The Transportation Group provides several awards and other financial assistance to recognise excellence and support progress in our industry. You can find details and application forms on this page (scroll down).
| Award or Grant | Applications open | Applications close |
|---|---|---|
| Matrix Innovation Award ($5,000 for TPA Conference) – open to all TG members | 20 Nov 2025 | 23 Jan 2026 |
| Transport Research Grant ($8,000) – open to all TG members | 20 Nov 2025 | 19 Dec 2025 |
| Tertiary Study Grant ($10,000) – open to all TG student members | 20 Nov 2025 | 13 Feb 2026 |
| TPA (formerly AITPM) Conference Attendance Sponsorship | TBA | TBA |
| ACRS Conference Attendance Sponsorship (open to TG Safety Practitioners) | TBA | TBA |
OTHER AWARDS AND GRANTS
There are other awards and grants administered by TG subgroups NZ MUGS and SNUG. Links to their calls for applications and previous winners will be posted here when available.
Matrix Innovation Award
Matrix Innovation Award ($5,000) – open to all TG members
The Matrix Innovation Award is the Transportation Group’s premier award to recognise innovation in any sector (safety, environment, community, construction, technology, data, etc.) of the industry. The winner of the award will be announced at the Transportation Group conference dinner, at which finalists will present their project to attendees.
A representative (e.g. team leader) for the winning project will receive $5,000 for trip expenses to the next Transport Professionals Association Conference https://aitpm.eventsair.com/2026-national-transport-conference in Australia (may cover flights, accommodation, registration, activities) and will be invited to present on their project to a conference stream. The winner must attend all social events including Welcome Drinks and Conference Dinner in addition to attending the conference in full. Matrix will be developing a reciprocal award for an Australian winner to attend and present at the Transportation Group conference.
Key dates:
- Applications open 20 November 2025
- Applications close 23 January 2026
- Notification of winner (confidential as the “reveal is at the March conference) 28 January 2026
- Abstract due for TPA Conference 29 January 2026. Winner must submit an abstract so that the project or programme can be featured at the TPA Conference.
- TG Conference (Wellington) 9-11 March 2026 – finalists encouraged to attend, winner’s representative must attend. All finalists submissions will be presented and the winner awarded during the Conference Dinner.
- TPA Conference (Brisbane) 8-11 September 2026. Winner must attend all days of the conference and the social events (Welcome Function, Dinner) as representative(s) of Transportation Group.
The application form is here
If you have any further questions regarding this award or the application process, please feel free to contact the Transportation Group’s Awards coordinator John Lieswyn at: john@viastrada.nz
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2024 – no conference / no award
2023 – Auckland Systems Management: Road closure trailer
Transport Research Grant
Transport Research Grant ($8,000) – open to all TG members
Each year the Group provides a Transport Research Grant (formerly known the Study Award) worth up to $8,000 for a Group member (or members) to undertake study in New Zealand or overseas, to learn about issues that are important and topical in the transportation area, and then to spread that useful and usable knowledge to peers.
If you believe you can help the profession learn more about important transportation issues, apply now for the Award. The essential requirements are that the research area is relevant to the interests of the Group, and that you document and disseminate your newfound knowledge to your Group peers.
Key dates
- Applications open 20 November 2025
- Applications close 19 December 2025
- Notification of grant award 16 January 2026 (confidential as the “reveal” is at the TG Conference in March 2026)
- Abstract, Interim Paper due August 2026 (in time for abstract submission to the 2027 Conference)
- Full outputs due TG Conference March 2027
The application form is here.
Enquiries or applications should be sent electronically to Transportation Group Awards Co-ordinator – John Lieswyn at: john@viastrada.nz
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2024 Paul Minett: Avoiding a blow-out in light vehicle fleet emissions when changing from FED to RUC. Presentation at 2026 Conference and publication of full work in Roundabout later in 2026.
2023 Jesse Rumball Smith: A free App to alert drivers to their speed. Funding used to attend international road safety/human factors conference. Presented at 2023 TG Conference in Nelson.
