Advertising for mollusc specialist ‘outrageous’
Te Papa is seeking a mollusc specialist – weeks after axing its world-leading expert in the field.
Mollusc scientist Bruce Marshall is one of two internationally renowned experts made redundant in the national museum’s controversial restructure.
The most prolific namer of species in Te Papa’s history, Marshall is so noted in his field he has 23 species and six genera named after him.
It’s understood that Marshall applied for several replacement positions in the restructure but was told he was not suitable. However, weeks later, Te Papa is advertising for a curator of molluscs.
The position description says the job’s ‘‘key focus’’ is ‘‘to develop Te Papa’s scholarship in relation to its mollusc collections’’.
‘‘The position holder will use their expertise in the mollusc taxonomy, evolution and biology, to enhance Te Papa’s reputation for scholarship and publishing, and collection development.’’
Giant squid researcher Steve O’Shea said for Te Papa to axe Marshall, then advertise for a mollusc expert was ‘‘outrageous’’.
‘‘For the most part, the position description sounds like Bruce. There will never be another Bruce. He is nothing short of remarkable.’’
Employment lawyer Peter Cullen said it was common for people to challenge redundancies on the basis a new job was not significantly different to their disestablished position.
However, even if the new job was significantly different, employers should consider if the person being made redundant could do it with extra training.
Te Papa head of science Susan Waugh said the advertised job was different to Marshall’s position. ‘‘The position we are advertising is for a curator, who will be a scientific researcher at PhD level.
‘‘The collection manager role we disestablished is more about hands-on care of the collections, rather than scientific research.’’ Waugh said the curator role reflected Te Papa’s investment in taxonomic research.
However, Marshall was the most prolific taxonomic researcher in the history of the museum, having named more than 480 species and published more than 120 scientific papers.
O’Shea said Marshall, who has been given a six-month job extension to finish a book, should be kept on for several years to train a replacement.
More than 2000 people have signed O’Shea’s petition for a moratorium on staff restructuring at the national museum. He sent it to the Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Grant Robertson but had received no response.
The fate of fish expert Andrew Stewart – who has appealed his redundancy – remains uncertain.