Special Report
Changes to New Zealand’s science sector announced by Prime Minister Chris Luxon seem to have left scientists uncertain with concern over the overly heavy emphasis on economic growth. Dr Lucy Stewart, Co-President, New Zealand Association of Scientists, said “this long-delayed announcement will do little to address the concerns of researchers and scientists which were raised across 2024. It is entirely focused on commercialisation and commercial benefits from science and technology.”
Past chairman of the Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations Tony Orman said it was conspicuous in the prime minister’s television announcement that no mention was made of the environment while there was a preoccupation with “growth for growth’s sake and wooing foreign investment.”
“It seemed solely focused on the mantra of GDP and growth. He said an increasing number of economists are calling for a better measurement of a country’s progress instead of a sole concentration on economic progress, having a three-pronged approach of economic, social and environmental criteria.”
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) did not give a true measurement of the state of the nation.
“Automobile sales, television set sales or any figures on consumer consumption as GDP is based on, do not reveal anything significant about the reality of a country’s progress, health as a society or well-being.”
Economic Focus
The seven Crown Research Institutes will be replaced by three Public Research Organisations focusing on bio-economy, earth sciences, and health and forensic sciences, while an advanced technology PRO will focus on the likes of artificial intelligence, quantum and synthetic biology technologies. Callaghan Innovation is to be disestablished, with its key functions moved to other parts of the system.
A new Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council will provide strategic direction and identify economic opportunities, while a new agency, Invest New Zealand, will focus on foreign direct investment.
Dr Lucy Stewart, Co-President, New Zealand Association of Scientists, asked several question of the changes, one being where is there space in the new structure for environmental and social science research?
“Where is the support or interest in ‘public good’ research – research that provides answers that benefit our society and nation but does not necessarily (or ever) lead to the ability to make a profit, instead delivering benefits like risk reduction?
No “Public Good”
She said message to scientists from government is clear – scientists are expected to be a source of revenue rather than working for the public good and anything they do that is not directly linked to economic gain is of little interest.
Other science spokespersons obviously had similar concerns if were more cautious.
Dr James Renwick, Professor of Physical Geography, Victoria University of Wellington said “broadly speaking, a merger of NIWA and GNS, and the MetService, makes a lot of sense, as do the other mergers proposed. Focusing around broad disciplines sounds good. But as always the devil is in the details.”
Footnote: Full detail of scientists’ views is at https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/01/23/reforms-to-nzs-science-sector/
What short-sighted stuff from the Prime Minister who seems fixated with GDP and economics while ignoring the health of society and the people’s environment. It needs a rational economic system. I recall CORANZ in its election chasrter in elections past, recommended GDP be replaced with “Genuine Progress Indicator” (GPI) where it was like a steady tripod with economic, social and environmental criteria. Besides aren’t resources publicly owned and not for selling to foreign, corporate exploiters?
I guess we will see more use of Crown controlled science such the the risk assessment Fonterra and MBIE commissioned from ESR Ltd where two toxicologists assumed there was no risk from drinking nitrate polluted groundwater.
A proposition MPI inserted in a Northland newspaper as an advertorial.
This sort of “public good science” only fools the polluters and diminishes New Zealand’s credibility.
I am deeply, deeply concerned by this excessive focus on economic growth.
Did I mention I am deeply concerned?
Luxon says Kiwi’s want economic growth .. but I believe he’s wrong.
We live in the greatest little country on earth .. and we want to keep it that way.
That’s not all about the economy. It also means social cohesion, keeping a lid on foreign ownership, looking after our environment, and so much more.
A problem with prime ministers .. is they only hang around for the extent of their tenure .. and then they bugger off. We’re stuck with the legacy they have created.
Look at the economic and social quagmire Ardern has left us in.
John Key wasn’t much better .. when, under whose tenure, we signed up to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples .. which led to the He Puapua Report .. the pursuit of which has created so much radicalisation, and racial division .. which the Treaty Principles Bill now seeks to straighten out .. and look at the fuss that is causing.
Luxon and his Coalition inherited a financial / economic clusterf#ck .. we get that. But, in our pursuit of a solution .. we must not kill the goose that laid the golden egg.