Motu is a research organisation in New Zealand. All of Motu’s Senior Fellows have both PhDs from leading international universities and extensive experience in the New Zealand public sector. They work together as a cooperative, identifying valuable research questions and actively contributing to policy development. Their work covers topics such as environment, wellbeing and macroeconomics, productivity and innovation, urban and regional analysis, population and labour and human rights. Motu is committed to freely disseminating research findings. All research is published publicly. Motu invests heavily in the training and intellectual development of young talents.

Contact details

Website:
https://www.motu.nz

Address:
Level 1, 97 Cuba Street, PO Box 24390 Wellington 6142, New Zealand

Country:
New Zealand

Sub-region:
Australia and New Zealand

Areas of focus

Geographics of focus
New Zealand
Operating languages
English

Organisation details

Business model
Non-profit
Year founded
2020
Institutional affiliations
Foundation
Founded by
Founders: Dave Mare, Suzi Kerr
Founder gender: Both male & female co-founders
Leadership
Leader(s) (2025): John McDermott
Leader gender: Male
Leader(s) (2024): John McDermott
Leader gender: Male
Leader(s) (2023): John McDermott
Leader gender: Male
Staff size
2025
Motu
18
New Zealand average
18
Global average
87
2024
Motu
9
2023
Motu
30
% Female staff
2025
Motu
22%
New Zealand average
43%
Global average
50%
2024
Motu
56%
2023
Motu
33%
Age (years)
Motu
6
New Zealand average
27
Global average
33
% Female researchers
2025
Motu
20%
New Zealand average
35%
Global average
47%
2024
Motu
33%
2021
Motu
70%

Organisational performance

Publications
2024
Motu
9
New Zealand average
30
Global average
57
2023
Motu
6
2022
Motu
19
Financials
2015
Motu
$1,478,486
New Zealand average
$23,112,415
Global average
$57,352,757

Social

Facebook
Likes (2023)
Motu
1,000
New Zealand average
1,610
Global average
26,974
Likes (2022)
Motu
982
Likes (2021)
Motu
960
Twitter
Followers (2022)
Motu
2,327
New Zealand average
7,253
Global average
19,375
Followers (2021)
Motu
2,218
Followers (2017)
Motu
1,450
YouTube
Subscribers (2023)
Motu
61
New Zealand average
954
Global average
6,254
Subscribers (2022)
Motu
0
Subscribers (2021)
Motu
0
Instagram
Followers (2025)
Motu
9
New Zealand average
3,092
Global average
18,486
Followers (2024)
Motu
9
Followers (2023)
Motu
8
Followers (2025)
Motu
2,830
New Zealand average
5,144
Global average
15,836
Followers (2024)
Motu
2,000
Followers (2023)
Motu
1,745

Data notes

Last updated: 11/03/2025
Data sources consulted: Information supplied by organisation, Organisation´s website
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