New brand for geological sciences company

The Crown Research Institute formerly known as Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited has shortened its name to GNS Science.

Chief Executive Alex Malahoff described the new brand as a refurbishment rather than a totally new look.

"We've modernised our logo to succinctly encapsulate our values and capabilities," Dr Malahoff said.

"The stronger visual identity will make us recognisable as the major organisation in New Zealand focused on a broad spectrum of sciences from earth sciences to isotope technologies. Our purpose is to transform the knowledge from our activities into economic, social, and environmental benefits for New Zealand."

Dr Malahoff said renewal of the brand would coincide with the company's move to a new building at Avalon in Lower Hutt, which is scheduled for the end of this year. The building will house the company's Lower Hutt staff, currently accommodated in five buildings at the Gracefield Research Centre.

The new brand includes the company's Maori name Te Pu Ao, which means the origin and source of the world from atomic to planetary scales.

Major achievements during the past year included leading a successful deep-sea expedition using a submersible to explore 10 active submarine volcanoes in the Kermadec arc, northeast of the Bay of Plenty.

GNS Science secured extra funding for its GeoNet project, which will enable New Zealand to build a world-class instrument network to monitor earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and landslides. The Earthquake Commission has boosted its funding in GeoNet by $3 million to $8 million a year.

GNS Science posted an after-tax profit of $1.2 million ($1.4 million, 2004) on revenue of $43 million ($39.4 million) for the year to 30 June 2005.

Fifty-three per cent of the company's revenue came from the government's contestable public good research funding and 14 per cent from the Earthquake Commission-funded GeoNet project. The remaining 33 per cent came from consultancy work for a wide variety of sectors in New Zealand and overseas.

GNS Science has 280 staff based at offices in Lower Hutt, Wairakei, and Dunedin.