Summarised by Centrist
Dr Michael Johnston of the New Zealand Initiative has taken aim at the Royal Society Te Apārangi for its controversial approach to awarding research funding. In his Insights Newsletter, Johnston questions the merit of projects like a study on linking celestial spheres with end-of-life experiences, which received $861,000. He writes: “A cynic might think projects focussing on, say, treating cancer or fusion energy should take higher priority.”
Johnston criticised the allocation of Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowships, where diversity quotas ensured at least 20% of recipients were Māori, 10% Pasifika, and 50% women.
The 327 proposals were rigorously screened, but only seven were rejected outright. The remaining 320 were entered into a series of random draws to allocate funding, with applicants belonging to all three favoured categories enjoying multiple chances. “Men of African, Asian or European ancestry had to wait for the final round for a single chance at whatever was left,” Johnston wrote.
“Perhaps they should simply outsource the 2025 round to the Lotteries Commission,” he quipped. While Johnston acknowledged the importance of supporting female scholars, he points out that women already make up 60% of New Zealand university graduates and an equal proportion of Fellowship applicants.
