Abstract
Māori researchers have described how the Aotearoa New Zealand science system can be improved to support Vision Mātauranga (VM), which is part of the government's science policy. The Our Land and Water – Toitū te Whenua, Toiora te Wai National Science Challenge, a mission‐led science programme, revised its conceptual model and governance structure to centre a Māori conceptual model and provide greater support for VM. This study sought to evaluate the extent to which these revisions honoured the obligations of the Challenge as a Te Tiriti partner via guidance from the VM Policy. Three methods were used to investigate changes: interviews, a survey, and analysis of administrative data. Interviews with key Challenge participants found that they did observe changes in research approaches and outputs from the first phase to the second phase and that the changes did work towards a partnership approach to science. Quantitative analysis of administrative and survey data found evidence of greater embedding of mātauranga Māori and more focus on wide collaboration and user‐centric research outputs. This example of improved collaboration has implications for mission‐led research in Aotearoa New Zealand, suggesting that well‐resourced collaboration can empower Māori research and researchers as mandated by Vision Mātauranga policy.