Faafoi Kris: Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Faafoi Kris: Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:672;Page:18405] 
KRIS FAAFOI (Labour—Mana) 
: 
 Thank you very much Mr Chair for giving me the chance to speak to clause 4 of the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill. Clause 4 is the purpose clause and is the guts of the bill. Paragraph (a) which is the main part of this clause amends the Royal Society of New Zealand Act 1997 to “incorporate humanities into the object and functions of the Royal Society of New Zealand:”. 
This is pretty important stuff. The only difference anybody watching at home would see between the 1965 Act the 1997 Act and what I believe will be the 2011 Act is the change in the year over the last 30 or 40-odd years. This is important. Charles Chauvel a Wellington colleague of mine who spoke earlier in the debate talked about the foundation the federation and the future of the Royal Society of New Zealand and about the importance of the role it has played over the years. Bringing the humanities into the realm of the Royal Society of New Zealand is a major change since the society began in 1867—I believe on 10 October. I thank Mr Robertson very much for clarifying the date for the members on this side of the Chamber. 
I tell those who may be watching on Parliament TV tonight just in case they are waiting for the voluntary student membership bill that there was a mistake with some of the graphics on the station earlier today. 
What exactly will be the change regarding the humanities? Which disciplines will be introduced? I had a quick look at the society’s website and I understand that those who study languages history religion philosophy law classics linguistics cultural studies art history and drama will all now be included in the society. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Drama? 
KRIS FAAFOI 
: Yes drama will also be included in the society. Those members will be able to be fellows and be rewarded for their achievements over the years. As I was looking at the website I saw that a number of people have received many awards from the society. Some of those people are recidivist awardees or winners of prizes from the society. I understand that a new humanities medal will be given out by the society in June this year. The Humanities Aronui Medal will be awarded by the society. 
As Charles Chauvel pointed out earlier on in the debate regarding the foundation the federation and the future of the society one thing that has changed is the introduction of the humanities into the society but what will not change are some of the society’s core functions. The beauty of the society is that it looks after both ends of the spectrum. At the grassroots in schools around the country it tries to promote awareness and acknowledge achievement of science and once the bill becomes an Act the humanities. The society also looks after those experts who are already working in the field of science. As I said before when the bill is passed it will make sure there is infrastructure support and professional development in the humanities disciplines to make sure they progress over time. 
The society also acts as an advisory board to the Government of the day and I think my colleague David Shearer talked about some of the great work it does in some of the research and development areas and it needs to be rewarded for that. The society does a great job of making sure it performs those core functions of acting in an advisory role and of promoting awareness among youngsters and also of acknowledging people who excel in their field by giving out medals awards and scholarships such as the Rutherford Fund and Rutherford Medal. 
This 2011 bill amends the 1997 legislation. It makes sure that the society has a new modern face by ensuring members of those disciplines I listed earlier have an equal footing with science and technology members who have been able to use the society to forward their disciplines since 1867 and that needs to be commended.