The message taken back to senior university figures was that the ministry felt the study was flawed. Good research is always infused with an explicit acknowledgement of its limitations, and that was the case here. It should also be acknowledged that two University of Auckland academics published perceived defects in the Otago study. But there was clearly real disquiet – if that's not too mild a word – at Otago University. The concern remains that the research was euthanised; that it was sufficiently explained-away rather than disproven in a professional way.

Source: Stuff February 24, 2019 15:56 UTC