Demands on scientists to have Maori support or approval for research is
strangling science, researchers say.
Canterbury University head of zoology Frank Sin has been knocked back
on his bid for Government funding for research into paua growth because
it did not have strong enough Maori connections, only months after he
was knocked back on genetic research into paua and lobster because Ngai
Tahu did not approve it.
"We have to get support from Maori before we can do the most basic
research," he complained. "I know the Government has to be seen to be
conscious about the Treaty of Waitangi, which is fair enough, but the
way things are done is too extreme.
"It's strangling our science and the economy."
The Press revealed this week that Lincoln University scientist Jon
Hickford missed out on Foundation of Research, Science, and Technology
funding for his research into sheep footrot because the foundation's
Maori reference group felt it did not focus enough on Maori.
All applications for the foundation's funding are assessed for
meaningful collaboration with Maori and, since August, the foundation
has even set a target of 5 to 10 per cent of its funding for research
involving Maori and Maori-centred or Kaupapa Maori research.
Lincoln University Postgraduate and Research School director Roy
Bickerstaffe said scientists feared that "Maori connections" were now
more important than the scientific merit of their work, and many
scientists were left guessing at what a Maori connection was.
Professor Sin said his foundation bid involved two Maori researchers,
one of whom holds the foundation's prestigious Tuapapa Putaiao Maori
Fellowship, which was not enough to convince the foundation's Maori
reference group that his research was responsive to Maori.
"There's not a lot that scientists can do if there are no Maori to work
with. Do we not do the science?"
He has experienced similar problems getting Environmental Risk
Management Authority (Erma) authorisation for genetic research into
paua and lobster. Ngai Tahu did not give its approval and, without it,
his application could not proceed.
"Anyone using native animals can't get the approval," Professor Sin
said. "I have given up any cloning in my lab for two years now. I just
can't be bothered going through all that trauma."
Another Canterbury University researcher Neil Gemmell has given up on
his research into endangered native frogs. He needed Maori approval
before Erma would authorise his genetic research but was "stonewalled"
when he wrote to all iwi with a claim to the frogs because some just
never replied.
Professor Sin plans to continue his stalled paua and lobster research
overseas, while on sabbatical next year, and warned that a lot of
research would now be done overseas or not at all - "and the loss will
be to Maori and the country. It's a crazy situation".
Dr Hickford's research bid included Maori researcher Dr Rachel Forrest,
who is a past winner of the foundation's Tuapapa Putaiao Maori
Fellowship.
She was "totally miffed" at her funding knock-back this week, which she
said flew in the face of efforts to get Maori into science.
It was simply inappropriate to assess all research for its
responsiveness to Maori, she said.
"Health. Sure, Maori health is a big issue but when it comes to
agriculture and sheep?
"We're scientists, and we're ending up being politicians by default."
Foundation of Research, Science and Technology group manager Peter
Benfell said Dr Hickford's research, which has been funded by the
foundation until now, did not win further funding because it did not
rate highly enough against the other shortlisted proposals.
"The Maori responsiveness is only one of 10 criteria we assess
proposals against. It's not going to kill a proposal on its own."
26 December 2002
By TARA ROSS
