Marsden:

The Marsden Fund was established by the Government in 1994 to support excellent ideas-driven research initiated by the researchers themselves. It was not constrained by the socio-economic criteria set for the Public Good Science Fund. The portfolio covered natural and physical sciences, as well as social sciences. The Fund takes its name from Sir Ernest Marsden, the founding secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Reseach (DSIR). In December 1995, the administration of the Marsden Fund passed to the Royal Society of New Zealand. The government increased the Fund's value and scope in 1997, adding the humanities to the Marsden remit.

Today competition for grants is intense. Marsden is regarded as a hallmark of excellence, allowing New Zealand's best researchers to explore their ideas. The Royal Society administers the Fund on behalf of the Marsden Fund Council. It operates under Terms of Reference issued by the Minister of Research, Science and Technology.

In 2007/8, the Marsden Fund has an investment budget of $40.36 million (including GST) which represents 5.6% of Vote: RS&T. This includes a $2.25 million budget boost from the Government announced in the 2007 Budget. 372 research contracts are active, across a spectrum that included world class basic research in the humanities, social sciences, sciences, mathematics and engineering. In 2006/7, $40.2 million (including GST) was distributed to Marsden researchers and their host institutions.