MEDIA RELEASE

Wellington, 5 May 2026

Sport, mental health and indigeneity for Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Award winner

Fulbright New Zealand and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence, are pleased to announce Luke Rowe (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa-ki-te-tonga) as the recipient of the 2026 Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award.

Originally from Tokorangi, Luke will undertake research at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in Hawai‘i. He will be exploring the intersection of Indigeneity, men’s mental health, and sport. His project, Ngā Uri o Māui: At the intersection of Indigeneity, men’s mental health, and sport, aims to deepen understanding of culturally grounded approaches to wellbeing within high-performance sporting environments.

Luke is currently based at Te Whare Whakatupu Mātauranga at Te Wānanga o Raukawa and brings a combination of expertise as a trained and registered clinical psychologist. His work spans clinical psychology, Indigenous wellbeing, and elite sport, where he supports professional athletes and high-performance teams to perform under pressure.

“I attended the same small Māori boys’ boarding school as two previous Fulbright recipients,” says Luke. “In a context where educational outcomes for Māori boys continue to be inequitable, their achievements represent what is possible. Being part of this whakapapa of opportunity strengthens my commitment to using a Fulbright Award not only for academic advancement, but to inspire others to see such pathways as achievable.”

Luke completed his PhD at Massey University and clinical psychology training at Victoria University of Wellington – Te Herenga Waka. He has contributed to a number of organisations and research initiatives, including Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Te Amokura Consultants, and Massey University’s Research Centre for Hauora and Te Pūtahi a Toi School of Māori Knowledge.

"Luke’s important research focuses on thriving Indigenous men and culturally embedded practices that foster their resilience. His project will inform mental health interventions, coaching strategies, and community programs in both Aotearoa and Hawai’i. Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga are proud to support this award,” says Professor Melinda Webber, co-director Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga.

When Luke returns to Aotearoa New Zealand, he plans to continue contributing to the mātauranga continuum through his role at Te Wānanga o Raukawa.

The Fulbright-Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Scholar Award

This is for a New Zealand academic, artist or professional to lecture and/or conduct research at a US institution in the field of Indigenous development. One award valued at up to US$37,500 is granted each year, towards three to five months of lecturing and/or research. Previous recipients include Dr Hinekura Smith (Te Rarawa, Ngā Puhi), Hona Black (Tūhoe, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Tūwharetoa) and Dr Rangi Matamua (Ngai Tuhoe). Applications are open now and close on 1 October. Click here to apply.

About Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM), New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence, is hosted at the University of Auckland comprising 22 research partners and conducting research of relevance to Māori communities.

\The NPM vision is Māori leading New Zealand into the future. NPM research realises Māori aspirations for positive engagement in national life, enhances our excellence in Indigenous scholarship and provides solutions to major challenges facing humanity in local and global settings. Click here to find out more.

For more information, please contact:
Fulbright NZ, Melissa Bray, comms@fulbright.org.nz
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, Cindy McQuade, cindy.mcquade@auckland.ac.nz