Biennial grants and University research programmes
Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake funds:
- Biennial grants every two years
- University research programmes every three years.
Funding decisions are made in accordance with the requirements of the Natural Hazards Insurance Act 2023(external link) and areas of interest in the Toka Tū Ake EQC's Research Investment Priorities Statement. [PDF, 2.1 MB]
Successful Biennial Grants 2024
Every two years we award research funding to experienced and emerging researchers through this contestable grant programme for public good research.
Fourteen Biennial Grants projects were awarded in the latest round (2024-26). These projects have now all commenced.
Research project title |
Principal Investigator | Host Institution |
| Cascading coastal inundation losses on Māori assets in the southern Marlborough district: Integrating Te Ao Māori with contemporary science to quantify compounding coastal inundation losses for adaptive resilience | Dr Shaun Williams | NIWA |
| A history of fault activity in the vicinity of Aotearoa’s supervolcano | Dr James Muirhead | University of Auckland |
| Virtually flooded: Improved risk communication through immersive virtual reality | Prof Matthew Wilson | University of Canterbury |
| Dynamic Volcanic Ash Damage Forecasting for Aotearoa-New Zealand | Dr Josh Hayes | GNS Science |
| Geophysical imaging of the Paeroa Fault for improved earthquake modelling | Dr Brook Keats | GNS Science |
| Geological Modelling the Hamilton Basin to Improve Earthquake Ground Motion Simulation | Dr Andrew La Croix | University of Waikato |
| High spatial resolution simulation platform for integrating land use, economics, and infrastructure | Dr Robert Cardwell | Market Economics Ltd |
| Insurance settlement following the 2016 Kaikōura/Hurunui earthquake: a comparison of rural, town and city claimant experiences and behaviours | Mr Cameron Eade | Resilient Organisations |
| Comparative Analysis of Lifetime Costs: Base Isolated Buildings vs. Conventional Buildings | Dr Alex Shegay | University of Auckland |
| Slope hazard hotspots in Aotearoa's changing climate | Dr Katherine Yates | University of Canterbury |
| Lava flow impacts on buildings and infrastructure: taking lessons from La Palma to New Zealand | Dr Geoff Kilgour | GNS Science |
| InSAR monitoring of slopes to build back safer | A/Prof Martin Brook | University of Auckland |
| A national landslide risk assessment for residential housing | Dr Tom Robinson | University of Canterbury |
| Quantifying corrosion to improve Aotearoa’s built environment resilience to future volcanic eruptions | A/Prof Carol Stewart | Massey University |
Successful University Research Programmes
Nine University Research Programmes (URPs) were awarded in the latest round (2024-26). These programmes will formally commence on 1 January 2024 and end on 31 December 2026.
Each programme contributes to NHC Toka Tū Ake's research capability development initiative as well as addressing key strategic priorities.
University of Auckland
Engineering for stronger homes and better land in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Programme leader: Associate Professor Liam Wotherspoon.
Robust and low-damage structural design for housing.
Programme leader: Associate Professor Richard Henry.
University of Canterbury
Assessment and Mitigation of Liquefaction Hazards.
Programme leader: Professor Misko Cubrinovski.
Next-generation seismic hazard analysis for NZ.
Programme leader: Professor Brendon Bradley.
Resilience to Earthquake and Landslide Multi-Hazards
Programme leader: Dr Timothy Stahl.
Victoria University of Wellington
Earthquake Seismology and Tectonic Geodesy.
Programme leader: Professor John Townend.
University of Waikato
Developing an agent-based land-use modelling approach to understand future multi-hazard urban risk profiles.
Programme leader: Professor Iain White.
How misleading are past experiences when planning for future record-shattering rainfall extremes?
Programme leader: Dr Luke J. Harrington.
Get in touch
Email us for more information on research funding.