These fundings (i.e., Marsden grants and research fellowships) are provided on behalf of the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

[16] On 10 July 2008, the Society released a statement on climate change that said, in summary: In 2021, a report by a working group appointed by the New Zealand government proposed changes to the school curriculum to ensure indigenous knowledge (or mātauranga Māori) was given the same status as Western science.

[18][19] In response to this report, seven prominent academics co-authored a letter "In Defence of Science" to the current affairs magazine New Zealand Listener.

Massey University chemistry distinguished professor Peter Schwerdtfeger criticised the Royal Society's investigation as shameful and urged them to be open to debate and discussion.

"[21] On the other hand, scholars including Carwyn Jones FRSNZ have made clear that free speech, academic freedom, and tikanga māori are not in conflict, and indeed he has argued that "a tikanga-based approach would frame this conversation as a wānanga, a discussion in which participants are contributing to increasing collective understanding.

Dialogue, debate, disagreement, challenge and contestation have always been important in te ao Māori, and tikanga provides a framework that protects and supports the free exchange of ideas".

[29] In July 2021 it was announced that Paul Atkins, Chief Executive of Zealandia, will be taking over from Cindy Kiro on 29 November.