OPEN LETTER TO: Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology

The Government’s decision to scrap Marsden funding social science and humanities research is short-sighted and will be harmful for all in Aotearoa.  Of the total funding allocated from the Marsden Funds these two discipline areas receive only a small amount.  The outputs derived from these funded research opportunities have extensive impacts and applications.  These opportunities also allow for researchers to build communities of research, and critical research skills in Aotearoa, critical skills applied to our issues – our own problems needing solving.

The research community is appalled that a government of Aotearoa would cut off the life-blood of research about the human condition, when there are so many social and human problems needing our attention – from the use of scarce resources studied in economics to the workings of the human brain which is the subject of psychology.  The breadth of disciplines covered by the social science and humanities panels is extensive and will impact all areas of New Zealand.  Without this research we risk creating a hollow society, lacking connection and understanding.

Of particular concern is the significant impact this decision will have on the ability to conduct large scale exploration of Māori, and other indigenous issues, knowledge, history and cultures. At a time when we need to understand our society in more depth this is a retrograde and disadvantaging step.

Added to this the degradation of humanities and social science research through lack of government funding will lead to the downgrading of our world-class tertiary education system, and impact on our ability to attract international scholars and students.

This decision by the Minister further highlights the reluctance of this government to allow for evidence to drive or assess social policy decisions.  Without solid evidence to support decision making government will lose the trust of citizens, with ultimately civil society at risk into the future.

We call on the government to rethink this short-sighted decision.