the award of the scholarship by the RMLA, which may include photographs of and interviews with the scholarship recipients.

    A successful applicant shall, as required for publicity purposes, supply to the RMLA a memorandum containing appropriate biographical details and a statement of the applicant’s relevant future intentions.

Past recipients.

  • 2023: Alex Young

    The RMLA scholarship has helped to enable me to pursue an LLM in Environmental Law at Duke University in the United States. I will commence this study in August of 2024. This will provide me with specialised environmental law knowledge, supplementary to my New Zealand undergraduate legal education, which I hope to apply in my practice as a litigator, upon returning to New Zealand.

    During my LLM in Environmental Law at Duke University I hope to undertake a comparative research study evaluating indigenous land use practices, in relation to wetlands, to see how this indigenous cultural knowledge might be applied to climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. Duke University is known as a centre of excellence for wetlands related studies, and the ability to undertake inter-disciplinary research both at the law school, and at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment, with the assistance of the RMLA scholarship will be a real privilege.

    Studying for an LLM, particularly with an environmental law focus has long been an ambition of mine and I hope to be able to apply the knowledge and experience gained during my postgraduate studies, back in New Zealand upon my return from the US. Postgraduate study in the United States is not notable for its affordability, and so the RMLA's assistance in facilitating my pursuit of study at Duke is greatly appreciated.

  • 2023: Terri Winder

    This scholarship has exposed me to the process, theories, considerations, and ideas locally and internationally that underpin designing urban environments successfully. This includes creating an urban design framework and masterplan, which is otherwise difficult to obtain experience in if not for this study.

    Through this learning, I have been enabled to redesign a new development around the Maungawhau train station in Auckland, while being challenged with steep topography, underground tunnels, flooding issues, poor bus servicing and high vehicle uptake.

    At a higher level, this scholarship has enabled me to pursue the Master of Urban Design while reducing the cost barrier.

    Once completed, the Master of Urban Design will enable me to practice within this field, and design or write with my authority. It fosters aspirations to work on international urban design projects in the future. Also, it will support me to pursue a PhD in urban design and / or lecturing in the future.

    Through this period, I have been challenged with the tiring nature of the regular travel, being away from my loved ones and comforts, and balancing study and work. During those tough times, I have had moments of re-evaluating my life decisions, particular taking on additional study. However, this scholarship acts, unintentionally, as a motivator to remain dedicated as I have been fortunate to receive such an advantage, when many others have not.

  • 2022: Rebekah Hill

    I was accepted to study a Master of Laws (“LLM”) in Global Environment and Climate Change Law at the University of Edinburgh. The course is a one-year, integrated taught and research masters, offering a wide range of subjects across environmental and climate change law. It is designed to equip students with an advanced, multidisciplinary knowledge of the legal issues and techniques related to environmental protection, with special emphases on climate change and the marine environment. The programme also enables students to explore our specific interests, especially in the context of an independent 10,000 word dissertation. At this time, we will be assigned a supervisor who will guide and support our research.

    Core taught courses include Climate Law Formation: Movement Building, Lawmakers, and Equity, International Law of the Sea, International Ocean Governance and the Protection of the Marine Environment and International Waste Law.

    The provisional title of my dissertation is “the potential for Tikanga Māori to strengthen Aotearoa New Zealand’s legislated environmental limits”.

  • 2022: Jeannine Cheong

    I am grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the RMLA Scholarship in 2022 and I am appreciative of the support and opportunities it has provided me to date.

    The scholarship funds were helpful in providing financial support while I pursued my Master of Laws degree (specialising in Envdroemental Law) at the University of Auckland.

    Being able to reduce my work hours allowed me to dedicate more time and focus on my studies. The RMLA Scholarship also opened doors to invaluable opportunities for both my professional and academic growth. During the course of my Master’s programme, I completed a dissertation on a topic of personal interest – forestry slash and the adequacy of regulations governing it in Aotearoa. This dissertation later evolved into a (soon-to-be) published article in a journal, which marks a significant milestone in my academic journey that I will cherish as I continue to progress in the field of resource management law.

    This scholarship has not only supported my academic endeavours but also catalysed the shift in my career path towards resource management law. The recognition and support of the scholarship boosted my confidence and reinforced my interest in and dedication to the field (both in practice and academia). It is one of the reasons why I am now working as a solicitor specialising in the area.

    While balancing the demands of a Master’s degree alongside my personal and professional commitments posed some challenges, the scholarship not only alleviated some financial concerns but, more importantly, instilled confidence in my abilities. As I continue to work in this area of law, I am committed to maximising this opportunity and continue to strive for excellence.