$1.8m to be invested in Maori-led science and innovation

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) announced today that a further $1.8 million will be invested over the next two years to develop the science and innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources, and people for the benefit of New Zealand.

"MBIE’s Te Pūnaha Hihiko Vision Mātauranga Capability Fund aims to strengthen connections between Māori and the science and innovation system," says Anne Berryman, National Manager Science Development.

"Decisions are based on merit and informed by an independent assessment panel of experts."

A total of $1.8 million (excluding GST) invested in 13 new programmes will help to develop the people and organisations undertaking and participating in Maori-relevant research that support the four themes of MBIE’s Vision Mātauranga policy:

- Indigenous innovation - contributing to economic growth through distinctive science and innovation

- Taiao/environment - achieving environmental sustainability through iwi and hapū relationships with land and sea

- Hauora/health - improving health and social wellbeing

- Matauranga - exploring indigenous knowledge and science and innovation.

The programmes announced today have the potential to create greater understanding of how science can contribute to the economic, social and environmental aspirations of participating Māori organisations. They span a wide range of topics including:

- increasing the yield of high-value lipids from green shell mussels

- creating a coordinated disaster response plan using Māori networks

- incorporating traditional Māori knowledge into planning for the Te Awahou groundwater catchment

- identifying underlying tikanga (cultural practices) links to ecosystem health.

The contracts will commence between October 2014 and January 2015 and run for up to two years.