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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').
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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'
Union all
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
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Jordan
Williams
Executive Director
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union
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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.
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