We're pleased to announce applications are now open for NZ Association of Science's 2026 Medals. The closing date for all applications is 5pm Monday 3rd August 2026. The medals are ... scientists.org.nz/Awards (1/7)

NZAS release on Budget 2026 is out. It wasn't even a nothing burger this year... What is shocking is the long-term trend. scientists.org.nz/news/13636927

We've put out a press release drawing a thread through recent concerns, and also provided a Briefing to the Incoming Minister (BIM) earlier in the month that suggests a more coherent approach to reform. 2/4

The BIM ends with four narrative strategies we think are needed for the research system to be successfully reformed. Read the BIM - scientists.org.nz/news/13632765 4/4

It includes an improved conceptual diagrams with the needed horizontal layers to complement 'pillars' – so that we focus on the intersection of technology and our existing strengths. Do you agree a new tech pillar isn't the right way to think about it? 3/4

Concerned about the mishmash of bad news hitting research? So are we at New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS). Read the press release – scientists.org.nz/news/13632857 1/4

There's either a new fund not yet announced or we're seeing another swingeing cut to science funding. Either way the lack of clarity, given the current stress throughout the system, is...unhelpful.

I've never seen anything quite so unclear. Well, except maybe the maths mistake when MoRST eliminated the post-doc scheme that had worked well for a generation. (They tallied up all the postdocs in the country to be 100, and thought we only fund 30. But they funded 30 each year, for 3 years = 90%).

If you came here looking for answers on what MBIE's Transition Research fund is, we're trying to find out. On the face of it, the $84.8m per year replaces Marsden + Endeavour and more, which currently total 4 times this much?

Comment from Victoria University: The Govt’s science overhaul prioritises commercial outcomes, but risks narrowing the very research pipeline that fuels long-term innovation.

We left the Green Paper Submission on line. It, along with our call for renewal before it, has stood up better than the reforms and their reports, don't you think? (3/3) scientists.org.nz/GreenPaperSu...

From PRO reform that still lacks underlying strategy, to our concerns about the Prioritisation Report scientists.org.nz/news/13616237, to the recent webinar, it looks like our nightmare scenario of managerialism meets the machinery of government along with the worst of politics. (2/3)

What worries me most about the directions of NZ's science reform is that it now matches closely what our extensive 2022 Te Ara Paerangi submission highlighted as 'what to avoid'. (1/3)

You can't have successful missions like the government wants science to be organised into without sufficient social science research.

The government has adamantly cut social science research. It claims we should be more like small advanced economies (SAEs) - even those not dependent on primary/bioeconomy exports. But SAEs fund much more social science research than we do. scientists.org.nz/news/13616237

Our initial reaction to the Prioritisation Report, that would cut existing science areas by up to 22% to pay new Tech development, expresses deep concerns. Do you think the report has strayed into policy-based evidence making? scientists.org.nz/news/13616237

We're filling the gap that was once a pillar of the previous science reform. What happened to it? Need for Workforce Strategy as Job Losses Escalate scientists.org.nz/news/13605014

FFS. Another year, another round of cuts to our public education and research system. This hurts everyone over time. Remember friends, never repeat the propaganda. It is not 'savings' it is cuts. And shame on ODT for repeating the 💩. They should know better. 🤡 #NZPOL

The reform is failing... (1/5) NZAS: "We have 500% overheads in some cases." Kathryn Ryan: "What??? Where is that happening?" NZAS: "In some of our PROs." NB: Overheads are a necessary part of institutions, but it means something needs fixing when they approach 10 times international norms.

Co-President Dr Lucy Stewart spoke to Kathryn Ryan on Nine to Noon this morning about the continued failure of the government's science sector reforms to make necessary change (or provide desperately needed funding increases)

The current reforms of the research system are now on track for another failure. They double down on mistakes that undermine long-term growth, well being & safety. We must ask for accountability and transparency about three key issues as we go into the election year. scientists.org.nz/news/13593197

🔥 Our Affiliate Troy Baisden was on RNZ's Mediawatch recently, discussing misinformation about EV's malfunctioning and causing fires. The story was in the context of the Goverment slashing by 80% the clean car standard - which incentivised sales of low- or zero-emission vehicles. 🚗

We hope to see you tomorrow at our conference and awards, in person in Wellington. If you can't make it, we'll have some limited streaming including the opening session and awards. Check the webpage for details. scientists.org.nz/nzas-confere...

