With humanities and social sciences removed from the “blue-skies” research fund, many Māori-led research projects will no longer be funded.
“Core” scientists have also voiced opposition to the move, despite the fact that most of them will see increased funding opportunities from it.
The Science Media Centre asked experts to comment.
Professor Tahu Kukutai (Ngāti Tiipa), Pou Matarua Co-Director of Nga Pae o Maramatanga, comments:
“We know that Māori researchers, communities, and knowledge systems stand to suffer the most from this decision.
“In 2024, Māori made up 13% of all Marsden funded investigators. Take away the humanities and social sciences panel, and that plunges to just 5.5%. This decision defunds Māori research and Māori researchers by stealth.
“It makes no sense to disinvest in the next generation of Māori scholars when the government has repeatedly recognised the urgent need to grow the Māori research workforce.
“Humanities and social sciences are foundational to advancing and nurturing the next generation of Māori scholars. Without this funding avenue, the future for them looks pretty grim.”
Conflict of interest statement: “I am a Marsden recipient. I have received one Fast Start and two Standard grants.”
Prof Alice Te Punga Somerville (Te Āti Awa, Taranaki), Head of Department of English Language & Literatures, University of British Columbia, Canada, comments:
“I see in this devastating cut an echo of broader patterns. Māori are so concentrated in Humanities and Social Science disciplines that it felt immediately like an extension of ongoing anti-Māori politics and political interference (if you think this feels paranoid, note that ACT party lists Māori projects first in their social media posts about the changes). As well, increased pressure on the Humanities or Arts disciplines (including my own, the study of literature) is a massive issue in the global academy. Partly we haven’t been great at explaining what we do (to communities, but also to researchers in other disciplines), but mostly we are victims of (hunch-based rather than data-based) stories about how to measure the value of tertiary education.
“Just as the coalition is laying the groundwork for the privatization and commercialization of health, education, infrastructure and services, this removal of government funding risks creating a research sector dependent on philanthropic funding (where individuals or corporations donate to, and shape, the research they think should be funded). The questions asked by Māori humanities researchers – about language, history, literature, music, philosophy – are often critical and imaginative and driven by deep community as well as disciplinary commitments. Who will fund them? What do we lose collectively if that research – and the opportunities for other researchers and communities each Marsden creates – does not happen?
“Some people argue that Humanities research is valuable because explains the colonial context in which ‘science’ research is applied or experienced – but Māori people are more than our experiences of empire! Although Social Sciences and Humanities researchers may indeed ask questions about colonialism, racism and disadvantage, research funded by these panels enable us to better understand the brilliance, creativity, imagination, depth and diversity of the Māori world.”
This comment is an excerpt. Full comments will be available on our website.
Conflict of interest statement: “Recipient of two Marsdens: one Fast Start (2006), one Full (2017).”
Dr Tara McAllister (Te Aitanga a Māhaki), Māori researcher, comments:
“The removal of social science and humanities research in the Marsden Fund directly defunds Māori research. The vast majority of Kairangahau Māori who apply to this fund do so through the social sciences and humanities panels, which includes subjects like Māori studies and te reo Māori. Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga have already shown that without the humanities and social sciences, in last year’s Marsden round there would have only been five Māori Principal Investigators (out of 102). Of particular concern is the negative effect this will have on Māori early career researchers, who are often already in precarious positions. The majority of Māori PhDs are not in STEM subjects and getting a Marsden can have a significant influence on career trajectories and employability.
“This decision by the government though disappointing is unsurprising given the raft of anti-Māori moves they have already made, including the destruction of Te Aka Whai Ora and the Treaty Principles Bill. All of which attempt to further marginalise Māori on our own whenua.
“The changes to the Marsden Fund are a clear mechanism to privilege settler science whilst devaluing mātauranga Māori. Most researchers, regardless of their fields, understand the importance of the social sciences and humanities in advancing knowledge so this decision seems both uninformed and short-sighted.
“We need to humanise the sciences not dehumanise them. Scientists can create vaccines for global pandemics but the social sciences help us understand how these vaccines could be used by people. Scientists can predict how much a 2 degree increase in temperature will affect sea level rise but they alone cannot create systems change leading to countries reducing their greenhouse emissions to slow down climate change. A research approach which draws on multiple knowledge systems and transcends disciplinary silos is what will help us move forward.”
Conflict of interest statement: “I am currently funded by the Marsden Fund through the social sciences panel for my project ‘Vision Mātauranga: is it past its use-by date?'”
Dr Carwyn Jones (Ngāti Kahungunu), Kaihautū (Director), Te Whare Whakatupu Mātauranga, Te Wānanga o Raukawa; and Honorary Adjunct Professor at Te Kawa a Māui – School of Māori Studies, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, comments:
“The Government’s decision to defund social science and humanities research within the Marsden Fund, will have a disproportionate impact on Māori research. Leaders in Māori research have pointed out that Māori researchers, communities, and knowledge systems will suffer most from this short-sighted decision.
“And defunding Māori research is not just bad news for Māori communities, it is bad news for all of us in Aotearoa. Working with, contributing to, and developing mātauranga Māori provides important new information, ideas, and perspectives across all fields of knowledge. If we are going to confront important issues such as the existential challenge of climate change, we’re going to need to make sure we’re using all the tools we have in our collective toolbox to respond.”
Conflict of interest statement: “I have previously received grants from the Marsden Fund (under both Humanities and Social Sciences).”
Prof Linda Waimarie Nikora (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Tūhoe) Professor Indigenous Studies and Pou Matarua Co-Director Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, University of Auckland, comments:
“Social science and humanities research is crucial to understanding the cultural and wider contexts and systems that we all live in. It forms the basis for understanding the drivers behind why people thrive socially and economically.
“It is short-sighted and reckless to cut crucial funding in these areas and it will be detrimental to long term economic and social well-being. Research on Māori health, education, and social wellbeing reduces systemic barriers and equips more New Zealanders to contribute effectively to the economy.
“Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga has been a world leader in developing approaches that work across all disciplines to solve problems and with mātauranga Māori at the heart of what we do.”
No conflicts of interest.
Professor Georgina Tuari Stewart, Immediate Past Co-President of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education, comments:
“The purpose of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education is to foster excellent educational research in and of Aotearoa New Zealand. We are dismayed to receive the news of the disbanding of two of the Marsden Fund panels, namely Social Sciences and Humanities. The Marsden Fund is already one of the only funding opportunities for research in education in this country. Therefore, this announcement places educational research in a very precarious position.
“Furthermore, these two panels receive most of the proposals based on Māori and Pacific knowledge, so this decision will reverse the progress that has been made in recent years towards equity in terms of who and whose interests are funded for research.
“Minister Collins stated in her press release on 4 December 2024 that “Real impact on our economy will come from areas such as physics, chemistry, maths, engineering and biomedical sciences.” But the scientists and innovators of today, and the lifelong learners they now are, were educated by teachers who were influenced by leading edge educational research.
“We believe this announcement will have a detrimental effect on educational research in New Zealand, leading to less evidence on which to base decisions for future educational planning, which will in turn negatively impact the outcomes for all learners. The move away from research also contradicts the government’s own call for evidence-based policy in education.
“Even for the remaining panels, the government’s call for applications to show potential economic benefit contradicts the basic criteria of the Marsden Fund, which is for ‘blue skies’ research and theoretical innovation. Proposals for development of applications of science have been excluded on principle. This announcement will thus likely damage the integrity of the entire Marsden Fund system.”
No conflicts of interest declared.