A Maori researcher says it's disappointing New Zealand's only Maori Research Centre is recognised internationally but not deemed worthy by its own country.
Two international petitions have been launched online in support of Nga Pae o te Maramatanga after it lost its bid for future government funding.
Waikato University associate professor Leonie Pihama says the funding cut is a step backwards for indigenous knowledge.
She says the days of proving Maori research is valuable belong to the 1980s and researchers are tired of justifying their work at home when it has international acclaim.
Dr Pihama says the centre's work also makes real change at a grassroots level because it is used to develop programmes such as family violence intervention.
