Maxim Institute
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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 and it is perceived by some critics to be a mouthpiece for the conservative or religious right or evangelical Christians.
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[edit] General
The Maxim Institute evolved from a preexisting organisation, the New Zealand Education Development Foundation, which was directed by Bruce Logan.
The Maxim Institute has strong interests in education, family and welfare issues. They are well known for their opposition to the Prostitution Reform Bill, school zoning, the Civil Union Bill, the Relationships Bill (an omnibus bill), the Supreme Court Bill and the Care of Children Bill, and their support of public participation in New Zealand politics. However, the effectiveness of Maxim's opposition is debatable as the Prostitution Reform, Civil Union, Supreme Court, Care of Children and Relationships Acts have all been passed into law. Maxim's support of public participation in New Zealand politics (see NZ Votes below) has also been accused of attempting to change the way people vote rather than merely increasing voter participation.
They have around 18 staff based in their Auckland office, and also maintained an office in Christchurch until 2005.
Maxim Institute was founded in 2001 by Managing Director Greg Fleming and Director Bruce Logan. In 2005 Bruce Logan retired several months after claims of plagiarism were made against him.
[edit] Publications
Maxim Institute has published various books and reports on issues including political correctness, curriculum, amd marriage law[1]. It also formerly published a quarterly journal entitled 'Evidence'. According to Maxim '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 "current New Zealand events with an attempt to provide insight into critical issues beyond what is usually presented in the media."
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. It should be noted that New Zealand Education Minister Steve Maharey,and the New Zealand Education Institute,had formerly critised the quality of these publications, and alleged that the content of their research was derivative: [4]
[edit] "NZ Votes"
In 2005 the Maxim Institute ran a campaign 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 Maxim Institute states that the campaign was designed to inform voters about MMP, however at least one critic saw it as an ultimately successful attempt to persuade Christian voters not to vote for Christian political parties such as Christian Heritage New Zealand or Destiny New Zealand.[2]
[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.
[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
