Maxim Institute
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Maxim Institute is a research and public policy think tank based in Auckland, New Zealand. The Institute's work is widely described as conservative.
Contents |
[edit] General
Maxim Institute has a primary focus in the areas of education, family, justice and welfare issues. Maxim Institute has been involved in public debate in a number of issues; including greater choice in education, and supporting welfare and justice reform. The Institute produces research and publications (see below), and advocates for policy (see work). Maxim Institute is known for its support of citizen participation in New Zealand politics. It organised a series of political forums and built a website (see NZ Votes below) leading up to the 2005 general election.
Maxim Institute's mission statement is "to foster ideas and leadership that enable freedom, justice and compassion to flourish in New Zealand."
[edit] Work
Since its founding in 2001, Maxim Institute has supported a greater role for "civil society" and community in New Zealand life, notably in education, welfare and social service provision. It has published a wide range of op-eds and analysis on these and other subjects in newspapers, and also produces research and submissions on law and policy (See publications). Since its inception, Maxim Institute has also run an essay competition for tertiary students and an annual summer internship programme. Maxim Institute first gained public recognition in 2003 when it opposed the Prostitution Reform Bill. The Institute stated that the Bill would legitimise and increase the exploitation of women in New Zealand. It also opposed the Civil Union and Relationships Statutory References Bills in the following year, making the point that such moves would make "marriage meaningless". It instead advocated for a more conservative and "useful alternative", a reciprocal beneficiary model. It has also supported other measures which "empower parents" and devolve power from the state, including greater school choice and decentralisation. Maxim Institute has also endorsed restorative justice, probationary employment, and the "codification" of marriage. Maxim Institute also runs an essay contest and internship programme for young leaders. and continues to contribute to debate on issues of social justice, education, family and democracy.
[edit] History
Maxim Institute was founded on 12 November 2001 by Managing Director Greg Fleming (formerly general manager of Parenting with Confidence) and Director Bruce Logan a former Headmaster, and then Director of the New Zealand Education Development Foundation (NZEDF) in Christchurch. John Graham (then University of Auckland Chancellor, also played a role in the Institute's founding.
In 2005 Bruce Logan was accused of inadequate citation in some of his opinion articles. He retired later that year. Maxim Institute's Christchurch office closed in early 2006, and currently has around 14 staff based in their Auckland office, led by CEO Greg Fleming.
[edit] Publications
Maxim Institute has published various books and reports on issues including political correctness, curriculum, and marriage law[1]. These books include From Innocents to Agents, which looks at the politicisation of children in New Zealand. It also formerly published a quarterly journal entitled Evidence. According to Maxim Institute Evidence "explore[d] the critical issues facing New Zealand society today, including education, family and welfare. Evidence provides well researched, thought-provoking commentaries and inspiration for building a free and just New Zealand." As of Issue 15 (Spring 2005), Evidence ceased publication. Bruce Logan was its former editor.
The Institute produces a weekly email called Real Issues, which focuses on "provoking analysis of developments in policy and culture in New Zealand and around the world".
As well as Real Issues, Maxim has also published an ongoing series of educational research reports based on research by Colmar Brunton, called The Parent Factor, related to parental choice in education access, government funding and opposition to centralisation.
[edit] Awards
In 2005, Managing Director Greg Fleming was one of six New Zealanders to receive an Emerging Leader Award from the Sir Peter Blake (yachtsman) Trust.[1]
Maxim Institute has received several international think tank awards from the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. The Templeton Freedom Prizes were awarded for: Institute Excellence (first place), Social Entrepreneurship (second place) and Initiative in Public Relations (second place).[2][3]
In April 2006, Atlas Foundation awarded Maxim Institute's Parent Factor publications as the winner of the Innovative Projects category of the Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award. [4]
[edit] "NZ Votes"
In 2005 the Maxim Institute ran a project leading up to the New Zealand general election 2005 called "NZ Votes." The campaign featured a website and 30 debates between electorate candidates around the country (including the now infamous debate in Epsom where Green Party MP Keith Locke promised to walk naked through the streets if ACT party leader Rodney Hide won the seat.) The NZ Votes project was "non profit and non partisan[2]" and was a "community service" designed to inform voters about MMP.
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Sir Peter Blake Trust. sirpeterblaketrust.org. Retrieved on April 19, 2006.
- ^ Templeton Freedom Prizes. atlasusa.org. Retrieved on April 19, 2006.
- ^ Templeton Freedom Prizes. atlasusa.org. Retrieved on April 19, 2006.
- ^ Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award. atlasusa.org. Retrieved on May 5, 2006.
- David Craig: "Thin Topsoil: Queer Blokes, Moral Modernity and Real Estate Politics in Mount Roskill's Biggest Borough" in Ian Carter, David Craig and Steve Matthewman (ed) Almighty Auckland? Palmerston North: Dunmore Press: 2004: ISBN 0864694520
- Nicky Hager: The Hollow Men : A study in the politics of deception: Craig Potton Publishing, Nelson, NZ; ISBN 1-877333-62-X; 2006
[edit] External links
- www.maxim.org.nz - the Maxim Institute website.
- nzvotes.org - a Maxim Institute website focused on the New Zealand general election, 2005
- www.critic.co.nz - a feature article about the Maxim Institute from the student magazine Critic
