<[link removed]>Hi Friend

We've just had another taxpayer victory! 🎉

Moments ago, Judith Collins, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, announced a regulation change to narrow the scope of the $83.5 million/year Marsden Fund.

This means that the money will go towards science (as it did until Grant Robertson widened the scope to include humanities and social sciences).



The terms of reference will shift focus from the 'pie in the sky' ideas with no real scientific basis (like $360k for research on "Amplifying Pacific Girl Gamer Voices" – see below).

In case you need reminding – here are just a few recent Marsden studies your humble Taxpayers' Union has previously exposed👇 (and yes Friend, these are all 100% real - and are supposed to represent the crème de la crème of government 'research').

Recipient: Dr F Meyer, University of Auckland

Project: Using Virtual Reality to combat racial bias: Immersing teachers into their Māori students' worlds

"This study seeks to address racism towards Maori in the education system by placing teachers in a VR simulation designed to "embody" a Māori student facing bias across multiple life situations and hear the student’s internal monologue to understand the impact of racism."

Approved funding: $861,000

Recipient: Associate Professor NA Tassell-Matamua, Massey University

Project: Linking the celestial spheres to end-of-life experiences

This research investigates what compelled Māori to link the celestial sphere (Matariki in particular) with death. The research hopes to rekindle the ancient connection to the stars and re-imagine the meaning of death. 

Approved funding: $861,000

Recipient: Professor LJ Marriott, Victoria University of Wellington

Project: Researching a Te Tiriti-affirming tax system design

"Māori voices have been largely absent from discussion on tax policy in Aotearoa. This research project will investigate current and historical relationships between Māori people and government tax, with the aim of proposing new, Te Tiriti-affirming tax systems. This internationally-grounded research will take inspiration from other countries with co-designed tax systems that affirm the rights of Indigenous people."

Approved funding: $853,000

Recipient: Dr HL Black, Massey University

Project: The de-sexualisation of te reo Māori domains

Explores and expands mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) on sexuality within te reo Māori, examining how it interweaves with food, identity, and socialization in Māori culture. It also investigates contemporary expressions of sexuality through modern performances and interviews, aiming to reintegrate these expressions into everyday discourse.

Approved funding: $360,000

Recipient: Dr JMU Allen, Auckland University

Project: Virtual Voyagers - Amplifying Pacific Girl Gamer Voices

This project highlights the unique experiences of Pacific girl gamers in Aotearoa New Zealand, exploring how gaming shapes their identities, wellbeing, and relationships through Pacific frameworks. Guided by Kakala, a Tongan research methodology, it centers their voices to provide new insights into gaming and cultural identity.

Approved funding: $360,000

Huzzah! From 2025 the grift is over!

At long last, reason has been restored to an area that should be grounded only in logic and science, not political dogma and woke ideology.

On your part, Friend – thank you for making this win for the Taxpayers' Unionall taxpayers possible. 

In politics, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Your support to the Taxpayers' Union's effort to shine a light on waste within the Marsden Fund has seen the politicians respond and get the fund back to its core role of funding quality scientific research.

Thank you for your support


Jordan Williams
Executive Director
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Ps. Friend, while the Marsden Fund's humanities and social science panels have disbanded today – the fight continues. The waste you see above runs all throughout the public sector. We cannot do it alone – if you value the work in exposing waste and holding bureaucrats to account, you can support our efforts here. <[link removed]>

New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Inc. · 117 Lambton Quay, Level 4, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
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