Almost $6 million has been awarded to three Maori health research projects.
One aims to improve how heart disease patients and their families understand the disease and its treatment.
The others will investigate how to tackle chronic dental disease among indigenous children, and how better training of health professionals can improve the standard of care for Maori.
The projects involve collaboration with researchers in Canada and Australia.
Health Research Council chief executive Robin Olds says the funding comes from the International Collaborative Indigenous Health Research Partnership (ICIHRP).
He told Waatea News the areas studied are of particular importance to Maori and to indigenous people around the world.
New Zealand's Health Research Council website says the ICIHRP was formed in 2002 by the national health agencies of each country. It aims to address inequalities in health outcomes for indigenous peoples in New Zealand, Canada and Australia.
