Chadwick Steve: Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Chadwick Steve: Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:673;Page:19436] 
Hon STEVE CHADWICK (Labour) 
: 
 I am delighted to take a call on clause 7 of the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill. I commend the Royal Society of New Zealand for putting up this bill. [ 
Interruption 
] And for putting up with this debate! It put up this bill which is very important for us to consider in Parliament. I like the functions of new section 6 which is inserted by clause 7 about the integration and promotion of science technology and the humanities. 
I did a little bit of research—along with my colleagues I am sure—into what we have historically funded in science. I hear that my colleague who was previously in the chair Pete Hodgson was very interested in the science of the moth. I am sure that would be appropriate coming from Pete Hodgson. I have looked at funding that is related to the arts which is part of my field as the spokesperson on arts culture and heritage. 
It is particularly interesting that some funding is now being distributed and made available for researchers who look at the computer games industry. When we look at the digital platform and arts we need to be guided by some of the potential economic opportunities if they are well researched for the computer games industry and the country. At the moment it is a section of the creative industries that is not funded by and cannot make applications to Vote Arts Culture and Heritage. Yet I think those funding applications that come before the film industry and the Film Commission may be better looked upon if research accompanied them. I am really pleased about the animation diploma course here in Wellington that Tony St George is running. He says that it is a pretty tough course and he puts students rigorously through it. They look at the impact of gaming and the gaming industry. I think that that research is certainly needed. It relates a little to a portfolio interest I have. 
Another interest much closer to home—and I think we are finding this at the moment with uncertainty in the environment—is the pure science on volcanic eruptions. Much more research is needed. I went up to look at the lahar on Tongariro. I was amazed. I looked at the need for research about when there may be another big blow in the country and also how we could predict super-eruptions into the future. That scientific research is absolutely critical. It guides us as to whether in a big blow we would break into the lahar crust to let it flow down the mountain and potentially take out a motorway or leave the crust and let nature take its course. It is absolutely imperative for the Minister of Conservation the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Local Government to be informed of that research and science. It is great to see science supporting us with the big decisions we make in Government. 
We are also seeing some science go into other important decisions made by this Government. One example is research about the unconscious mind of the violent criminal. This issue hardly fits with the humanities but when we look at restorative justice and law and order we must not make decisions without being informed by good research and good science. This is exactly the sort of information that Ministers and legislators will get to decide where they will take policy in the future. I was particularly interested in Victoria University funding which came from the Marsden Fund administered by the Royal Society for a forensic psychologist to look at the unconscious mind of a violent criminal. What a great slice of research that funding has promulgated; it got a response from Government.