Tā te Tumuaki | Message from the Society’s President – Distinguished Professor Dame Jane Harding
Distinguished Professor Dame Jane Harding DNZM FRACP FRSNZ shares her foreword as President of Royal Society Te Apārangi.
Tēnā koutou katoa,
As I write this newsletter, we are awaiting announcements of the next steps in the government’s science reform programme. The most recent steps of critical relevance to the Society were the Prime Minister’s announcement regarding the establishment of the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology on 18 July, and MBIE’s announcement of further cuts to the Marsden Fund to contribute to this. As made clear in the MBIE Document library, the new Institute is also funded in part by cuts to other research funds, including the Health Research Fund and the Endeavour Fund.
In response, I wrote to the Prime Minister expressing the Society’s concern at a further reduction to the Marsden Fund from 2028/29 in addition to the reductions previously announced in this year’s budget. As the letter states “The Society is very concerned that cuts to funding for the fundamental research supported by the Marsden Fund will undermine the long-term potential of the new Institute and other parts of the sector…”
Following our letter, we met with Minister Reti and emphasised the importance of investing in fundamental research, including in the humanities and social sciences, for New Zealand’s future. These conversations with MBIE and the Minister are ongoing. We have been particularly focussed on clarifying the difference between “basic” research which is directed toward solving a particular problem (e.g in advanced technology), and blue skies “discovery” research that does not yet have an application, but provides the pipeline of new ideas and innovation that will feed future opportunities and growth for Aotearoa. Some examples of the many innovative projects supported by the Marsden Fund over its thirty-year history are available in the latest Marsden Fund Update.
The Council meeting held on 30 June 2025 included farewelling members finishing their terms. My sincere thanks to Cate Macinnis-Ng, Susy Frankel, Marie Bradley, Steve Ratuva, and Jens Mueller for their long-term commitment and contributions to the Society in these important roles. The first meeting of the new Council will be held on 18 September 2025, and we look forward to welcoming new Councillors Stephen May (Deputy Chair of the Academy Executive) and William Rolleston (Companion, elected by the general membership) at that meeting.
As part of the agreed governance changes, we are currently in the process of identifying the two key points of contact for each membership group. Once these have been confirmed, we will schedule membership Forums, which are to be held at least twice a year and attended by members of Council. These will be an opportunity for members to have greater input on matters that concern our membership/science sector.
On a positive note, we are delighted to announce the election of nine new Companions to the Society. Companions are recognised for outstanding leadership or eminent contributions to promoting and advancing science, technology or the humanities in Aotearoa New Zealand, and we look forward to welcoming them on Companions’ Day, which is their membership group forum, in October. Details of these fantastic new members are available in this announcement.
I am also very much looking forward to celebrating the Research Honours Aotearoa. These events give the research community an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of those who have excelled in their field of expertise. The three events will be on Tuesday, 28 October, in Christchurch, on Tuesday, 4 November, in Auckland, and on Tuesday, 11 November 2025 in Wellington. There will be Fellows’ receptions (your membership group forum) held prior to each Awards ceremony, and I would encourage you to attend these if you can. Your thoughts on safeguarding the integrity, vitality and public value of research in Aotearoa would be welcomed.
The Wellington event will be held at Government House, hosted by the Governor-General and we also have invited Minister Reti to attend.
TAIKURA – Aotearoa Tri-Academy Indigenous Summit is to be held in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland on 24‒26 November 2025 at AUT. This follows the Summit held in Vancouver last year, with the third Summit to be held in Australia in 2026. The Summits are an opportunity to progress tri-nation collaboration between Cananda, Aotearoa, and Australia on international indigenous-led research. We are honoured to have the opportunity to host this Summit and will be sending invitations later this month. We encourage you to attend if possible.
Ngā mihi nui
Jane Harding
President, Royal Society Te Apārangi