Consumer spending outlook on the rise for 2025, police monitoring after gang tangi and South Korean lawmakers vote to impeach president in the latest NZ Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald
It’s now been nearly eight months since a panel was set up to advise the Government on a long-awaited revamp for New Zealand’s science sector.
A sector coalition says there’s been a “complete absence” of Government communication with the science community, which has led to speculation.
Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins says the panel’s report and Government’s response will be made public “early next year”.
A scientists’ coalition has hit out at secrecy surrounding a long-planned overhaul of the sector, saying a lack of Government communication has led to “nothing but rumour and doubt”.
The group, chaired by professor and former chief scientist Sir Peter Gluckman, was to have delivered two reports in June and October – it’s understood the first has been received, but the second won’t be put to Cabinet until next year.
Meanwhile, the Save Science Coalition – an umbrella group of two-dozen bodies in the sector set up this year – says it’s being kept in the dark.
“We don’t know what is happening with the SSAG report or why it hasn’t been released,” coalition spokesperson Dr Lucy Stewart said.
“The science community is rife with rumours suggesting that the report has been received by Cabinet and any delay relates to Cabinet agreeing on how the report should be implemented,” she said.
“But there is a complete absence of official information or communication to the wider science community.”
Stewart said the coalition had sought to meet with Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins but didn’t receive a response.
“When the Save Science Coalition was founded in May, we were anticipating a report release in June or July and a public debate about the future of the sector,” she said.
“Instead, there has been nothing but rumour and doubt.”
Professor and former chief scientist Sir Peter Gluckman was appointed to chair an advisory panel looking at how to improve the science sector's efficiency and impact. Photo / Dean Purcell
She expected the next major signal would be found in a Budget policy statement due to be published alongside the Government’s Half-Year Fiscal and Economic Update this week.
“If there is no mention of the science sector in this update, it is highly unlikely that we can expect anything significant in the 2025 Budget,” she said.
“To be successful, any reorganisation of the sector will require a budgetary commitment to follow up on restructuring.
“If this is delayed until 2026 – or a future term – then any proposed changes risk being the proverbial shuffling of deckchairs on the Titanic.”
In the meantime, the role of the Prime Minister’s chief science adviser has sat unfilled since July, after a candidate initially lined up for the top job was told to stand down.
New Zealand Association of Scientists co-president Professor Troy Baisden said his group was also “deeply concerned” over why the sector hadn’t heard the reform plans yet.
“Reform should have been possible, and even more urgent given the Government’s tight control of spending,” he said.
“The lack of progress suggests the reform process may stall, or possibly was less than serious to begin with.”
In a statement provided to the Herald, Collins said the Government remained committed to supporting science and innovation, “and the review is part of that commitment”.
“The science sector has not had a major shake-up in nearly 30 years, and it is crucial we take the time to get these reforms right,” she said.
“I expect the report and the Government’s response to be made public early next year.”
Jamie Morton is a specialist in science and environmental reporting. He joined the Herald in 2011 and writes about everything from conservation and climate change to natural hazards and new technology.
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