Temporary stay for top scientists
‘‘The changes we are making have been carefully considered with expert input ... Collections-based research is at the heart of what Te Papa does, and that will never change.’’ Te Papa chairman Evan Williams
Top Te Papa scientists axed in the museum’s controversial restructure have been given a temporary stay of execution.
The redundancies of fish expert Andrew Stewart and molluscs expert Dr Bruce Marshall were due to be confirmed yesterday but the final decision has now been postponed until next week.
The loss of their more than 80 years of irreplaceable experience prompted outrage from scientists in New Zealand and overseas.
American penguin expert David Ainley said the move would lead to ‘‘the continued reduction of New Zealand’s stature on the world scientific stage’’.
Curator of Zoology at Canada’s Manitoba Museum, Dr Randall Mooi, wrote that he was ‘‘extremely disheartened to see yet another museum slide into oblivion’’.
‘‘And I feel so badly for Andrew Stewart, who helped us so much in our research.’’
Critics emphasised the importance of Stewart’s and Marshall’s experience in taxonomy – identifying, describing and naming New Zealand’s flora and fauna, which underpins everything from identifying biosecurity pests to understanding relationships between different organisms.
A Royal Society review in 2015 found taxonomists were an endangered species, and expertise took 10-15 years to build up.
Taxonomy expert Professor Trevor Worthy – a Kiwi now working in Australia – said the redundancies marked ‘‘one of the most dark days in the history of the Museum of New Zealand’’.
The loss of institutional knowledge would have ramifications for decades to come, he said.
Te Papa said it could not comment on why the process had been extended.
Te Papa chairman Evan Williams said on Wednesday: ‘‘The changes we are making have been carefully considered, with expert input including from an international panel.
‘‘Collections-based research is at the heart of what Te Papa does, and that will never change.’’
The Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Grant Robertson, said decisions about staffing were an operational matter for Te Papa.
‘‘As I did when the proposals were originally made, I have now sought further assurances that the following decisions will not compromise the integrity of Te Papa’s collection or its use by the public.’’