Māori and Pasifika 'severely under-represented' at science faculties, study finds

Monday, 3 August 2020

A new research paper by Auckland academics takes a look into the ethnic make-up in science faculties across New Zealand. (File photo)

Māori and Pasifika continue to be underrepresented in science faculties in the last decade, despite the championing of New Zealand universities valuing diversity, a new study has found.

The research paper, Under-represented and overlooked: Maori and Pasifika scientists in Aoetearoa New Zealand’s universities and crown research institutes, focused on 14 institutions between 2008 and to 2018.

The paper found that Māori and Pasifika made up less than five per cent of the total of full-time employees in science faculties.

In one case, one university did not employ a single Māori academic during this period.

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Auckland scientist Dr Dan Hikuroa says he is not surprised by the study’s findings.

It also found like Māori, Pasifika were also “extremely under-represented” – one university and three CRIs did not employ a single Pasifika scientist for 11 consecutive years.

Most academics in science faculties at New Zealand universities were European and there had been a consistent increase in Asian academics through the years.

The paper highlighted the lack of institutional will to build a sustainable Māori and Pasifika workforce.

It revealed that over 11 years, there has been no improvement in Māori and Pasifika representation in science faculties.

Co-author Dr Hikuroa, a senior lecturer at University of Auckland’s Te Wānanga o Waipapa, said the findings in the paper were disturbing, but not surprising.

He said the study proved what people have casually observed through the years.

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“Now we need to recognise that there is a problem there, we need to be thinking about how we can address this.”

He suggested, like in law and engineering, to introduce a preferential entry scheme for Māori and Pasifika scientists.

“Although the entry standard is different from that group, once you’re in, you have to meet past standards just like everyone else.”

The study's lead author, Dr Tara McAllister said without centering Māori and Pacific voices, New Zealand’s science system will never reach its full potential.

“Additionally, without increasing the number of Māori scientists they employ these institutions will continue to not meet their obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”

New Zealand Association of Scientists president Troy Baisden said world data and analysis are showing diversity measures provide valuable and worrying indicators of the wider health of applied research systems during the pandemic.

He said Māori representation in science is critical to develop the economic potential of Māori land and marine resources, and also to ensure Māori world views have a place in environmental management and practices in the health system.

Auckland University of Technology’s Professor of Pacific Studies Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop said despite their best efforts in recent years, the pool of Pacific researchers remains low generally and glaringly low in senior research posts.

There are many reasons for this, largely financial – for example many AUT post-graduate students were the ‘first in the family at uni’, she said.

“So some with huge potential as researchers and scholars often left to take up employment so their younger brothers and sisters could have a chance at getting a university education. The availability of more senior-level tertiary study scholarships and grants for Pacific students would be a major step in establishing a critical mass of Pacific researchers and supply chain.'