From the The Freemasons New Zealand  Book of Constitution, the Objects and Powers of a Research Lodge:

114. Objects and Powers

1. The objects of a Lodge of Research shall be the historical and comparative study and illustration of the origins, development, and modern trends and activities of Freemasonry, its organisation, ritual and teachings, and the dissemination of Masonic knowledge amongst the members of the Lodge and other Brethren.
2. A Lodge of Research shall not initiate any candidate into Freemasonry, but may confer the Second or the Third Degree at the request of any other Craft Lodge.
3. No Brother shall become or remain a member of a Lodge of Research unless he is a Master Mason and a member of a Craft Lodge or a Lodge holding a Charter under a recognised Grand Lodge, other than another Lodge of Research.
4. Any Master Mason who is a member of a Research Lodge shall be eligible to hold any office in the Lodge, save the offices of Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden.