Robertson Grant: Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Robertson Grant: Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:673;Page:19443] 
GRANT ROBERTSON (Labour—Wellington Central) 
: 
 Clause 8 is smaller than the clause we were considering previously but within it lie some interesting matters that need to be discussed. 
Clause 8 is headed “No dividend or profit to members” and makes some additions to the current section 8 within the Royal Society of New Zealand Act. For the benefit of members I think it is worth reading out what this clause is about. It cuts to the heart of some of the issues that make up the Royal Society and why it operates in the way that it does. The current section 8 in the Act states: “The income and property of the Society must be applied solely towards the object of the Society and (except as otherwise provided in this Act) no portion of the income and property of the Society may be paid directly or indirectly by way of dividend bonus or otherwise to members.” That section is saying that membership of the Royal Society is about science it is about the humanities and it is about the society’s reason for being there; it is not about any kind of pecuniary gain. 
But quite obviously there are limitations to that proposal. There is a certain purity in that statement; it certainly sheets home the fact that the Royal Society is about the importance of science—and now the humanities—beyond all things. But there will always be exceptions and the current section 8 goes on to say what those exceptions are. It says that the previous paragraph “does not prevent the payment of remuneration to employees of the Society or members in return for services rendered or goods supplied;”. There are certainly members of the society who work within the Royal Society framework. They work on projects in relation to particular issues and they work on the panels and funds that Mr Hodgson talked about earlier in the debate so they are in a position where they will receive some money. Clearly an exception is required for that situation and it is covered in this section of in the Act. 
Section 8 further states that the Act does not prevent: “(b) the repayment of money borrowed or the payment of interest on money borrowed; or (c) the payment of expenses incurred in the performance of office;”. Certainly there are office holders within the Royal Society of New Zealand Council and the Academy Executive Committee who will receive payment for expenses incurred when attending Royal Society of New Zealand Council meetings or Academy Executive Committee meetings. 
This bill moves to make some amendments to the final exception to remuneration which relates to the granting of awards and prizes. As we have discussed at some length in different parts of the debate the Royal Society gives out a range of prizes and awards. Quite clearly members of the society will receive those awards so an exception needs to be made. Section 8 provides an exception for “the grant of awards or prizes for—(i) achievement in scientific or technological research; or (ii) the advancement or promotion of science and technology in New Zealand.” For those final two subparagraphs I mentioned the bill is omitting the reference to “science and technological research” and substituting “research in science technology or the humanities”. Section 8(2)(d)(ii) is amended to omit “science and technology” and substitute “science technology and the humanities”. Those amendments make sure that those exceptions for prizes and awards will include the humanities. 
Although this is a technical change at one level it is also very significant. It says that those who work in the humanities will be eligible for those awards. The list of Rutherford Medal winners I read out earlier does not at this time include anybody whose field of study was in the humanities. I mentioned Sir Peter Gluckman and Catherine Delahunty has just mentioned Paul Callaghan. Some of their work subsequent to winning the Rutherford Medal has verged into the social sciences particularly but until this point in time the Rutherford Medal has not been awarded to anyone from the humanities. This clause makes that possible and that is quite a significant change. 
The range of awards and prizes given out by the Royal Society is recognition of the importance of those disciplines and tonight we are making a change that will enable the humanities to be a part of the provision of those prizes. That is a very significant thing to be doing. As Dr Prasad said earlier it is elevating the humanities to the same level as the sciences. It will be a very proud day for New Zealand when someone from the humanities or the social sciences wins the Rutherford Medal. 
It is dangerous to name-drop a scientist at this time but I think of scientists like Richard Bedford who studies populations at Waikato University and has done some remarkable things. I also think of Richie Poulton who runs the multidisciplinary study in Dunedin. These are people whose work transcends those boundaries of the traditional sciences and they could potentially be a recipient of something like the Rutherford Medal in the future. Clause 8 makes a change to allow those who work in those areas to receive prizes for achievement or for the advancement and promotion of the humanities. I think we should be very proud of the fact that as a Committee we are overseeing what will be quite a significant change. 
I wanted to make those comments just by way of introduction. I will be interested to hear views from any other members in relation to the importance of this clause and whether there are matters that perhaps we have not considered. I wanted to highlight the fact that although it seems like a minor technical clause it is in fact making a significant change. In years to come I hope we will see people from the humanities represented in the awards and prizes that the Royal Society so proudly gives out.