The small team improved both the global models used by the international community for the Southern Hemisphere and projections of climate change for New Zealand - and is still working on filling significant holes in understanding.
Sources outside the company confirmed they were aware of the proposal, but Niwa said it would not be commenting while consultation was under way.
One outside researcher who was told of the proposal said the skills in the team “were like hen’s teeth” and the researchers would be snapped up overseas, losing the country valuable expertise.
The website of the Deep South National Science Challenge shows Deep South extensively funded the team’s work on making a New Zealand Earth System Model.
But funding for the 10-year, $680 million Science Challenges expires soon, and the Government has not announced a replacement model for science funding.
RNZ understands the proposal is part of a cost-cutting push at Niwa that could also see the loss of Auckland air quality scientists, as well as several social scientists who help communities adapt to climate change.
Asked about these plans, and whether New Zealand would retain critical climate modelling skills, Niwa emailed a statement: “We won’t be commenting further whilst the consultation and review process is underway”.
The 700 staff at the company face losing 90 jobs all up, according to the Public Service Association, with 30 of them currently vacant.
Niwa has said the cuts would have no impact on its core work, according to the union.
