Māori CoRE selection committee announced

Māori CoRE selection committee announced

A panel of highly qualified and respected experts has been chosen to undertake the process of selecting a Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) focused on Māori research.

In Budget 2014 the Government committed $5million of funding each year for five years from 2016 for a Māori CoRE. The Tertiary Education Commission is responsible for managing the process to select the Māori CoRE. This is the first time dedicated funding has been set aside for a Māori CoRE in recognition of Māori research excellence.

“Supporting Māori research, methodologies, and approaches is critical for Māori and New Zealand’s cultural, social and economic development. Once selected the Māori CoRE will lead and support the realisation of this,” said TEC chief executive Tim Fowler.

The selection committee announced today will be chaired by Emeritus Professor Sir Mason Durie, a highly regarded expert and leader in Māori health and education and indigenous development. Joining Sir Mason Durie on the committee is -

· Mr Haami Piripi, a member of the Iwi Chairs Forum and the Chair of the mātauranga sub-committee of the Iwi Chairs Forum

· Mr Rawiri Faulkner, general Manager, Māori strategy, at the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science (GNS)

· Dr Jessica Hutchings, manager of Te Wāhanga, New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER)

· Dr Charlotte Severne, director of ‘Severne and Associates Ltd

· Dr Tanira Kingi, portfolio Leader, Māori Agribusiness, for Ag Research

· Dr Keawe’aimoku Kaholokula, chair and associate professor of Native Hawaiian Health, University of Hawai’i.

Sir Mason Durie notes that the members bring together a variety of expertise and knowledge allowing for a robust and well informed selection process.

“In bringing the selection committee together it was important to ensure the members had complementary skills and expertise in areas of research competence; governance and management of research; access to Te Ao Māori; and knowledge of tertiary education. I am confident we have achieved this with the selection committee announced today,” said Sir Mason Durie.

The selection process for the first Māori CoRE is underway. Applicants have until mid- November to submit their pre-proposals and this will be followed by a full application. An announcement of the successful Māori CoRE is expected by June 2015.

ENDS

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