NZ Science is in Big Trouble

Written By: - Date published: 5:36 pm, March 13th, 2025 - 12 comments
Categories: jobs, labour, science, Shane Reti, tertiary education, unemployment - Tags: , , , ,

While all eyes & ears are on the US and the systemic dismantling and destruction of decades of science knowledge and infrastructure very few seem to care about the warning signs at home. Like in the US, some folks in NZ (and overseas) are unreasonably jubilant about the bad medicine that the Coalition is dosing out and administering to the science sector and universities in NZ.

While things seem worse in the US the scientists over there also seem quite well organised. In a recent interview, the President of the National Academy of Sciences mentioned that they are reaching out to government officials as soon as they’re appointed and working hard to lobby for preserving and protecting the science ecosystem in and of the US and, by extension, the World.

Here in NZ, we don’t hear as much from and about the science sector except for the odd article that makes reasoned arguments why the Coalition is on the wrong track. This is as far as the protest goes, it seems, but New Zealanders don’t seem to have an appetite for protest.

The New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) is a leading member of the Save Science Coalition which has been working hard to raise their concerns with the powers that be. In a recent update they added up that in total approx. 570 roles had already been lost in the government science sector. Some of their hard work must be paying off because a couple of days ago Dr Shane Reti, the Minister overseeing this shambles after taking over from JC-KC, gave a temporary retrieve for approx. 40 jobs at Callaghan Innovation.

Dr Reti has been remarkably quiet as Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology and has not commented on the Science System Advisory Group Report since it was publicly delivered. As the Minister for Universities he can still hide behind the firewall of University Advisory Group Report that was due last month but hasn’t been released yet. Almost seven weeks ago, Dr Reti also promised that the role of Chief Science Advisor would be filled ‘shortly’. It has been 256 days since we had a Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.

Unfortunately, Labour doesn’t prioritise science and tertiary education either. In its recent reshuffle of portfolios Science, Technology and Innovation dropped from 16th to 32nd place and the new spokesperson seems to have zero experience in this area. Tertiary education dropped from 16th to 33rd but the new spokesperson has at least relevant experience.

And when the Government, most likely not this one but hopefully the next lot, will give the science and tertiary education sectors a little TLC it might be too late because engineers are not the only skilled professionals leaving NZ in droves. Government may have to rely on ARSE workers (Academic Recognised Seasonal Employers) to fill the gap, which is not too dissimilar to the situation in NZ Health.

When the opposition parties get their heads together to formulate a viable alternative roadmap for NZ starting in 2026, they must include the science sector and give it the priority that NZ needs and deserves.

12 comments on “NZ Science is in Big Trouble ”

  1. Ad 1
    13 March 2025 at 9:02 pm

    The last time we had a massive 2-day gathering of business and politics big enough to change something was the KNowledge Wave conference under Helen Clark back in 2001.

    We can probably recall the multiple sustained "clusters" of industries that banded together with a focus on innovation and productivity. Some worked, some didn't, but actually their hit rate was pretty good.

    These days getting the great and the good together for 2 days consists of a craven sales pitch by our government to superannuation managers to fund and build even the most basic of our core infrastructure. It need hardly be mentioned that infrastructure as an industry is notoriously low in innovation and quite dumb in its approach to productivity.

    Give me a government with ambition for New Zealand and a business network to match.

    Reply
    • Incognito 1.1
      13 March 2025 at 9:37 pm

      Give me a government with ambition for New Zealand and a business network to match.

      Damn right! But not this Government.

      Jonathan Milne is attending Luxon’s infrastructure investment summit and wrote this today:

      I’m here as well – albeit sidelined in a media room with tea and coffee and the promise of a “rolling maul” of visiting ministers and other VIPs to talk with us. It’s a small win to even be inside the building; initially, media weren’t going to be allowed in at all.

      https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/03/13/pm-tells-investors-that-nz-is-a-safe-haven-in-a-volatile-world/

      That’s gobsmacking! Why would you exclude the press and by extension, the people of NZ? You’d want to include NZ as much as possible from the outset, to make them feel part of it and have some ownership and partnership of what might unfold. Has Luxon not read the Science System Advisory Group Report??

      The Coalition leaves no doubt that it is not of the people, with the people, for the people, and its PR sucks like a blocked drain.

      Reply
  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2
    14 March 2025 at 8:59 am

    NAct1 and the planned dumbing down of NZ continues apace. Of course there are some already there..(and others apparently willing to be dumb ?)

    NZ seems determined to follow America on this..(a few years back..but today, so relevant )

    The Republican war on science

    My own opinion is that this is a wake-up call to us as world citizens, scientists, and educators. Critical evidence-based thinking is too important to be left in the exclusive domain of scientists. It should be considered part of a complete education, beginning in grade school.

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1386128/

    Our own present situation. CTU .

    Government science cuts take New Zealand even further backward

    “It’s time we had a serious conversation about science, and we urgently need a government that is prepared to have that conversation and not just bury it’s head in the sand,” said Wagstaff.

    https://union.org.nz/government-science-cuts-take-new-zealand-even-further-backward/

    And…a personal message I absolutely relate to…

    A message for our scientists

    When I was a child I was utterly enthralled by science.

