Congratulations to award winners

Three of the NZIAHS’s annual awards were presented during the Institute’s Canterbury Forum last month. I extend my hearty congratulations to the award winners

Dr Trish Fraser, Prof John Hampton, Adjunct Prof Jacqueline Rowarth

Jubilee Medal – Adjunct Prof Jacqueline Rowarth

Honorary Fellowship – Prof John Hampton
Fellowship – Dr Trish Fraser
Details of the recipients’ illustrious careers and their contributions to Ag and Hort science in
New Zealand can be read on the NZIAHS website HERE and the AgScience blog HERE.

ONE YEAR ON

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It’s just over a year ago that the general election resulted in the formation of the coalition government led by Christopher Luxon. This led to a wide-ranging review of the science sector, largely the universities and CRIs. How science has fared since then can be described as mixed, but still with a large degree of uncertainty as we wait for the two reviews of the university sector (University Advisory Group; www.uag.org.nz) and the wider science sector infrastructure and funding, including the CRIs (Science System Advisory Group; www.SSAG.org.nz) to be released. Both advisory groups are led by Sir Peter Gluckman who was New Zealand’s first Chief Science Advisor. Both reviews, including defining the principles, providing preliminary advice and recommendations and then a second phased of final recommendations and advice for long term changes, are now behind schedule, although delays should not be the cause of too much disappointment if timeliness were to result in the quality of the advisory groups’ work being compromised.

The Government established the Science System Advisory Group to undertake a review and advise it on strengthening the country’s economically critical science, innovation and technology system, yet until the report is completed, according to media reports, the government is unable to fill the crucial role of Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister. On the matter of a new top science adviser for the government, it’s worth recalling that when former Prime Minister Sir John Key established the post and appointed Sir Peter Gluckman, we were told science was being included at the heart of the government’s decision-making. Here’s hoping Christopher Luxon agrees.

Despite the delay in reporting, some institutes have already made moves to reduce staffing. It would be nice to think that the scale of the science effort in New Zealand, by which I mean the numbers of science staff involved, would be maintained. However, this seems unlikely if institutes try to make financial savings within their current operational/administrative structures without thinking wider. Let’s see what the reviews bring – and soon please!

On a more positive note, although some might dispute this, is the declaration by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins that the government is aiming to pass legislation and introduce a gene tech regulator before 2026. It will be based on Australia’s Gene Technology Act 2000, taking a “hybrid approach” to regulation with applications assessed under a risk framework. This will end the country’s nearly 30-year ban on genetically engineered or modified organisms outside the lab.