This thesis investigated the array of motivational factors that influenced Indigenous doctoral scholars. The circumstance for the research rested on the premise that the range of influences and how they are experienced and responded to were limited in the majority of literature. The primary goal of this research was to offer a more holistic and cultural understanding of the phenomena by investigating the motivational factors that have influenced a specific Indigenous group of eight Māori doctoral scholars in relation to their study, towards the completion of their doctorates. The author focused her research specifically on Māori doctoral scholars from the tribe of Tūhoe from whence she originated. The overall aim of this thesis examined the potential link that a traditional concept; wairua (spirituality) had to motivation and to the performance of those scholars. In order to investigate the overall aim, the central question focused on the motivational factors that have contributed to the performance of Māori who are Tūhoe who have attained doctorates. The thesis further examined to what extent agency (the initiative and capacity to act in a desired direction or toward desired goals), had played as part of their doctoral journey.