9. Growing Up in New Zealand Study—FundingCARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston) to the Associate Minister for Social DevelopmentGrowing Up in New Zealand Study—Funding9. CARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston) to the Associate Minister for Social Development: How much money has the Government invested in the Growing Up in New Zealand study broken down by development costs and annual running costs?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Social Development) on behalf of the Associate Minister for Social Development: Since the start of the data collection in 2007-08 until 2015-16 the total cost of the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUINZ) study has been $40.19 million. Of this total $39.36 million was towards contract payments to the University of Auckland which included running costs. The remaining $830000 was towards contract management and reviews and was incurred by the social policy evaluation and research unit. The development costs incurred by the Ministry of Social Development prior to 2007-08 were approximately $1.5 million. This takes the total cost to date to approximately $41.92 million.Carmel Sepuloni: Can she confirm that funding for the Growing Up in New Zealand study contract has been cut by two-thirds meaning approximately 5000 children and their families will be dumped from this study by the Government; if not how will the 5000 children unfunded by the Government be retained in the study?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: This Government wanted a contract for service with data being placed in the Statistics New Zealand data lab to complement the very sophisticated data that this Government is developing to inform its social investment decisions. However this was not able to be achieved and the Government has now agreed to fund the University of Auckland to undertake the 8-year data collection wave of the Growing Up in New Zealand study with a sample of about 2000 children. It is larger than the similar and internationally highly regarded New Zealand studies. This confirms funding through to 2018-19. Statistical experts were consulted by both parties to finalise a sampling approach that enables the research and analysis that is needed to answer the critical questions. The study will continue to support quality research and analysis whilst being more sustainable in the long term. Carmel Sepuloni: How does she reconcile cutting the funding of the largest and most comprehensive longitudinal study undertaken in New Zealand by two-thirds when the Children's Commissioner has commented that Such robust longitudinal New Zealand data is essential for informed policy-making."?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: We agree. The contract funding the Growing Up in New Zealand study has been reshaped to futureproof the study and allow it to become more sustainable over the life of the study. The Government would like to see the study run until the children are 21 years old as originally intended as long as it continues to be of value by providing useful and accessible data. This Government is committed to funding social science research to inform decision making and in fact there has been a significant increase in research funding in recent years.Carmel Sepuloni: Given that the Growing Up in New Zealand study is the only New Zealand study that includes statistically valid samples of Māori and Pacific children how can she justify reducing the funding by two-thirds and what are the implications of this cut for an increasingly diverse New Zealand?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: As I said statistical experts were consulted by both parties to finalise a sampling approach that maintains that diverse group of New Zealanders and that enables the research and analysis that is needed to answer the critical questions.Carmel Sepuloni: Has she been advised of the ethical issues in respect of the children and their families who consented to being part of this study but now may not be included for the full 21 years?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: The most ethical issue here is about getting the data that has been collected used. All families have contributed valuable information to the study and we now have a wealth of data that can be accessed for research to inform social sector decision-making about New Zealand's recent babies and their development and the place of mothers families community and social services in that.Carmel Sepuloni: Does the Government realise that in order to address some of the serious issues we are facing as a nation evidence is going to be crucial for informing policy or would it prefer as little evidence as possible so it does not have to address child poverty the impact of housing instability inequalities in education or the health issues impacting our children?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I reject all those assertions. As I have said in the House the Government has agreed to fund the University of Auckland to undertake the 8-year data collection wave of the GUINZ study with a sample of about 2000 children and funding is confirmed through to 2018-19. However this study has always been considered to be working towards self-funding. It was never set up with the expectation that the Government would continue to fund it. We have confirmed funding through until 2018-19 by which stage it should have confirmed other funding to allow it to continue."