A cocktail of stories in recent weeks has made me deeply concerned our information ecosystem around electric vehicles (EVs) as a pathway to emissions reduction has been undergoing "rapid disassembly." This RNZ Mediawatch piece is a great compendium. (14 min) (1/3) www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Nice to see Research, Science, Innovation and Technology getting a little airtime with two oral questions, and subsequent supplementary exchanges, in Parliament today. There are some extreme snippets on socials but here is full session (7 min). youtu.be/s2rz84uo2JQ

Now also on RNZ! A personal perspect on how the #BatshitBudget for science undermines and drives away the top science talent that helps us build a great nation. www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

Quick reminder - the NZAS 2025 conference is happening on 26 November in Pōneke, more information at this link. We will be talking about our 2025 survey of NZ scientists, the Save Science Coalition, priorities for public good science, and more!

Um. I mean. Um. In this moment, it is really really bad. But bugger all jobs in New Zealand after busting one's behind to get advanced science degrees is 40+ years lived reality. #NZPOL @nzscientists.bsky.social

14 years ago Paul Callaghan gave this talk. It leaned in to the idea of making Aotearoa New Zealand a place where talented people wanted to live. Our government is hell bent on doing the opposite. @nzscientists.bsky.social #NZPOL

You know about NZ's cuts to research funding? How bleak is it for climate change research? Bleak. Explainer and perspectives now outside Carbon News NZ's paywall. www.carbonnews.co.nz/news/35492/s...

Did you catch news that the Universities Advisory Group (UAG) reports were released, but the government binned or balked on many of the key recommendations? The whole process went from shelved to buried yesterday morning. www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/09/03/u...

UAG report and cabinet paper are out. Gluckman: Read the Interim Report’s strategic approach first (before getting lost in the operational details.) Alas, if only more of the strategic recommendations had a clear path to implementation… www.education.govt.nz/our-work/inf...

Our parliament might give us confidence in the government's approach to the science if answers were delivered with care and clarity. youtu.be/2Glk1fHNMaU?...

Robust debate in Parliament yesterday, with questions from Scott Willis to Shane Reti MP about cuts, job losses and whether reprioritisation will yield clarity or any benefits. The answers aren't reassuring but it is good to see this getting attention. youtu.be/Vam6UmnvtyY

Unsurprisingly shocking news: the Advanced Technology Institute is being funded by mortgaging the future of other science funding. Had you wondered whether we're rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, or playing musical chairs? It's both. www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/08/06/f...

If you're a researcher in NZ please do our very short survey on the Vision Mātauranga policy! We are keen to hear your opinions. DM for the survey link

Reminder - applications close 1 August. Note the new medal debut this year...

MethaneSat appears lost. www.rnz.co.nz/news/busines... We'll be pondering NZ's $29m for some time. Good tracking by @eloisegibson.bsky.social. My big question: did the same MBIE people who botched the science system we're still trying to fix move across and mess this up too? #commercialisation

A more balanced story over in Newsroom (out of paywall tomorrow) with me providing Newsroom Pro's chart of the day newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/01/s...

Not mentioned are that some of the key issues - erosion, wetlands, and what climate information means for farmer all cross between the two institutes, despite the merger.

Articles out today on directions of the mergers in the research system open up some of the concerns, and also suggest benefits may not come quickly. Farmers weekly perspective suggests my worst case scenario could apply. www.farmersweekly.co.nz/technology/s...

Still trying to make sense of Day One for the "PROs" which are still CRIs. How 'public' will these Public Research Organisations be? We have a news page and much wider resources up at NZAS. scientists.org.nz/news/13515621

Science matters and the quality rapid and expert information we get from GeoNet seems to be at risk. Worse, how can we know as science disappears under layers of management and messaging?

“I have no doubt that if we were unlucky to experience a tsunami in our lifetime, a future Royal Commission of Inquiry will definitely find whoever defunded this monitoring centre as culpable.” -Ilan Noy newsroom.co.nz/2025/06/12/n...

That accumulated trust could well be lost now. In addition, it may be that the apparent increase in funding in future years for restructured Māori research funds was simply the result of hidden knowledge that this years awards would be cancelled just after Budget 2025 emerged.

Successive governments have made major steps to build up Māori research, and there's a strong argument that's one of the best ways to uplift our overall well being. Jenny Sinclair in the Research Professional (no paywall) www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-new-...

Will the trust and engagement of Māori communities with the research system recover from this last minute cut, after almost two years of development of a few major programme proposals and implementation plans? 1/n Fox Meyer in Newsroom (outside the Paywall tomorrow) newsroom.co.nz/2025/06/13/g...

Have you considered applying or nominating a colleague? Application close 1 August.

Arguably the responsibility to articulate the nation's science policy needs shouldn't fall to emerging researchers. Yet, here we are ... A group of early career Antarctic researchers describe how research in their patch is being systematically undermined. thespinoff.co.nz/science/10-0...