Enlightenment has come to the fore through the continuation of funding for a Māori CoRE (Centre of Research Excellence).
$5 million per annum, beginning in 2016, will be used to maintain a Māori CoRE. The new fund will come into operation once Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga's contract ends in December, 2015.
According to Tracey McIntosh, "Ngā Pae was not refunded in the last CoRE rebid round, we were notified in Feb this year and since then we and Māori researchers nationally and indigenous researchers internationally have been really working hard to look at where we could go forward. So we are very happy with this development."
The new funding is subject to a competitive tender process for Māori researchers and Māori-led research institutes.
However it must be asked of the Minister of Māori Affairs, why was Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga unsuccessful in its bid for its usual CoRE funding which it has received from TEC since 2002?
McIntosh hopes that Māori will also play a vital role in processes for the new Māori CoRE funding. She also says Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga will strategise with their partners to work towards a proposal for the best outcomes for the future of Māori research.