Slashing science funding myopic, says PSA

Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Slashing science funding is short-sighted and will make it harder for New Zealand to climb out of a recession, says the union representing 2500 members working at eight state-owned Crown Research Institutes.

The National Government is set to dump Labour's $700 million Fast Forward fund over 10 to 15 years, for agriculture and food research, in favour of a scheme worth $30m a year, the Dominion Post reported today. In a paper presented to a Waikato agricultural advisory committee, Crown Research Institute AgResearch representative Simon Lovett said Agriculture Minister David Carter had indicated "there would be a replacement scheme that would amount to $90m of government funds over three years".

Carter's office would not confirm the $30m figure yesterday, but said a substantial investment in primary sector innovation would be in the May 28 budget.

"By slashing funding for science the Government is making it harder for New Zealand to climb out of the recession," said Richard Wagstaff, national secretary of the Public Service Association (PSA).

It was very short-sighted to cut research funding for pastoral and food industries that earned billions of dollars a year in exports for New Zealand, he said. "Pastoral farming generates 35 per cent of our exports and is worth more than $10 billion a year.

"The research investment, that was to be provided by the Fast Forward Fund, was exactly what we need if we're to climb out of the recession and strengthen our economy for the future."

Agricultural scientist Doug Edmeades said governments had allowed research funding to drop from $130m in 1990 to $70m despite a proven return of 17 per cent.

Labour Party research spokeswoman Moana Mackey said that in a time of recession the country should invest more and Waikato Innovation Park chief executive Derek Fairweather said National's smaller funding would not encourage firms.

It was "bemusing" that an economic strategy could spend just $30m a year on research against $1.5b on tarmac for roads in Auckland, he said.

- NZPA