Global day of protest against Donald Trump's science funding cutbacks

US President Donald Trump's cuts to science funding have drawn protest. Photo / AP

Christchurch has kicked off a global day of protests against Donald Trump's cutbacks to science funding.

The city has hosted the first of 500 science marches being held around the world today.

Marches are also being held in Dunedin, Queenstown, Wellington, Palmerston North and Auckland.

Canterbury University associate professor Bronwyn Hayward says the Christchurch event focused on how science is under threat.

She says speakers talked about why science and social science education matters, and how education is less expensive than ignorance.

Ms Hayward says speakers at the event had a mixed message.

She says it wasn't a traditional slogan protest and the mood was mostly celebratory, but some people wanted New Zealand to do more climate research.

Federated Farmers encouraged its members to take part in today's New Zealand marches.The largest protests are expected to take place in the United States overnight.