About 1000 NZ scientists apply every year for a $85 m grant pool with a 10% success rate. If you’re wondering where New Zealand’s priorities lie, we just spent $75 m propping up the beleaguered horse gambling industry.

New Zealand spends more on movie subsidies than the Marsden fund. In 2017 we paid Hollywood $127m to shoot films here, including $7.8m to Mission Impossible 6 so it could pretend Glenorchy was Kashmir.

Auckland Council is still planning on hosting the America’s Cup in December at a cost of at least $98.5m; again, more than the entire Marsden research fund. Priorities!

The Centres of Research Excellence cost about $5m/year each. Funding all 15 rather than just 10 would cost an extra $25m: ⅓ of a horse gambling subsidy, or two Missions: Impossible, or ¼ of a yacht race. For heaven’s sake. https://twitter.com/adzebill/status/1267260769931898880?s=21 https://twitter.com/adzebill/status/1267260769931898880