Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga not only focuses on supporting excellent research but also on ensuring its benefits are spread widely. Sometimes we can achieve this (as in environmental research projects) by including students or communities in the research itself, so that in addition to our researchers gaining local knowledge we can help students build capability.

In areas such as health and education, government and other agencies have often acted on our researchers' recommendations. And always we aim to multiply impact through the collaborations and networks we form. In this respect, in what was a very active and successful year across all programmes, 2009 marked a watershed in confirming how wide the reach of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga now extends.