Tumu Whakarae Karere | Acting Chief Executive Update

I would like to firstly acknowledge our former Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro GNZM QSO (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kahu, and Ngāti Hine) who was sworn in for a five-year term as New Zealand’s first wahine Māori Governor-General last week at Parliament. 

Although Dame Cindy was only at the head of the Society for 14 weeks and also the first wahine Māori in the role, she continues to be significantly connected to Royal Society Te Apārangi as our Patron.

And of course, we cannot miss out a huge mihi to Dr Richard Davies, Cindy’s husband for his service to Aotearoa during this time too. Kia kaha e hoa rangatira.

I am pleased to see the continuing use of the Society’s convening power and independence in providing expert advice. We recently published two reports: an independent view on improving mathematics and statistics learning for the Ministry of Education, and a report on inequity in housing in Aotearoa New Zealand from the Te Tapeke Fair Futures Panel. Please share these with your networks.

Finally, and importantly, I’d like to draw your attention to the “green” paper and associated cabinet papers on the future of the research system, launched by MBIE and Minister Woods on 28 October. The potential agenda for change is ambitious and I encourage all of us with an interest in the future of the research, science and innovation system to read it, discuss it and have your say via MBIE’s feedback process.  I will also be working with MBIE on how the Society can use its independent convening power to constructively support this mahi.

Heio anō, kia ora be well, he rā ki tua better days are coming.