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National | Tertiary Education Commission

$30mil distributed by TEC turns heads

Every year, a pool of $30mil is distributed by the Tertiary Education Commission to centres of research excellence.

Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga is among those who have been successful in past years but that won't be renewed going forward.

The funding for research excellence is a contestable pool and it's only fair the rules are the same for all.

But in terms of Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga, it's the only centre of Māori research excellence in the country. That's prompted a call from some Māori MPs to ensure their work is still supported.

It's widely known Māori feature heavily in poor statistics, including health, education, social development issues and many more.

Research is one avenue which provides solutions to such situations.

So the question is, should the government be investing specific funding into a centre of research excellence run by Māori for Māori?

At the end of next month those successful applicants for research excellence funding will be announced.

At that time the Minister will be free to hold discussions with Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga, including a possible way forward for the institute.