Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga has five research themes:
•    New Frontiers of Knowledge
•    Economic Development
•    Environmental Sustainability
•    Health and Social Wellbeing
•    Educational Achievement

These themes often overlap. Key questions include:

New Frontiers of Knowledge
•    What is the potential contribution of mātauranga Māori to our nation?
•    What are the relationships between mātauranga Māori and science, and between the arts, humanities and sciences, when brought together? What protocols should exist?
•    What new, successful and distinctive research capabilities and knowledge approaches can be created through examining mātauranga Māori and conducting relevant research to Māori communities?

Economic Development
•    How can we increase the efficiency of historically underproductive collectively owned assets?
•    How can we maximise the value of assets arising from Waitangi Tribunal claim settlements?
•    How can we increase the productivity of Māori organisations, businesses and institutions?
•    Is it possible to create distinctive products and services from materials of the Māori world?
•    Can an indigenous approach to economic development be created and what is the value?

Environmental Sustainability
•    What contributions can Māori owned assets, resources and organisations make to environmental sustainability?
•    What can the historical associations of iwi and hapū to land, sea and sky add to environmental sustainability?
•    What is the potential of an indigenous approach to environmental sustainability (Kaitiakitanga)?

Health and Social Wellbeing
•    What barriers inhibit health and social wellbeing for Māori people? How can these be overcome?
•    What is meant by health and social wellbeing in the Māori context? What is the potential value to wider society?
•    What successful approaches to healing might be developed through examining indigenous knowledge and historical Māori healing practices?

Educational Achievement
•    What barriers inhibit Māori success in education? And how can these be tackled?
•    How can we realise the potential of Māori education institutions? (kōhanga reo through to whare wānanga)
•    What do Māori knowledge, people and resources contribute to New Zealand education overall?
•    What skills, abilities and curricula can be developed from indigenous knowledge and how do they contribute to New Zealand education?