Yesterday, Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) received confirmation from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) that it has succeeded in obtaining the new Māori Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) Funding.
The announcement by the Minister, the Hon Steven Joyce, means that NPM’s future is now secure and it can continue to focus on forging new pathways of academic and research excellence for many more years to come.
NPM’s current Director, Associate Professor Tracey McIntosh (Tūhoe) says, “Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga has spent the past 12 months working extremely hard to collectivise Māori researchers and its partners to develop an enhanced model to address the opportunities and challenges facing Māori communities and the nation through excellent Māori research.
“We are thrilled to have attained the Māori CoRE funding and would like to acknowledge all those who have passed on their congratulations since the announcement. It has been an arduous process for all involved, and we are delighted to have succeeded in securing a future not only for Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga but more importantly for a recognised place for Māori research and knowledge.
Associate Professor Jacinta Ruru (Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui) from the University of Otago, who will take on the Co-Director position alongside Tracey in 2016, commented that “this is an outstanding achievement and I would thank our researchers and partner institutions for their support as well as those who contributed to the development of the successful proposal.”
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga’s present Chairman, Sir Tīpene O’Regan (Kai Tahu) expressed his delight saying that NPM, “has an expansive research network that spans all New Zealand universities as well as museums, wānanga, a CRI and community-based research units across the country, and this news will be savoured by this network and also by all Māori researchers who have committed themselves to ensuring that Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga has a strong and bold future.”
NPM’s Patron the Hon Dr Pita Sharples (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Pahauwera) concludes, “I would personally like to acknowledge the government for progressing the CoRE proposal so quickly and for appreciating the importance of this kaupapa. There is still an enormous amount for us to work through in 2015, as we complete our current contract and prepare for the next five years – but to finally confirm that a Māori Centre of Research Excellence will continue is an immense relief. A Māori CoRE is quite simply vital to the future of the country, and it goes without saying that we take this responsibility very seriously”.
NPM will continue to fulfil its current CoRE contract through to 31 December 2015, and will then commence its new journey in January of 2016.
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