Refocus of Marsden Fund

The New Zealand Conservation Authority (Authority) is very concerned by the changes to the Marsden Fund that have been announced, specifically the exclusion of social science and humanities research.

The Authority has statutory roles in relation to conservation management, and also may also investigate conservation issues of national importance and advise on national initiatives, policies and strategies affecting public conservation resources.

Social science and humanities research are critical components for understanding how people, science, and nature interact. There are many areas of social science and humanities research which specifically benefit the environment and conservation including human geography, urban planning and design, public policy, public health, education, history, law, cultural studies – to mention just a few.

Internationally it is recognised that solutions for the economic and environmental challenges that face us will be the result of inter- and trans-disciplinary research, integrating knowledge from social sciences and humanities with other sciences, engineering and technology. It is at the boundaries of disciplines, and with the insights from fresh perspectives that innovation flourishes.

While we can build on knowledge and solutions generated internationally, we also have issues that are specific to our country that the New Zealand research community needs to address. New Zealand has both globally significant and unique biota and ecosystems, and unique indigenous perspectives and knowledge systems. The critical importance and contributions of Te Ao Māori perspectives and mātauranga Māori to sustainable practices, environmental care, and innovations, need to be acknowledged along with funding to enable research.

The Marsden Fund has produced a remarkable volume of excellent research that has contributed to improved understanding of our country and society – with widespread flow-on benefits. The removal of humanities and social science from the Marsden Fund will have wide reaching and negative impacts including on policy development as well as on the research community and will limit the capacity of Government to deliver its promised people-focused and evidence-based decision making.