There is no central mechanism for indications of research needs or requests that offers for doing research be supplied.

Morst (as the policy agency) and Forst (as the research purchaser), the Royal Society of NZ and the Health Research Council issue priorities, suggestions or possibilities for research from time to time.

Research needs can sometimes (but seldom) be included in (or inferable from) Political party manifestoes and other policy proposals (see various party websites), from the Government generally or more specifically from particular Ministries or Departments or from Regional, City or District Councils or other agencies.

For an academic view applicable more broadly than to sociology see Paul Spoonley: Mahi Awatea: A Sociology for the Twenty-first Century in Aotearoa (PDF)

NZES data