    Its explanations of nature and the amazing technological advances that came from it were thrilling. I still remain in awe today, and some part of me still holds onto the thought that I really should have been an astrophysicist working out the origins and structure of the universe. My love of knowledge took me in a different direction, but I still hold a fascination for what science can do. My admiration has only increased during the pandemic. So, I wanted to write a word of thanks to our amazing scientists.

    https://newsroom.co.nz/2020/08/24/a-message-for-our-scientists/?fbclid=IwAR0i_oyULTre03Uothn_erbK3YpeiCuGrm7IDQbReCqTtzgUNJsw3V0u-oI

    Incognito, like you, I am quite taken aback by Labours diminishing of Science, Technology and Innovation .

    Not..a good look.

    Hopefully the new guy..steps up big time?

    Reply
  3. Champaign Socialist 3
    14 March 2025 at 9:12 am

    Surely we could attract overseas investors to fund our education system and that way we can have more tax cuts.

    Reply
    • Incognito 3.1
      14 March 2025 at 12:05 pm

      No, we cannot without providing adequate and sufficient base-funding ourselves.

      Why would overseas investors ‘invest’ in our education system? What education are you talking about? If this is about Charter Schools, then please take it to OM.

      Reply
  4. Simbit 4
    14 March 2025 at 8:42 pm

    PM's Chief Science Advisor role won't be filled. A council/committee of business oriented science advisors to be established instead.

    Reply
    • Incognito 4.1
      14 March 2025 at 8:44 pm

      Do you have a link for this?

      Reply
      • Drowsy M. Kram 4.1.1
        14 March 2025 at 11:11 pm

        Hopefully it's just something Simbit is feeling, although I'm feeling it too.

        Callaghan Innovation: Last-minute funding lifeline buys time for 40 science roles [12 March 2025]
        It also remained unclear whether the Government will be appointing another Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor – a role that has sat unfilled for 255 days – alongside a yet-to-be-formed advisory panel.

        There may well be no "alongside", since our PM has done without for 257 days, and views critical data and evidence as a thorn in his side, and that of NAct donors.

        ‘Inconvenient truths’ stall naming PM’s science chief [24 Sept 2024]
        Hundreds of science jobs cut by ‘data and evidence’ Government as chief science adviser positions feel their contributions are ‘inconvenient’

        However, Newsroom understands that a preferred candidate for the role was selected months ago: one Luxon was personally satisfied with. At some point beyond the selection process, something went awry.
        …
        Luxon said the decision to lose these positions [including chief science advisers at other agencies] wasn’t dismissive of evidence, but rather “a different way of thinking”.
        …
        These roles were especially important as the country moved to reshape “a chronically underfunded science system”, Bunce [former chief science adviser at the Department of Conservation] said. His role was disestablished in June.
        …
        As his end date neared, Kingham [the chief science adviser to the Ministry of Transport] offered to reach out to potential replacements. He didn’t hear back from the ministry – until they told him his position would be disestablished.

        Kingham said he was probably an annoyance for the ministry, as “some of the stuff that’s coming out of transport is utter nonsense”. He said an on-hand science adviser was “the last thing they want”.
        …
        Outside of his role, Kingham said the Ministry of Transport didn’t have anyone on staff employed as a researcher or science adviser. “Evidence has become an inconvenience,” he said.

        Ah, the inconveniences that can arise when politics and scientific evidence mix.

        Is a Marmite sandwich and an apple good enough for a child’s lunch?
        [4 March 2025]
        Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's suggestion of a Marmite sandwich and an apple for lunch wouldn't keep a child full or feed their brain sufficiently, according to local health and education experts.

        Reply
        • Incognito 4.1.1.1
          15 March 2025 at 10:28 am

          Indeed, Simbit’s gloomy prediction may become reality.

          Let’s just outsource it to the New Zealand Initiative, remove any pretence, and be over and done with it.

          Reply
        • Incognito 4.1.1.2
          15 March 2025 at 10:44 am

          Luxon’s dietary advice for children is a typical common-sense approach that demonstrates the essential role of science and scientific evidence-based advice in and for our daily lives – science can challenge common beliefs and myths which is why it’s inconvenient for many with strong confirmation bias and particularly for ideologists and other brain-washed zealots.

          The nutritional needs of young people who are active and growing up fast are very different from the needs of a sedentary middle-aged man with a big brain that he rarely engages and who hires a limousine to walk 200 m – something that every parent knows or should know.

          BTW, do you now know how hard it is to find Our Mate Yeast Extract (aka UK Marmite) in supermarkets nowadays and how expensive it is?

          Reply
          • roblogic 4.1.1.2.1
            15 March 2025 at 10:59 am

            Evidence of Luxon's "big brain" please. On my observations he's a spoiled teenager in a middle-aged bod

            Reply
            • Incognito 4.1.1.2.1.1
              15 March 2025 at 12:03 pm

              Self-evidently, it’s somewhere in his big brain but the IT team was fired and now he cannot recall it. He should have scribbled it on a note or saved in an Excel spreadsheet somewhere.

              Reply

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