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Purposes and Goals
Purpose of the Motu Foundation
The purpose of the Motu Foundation is to provide specific funding that will help build capability in economic research and public policy.
Research institutes (such as our companion organisation Motu Economic and Public Policy Research) often rely on external funding. This funding is not guaranteed, and small institutes often lose out on funding to Universities and Major Crown Research Institutes, especially with recent policy changes for social science research funding.
Our belief is that high quality research by independent institutes will better inform rational debate and greatly contribute to quality public policy decision making for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
The roles of the Motu Foundation
Under our Trust Deed, the Foundation is able to meet the following purposes within New Zealand:
Commission, carry out, and facilitate empirical and theoretical research into public policy issues of importance and relevance to New Zealand. In all cases, research supported by the Foundation must meet international academic standards and be suitable for publication in reputable academic journals;
Ensuring existing knowledge, information and research about New Zealand public policy is readily accessible in New Zealand. This includes commissioning summaries and critical reviews of existing published work on public policy issues;
Promoting the results of the Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Trust’s research and knowledge,
through various publication channels including the internet, conferences, seminars, workshops, dialogue groups and teaching;
Maintaining close links with international experts working on topics related to the Motu Research’s purpose and collaborating with such experts;
Advancing the Motu Research’s work and purpose by facilitating the visits of relevant international experts;
Promoting the charitable purposes of Motu Research; and
Improving the capability and ability of individual groups and institutions to carry out empirical and theoretical research on New Zealand public policy, through training and collaboration initiatives, sponsorship of students or researchers, and the development of relevant databases.