Uni staff unhappy with link to libertarian think-tank

Auckland University has come under fire for its association with a libertarian think-tank that has argued against everything from child-centred learning to increasing the minimum wage.

The New Zealand Initiative (NZI) hit headlines in December when it was revealed its chief editor, who has since left, ran a farright blog that attacked Muslims and Jews. Shortly after that, Stuff reported Wellington City Council had cancelled its NZI membership in March 2020 after a fouryear membership that cost ratepayers $92,000.

The stories alerted Auckland University Associate Professor of physics Peter Wills to the university’s membership of NZI, and he is now calling on the uni to sever ties. In an email to the vicechancellor that was also sent to all academic staff, Wills demanded answers about the nature of the university’s association with the think-tank.

‘‘I cannot reconcile the aims and political orientation of this organisation with the values of our University,’’ he wrote.

He said that since the email was sent last Wednesday, more than 40 fellow academics had contacted him expressing concern that the university’s association with NZI was ‘‘inappropriate’’.

‘‘NZI has a political agenda. The university should not have a political agenda,’’ Wills said.

‘‘One of the comments someone made to me was surely the university has the capability and independence to run its own research and doesn’t need to be putting money into a partisanaligned, business-aligned institution for its research.’’

In an emailed response to Wills, vice-chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater said she had already initiated queries into the university’s NZI memberships, as well as its other membership and subscriptions. She said she understood the university did not pay any subscription fee to NZI.

However, Wills said it was the association itself – rather than university spending – that was the issue ‘‘because it’s a sign that it is not independent’’.

An Official Information Act response from the university dated January 11 said no decision was made to become a member of the NZI.

The university is a member of the New Zealand Institute, and when this merged with the New Zealand Business Roundtable to become the NZI in 2012, the membership automatically rolled over to the new organisation.

‘‘The University has paid no fees to be a member of the New Zealand Initiative,’’ it said.

The university has been approached for further comment.