2022 Richard Hart: City logistics
2021 – not awarded
2020 Ellie Craft: Decarbonising transport: a review of evidence and study tour to learn about different countries’ transport sector responses to climate change
2019 Peter Nunns: How to analyse the impacts of transport investment on housing development
2018 Claire Pascoe: University of Amsterdam summer programme: Planning the Cycling City
2017 Stuart Donovan: The Economics of Parking Policy in an Urbanising World
Tertiary Study Grant
TERTIARY STUDY GRANT ($10,000) – open to all TG Student Members
The Tertiary Study Grant provides financial support for a student member of the Transportation Group to undertake study in transportation at a tertiary institution aligning with the Group’s mission of Advancing the knowledge, planning and management of transport in New Zealand. The funding is intended to be allocated to course fees or associated costs, such as travel and equipment costs associated with the study. The study programme should include preparation of a research report or thesis.
This study will focus on issues that are important and topical in the transportation area, and then the successful member will spread that useful and usable knowledge to peers.
Key dates
- Applications open 20 November 2025
- Applications close 13 February 2026
- Notification of award 20 February 2026 (confidential as the “reveal” is at the TG Conference in March)
- Attend (at student rates) the TG Conference 8-11 March 2026 in Wellington
- Last date to start study (on or before) 20 August 2026
- Outputs due on or before 20 February 2027
The application form is here
Enquiries should be sent electronically to:
Awards Co-ordinator – John Lieswyn at: john@viastrada.nz
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2024 Cameron Davis, University of Canterbury: Optimal green on-demand transportation systems in mutual interaction with urban traffic dynamics
2023 Ben Hendrie, University of Canterbury
2022 Moayad Shammut, Massey University: Institutional Barriers to Driverless Car Deployment in New Zealand
2021
2020 Allie Knight, Waikato University: Cyclist behaviour, expectations, and perceptions relating to physical separators
2019
2018 Ashu Kedia, University of Canterbury
TPA Conference sponsorship – TBA
TPA Conference Sponsorship ($1,500) – open to all TG members
The Matrix Innovation Award provides a larger sum and additional recognition for finalists at the TG Conference. This smaller award is to assist a member to attend the conference.
In recognition of the close professional connection between the Transportation Group and the Australian Transportation Professionals Association (TPA, formerly Institute of Transportation Planning and Management (AITPM)), the National Committee sponsors a Transportation Group member to attend the TPA National Conference.
The sponsorship (to the value of NZD 1,500) is to support a member to attend the conference, participate in the various sessions and workshops, and to represent the Group at the TPA Annual General Meeting to be held at the conference.
Interested members are invited to submit an application, supported by a brief (300 words or less) commentary on the following criteria:
- benefit to member, employer and profession from member’s participation in the conference
- ability of member to obtain additional funding needed for the trip (e.g. employer)
- member’s contribution to profession (especially the Transportation Group)
- whether member is presenting at the conference.
After the conference, the successful member will prepare a brief conference report that will be published in the Roundabout magazine, and is encouraged to give a presentation on their trip to their local Branch and the next Transportation Conference if possible.
(AWARD CURRENTLY IN HIATUS)
For queries please contact Awards Co-ordinator John Lieswyn at: john@viastrada.nz
ACRS Conference sponsorship – TBA
ACRS Conference Sponsorship ($3,000) – Open to all TG Safety Practitioners members
In recognition of the close professional connection between the Safety Practitioners Group of the Transportation Group New Zealand and the Women in Road Safety Network of the Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS), the National Committee is pleased to sponsor a Transportation Group member to attend the ACRS Conference.
The sponsorship (to the value of NZD 3,000) is to support a member to attend the ACRS conference, participate in the various sessions and workshops, and to represent the Transportation Group at conference events.
Interested members are invited to submit an EOI by DATE TO BE ADVISED to wirsn@acrs.com with the subject ‘EOI for Transportation Group Scholarship for ACRS Conference’, supported by their CV and a brief (up to 300 words) commentary on the following criteria:
- benefit to the member, employer, and profession from member’s participation in the conference
- ability of member to obtain additional funding needed for the trip (e.g. via their employer)
- member’s contribution to profession (especially the Transportation Group)
- whether the member is presenting at the conference.
Please note, the successful member must meet conference attendance costs above that of the value of the sponsorship.
After the conference, the successful member will prepare a brief conference report that will be published in the Roundabout magazine and is encouraged to give a presentation on their trip to their local Transportation Group branch and the next Transportation Group Conference, if possible.
For queries, please contact Renata Gomez via email renata.gomez@wsp.com