Source: New Zealand Government
Thank you for the opportunity to speak here at the Life Sciences Summit today. As Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, I see the contribution our scientists, researchers and innovators make to New Zealand’s life sciences ecosystem. The work you do at the intersection of science, technology and markets matters to our future.
I also want to acknowledge the event organisers – BioTech NZ and NZTech. This summit comes at a pivotal moment. Around the world, advances in biology are converging with powerful new technologies such as AI and Quantum computing. These are reshaping healthcare, transforming food and agricultural systems, and opening new pathways to sustainable growth. For New Zealand, life sciences are important to our economic resilience, our health security and our ability to compete in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Why life sciences matter to New Zealand
New Zealand has long been recognised for the quality of its science and the ingenuity of its researchers. From medical breakthroughs that improve lives, to bio-based innovations that support high value exports, the life sciences sector already delivers real benefits for New Zealanders. It plays a critical role in the backbone of our economy and our living standards. Yet too often world class research has not translated into the scale of impact it should, with promising ideas struggling to move from the lab into the market. This is a challenge that this Government is determined to address.
Reforming and refocusing the science system
Over the past year, I have been undertaking the most significant reform of New Zealand’s science and technology system in more than 30 years to deliver greater focus, impact and long-term direction. These reforms are about ensuring public investment in science delivers outcomes that matter for New Zealand’s economy, our environment and our communities. In a similar structure to other small advanced economies, we have established the Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council, to provide one-place for strategic oversight and advice on national science priorities. This work will result in clear, actionable research priorities that give researchers and investors, confidence about the long-term direction of the system.
Strategic direction of the science system and streamlined funding
Alongside this strategic direction-setting, we are simplifying how science is funded. Research Funding New Zealand has been established as a single, independent decision maker for most government science, innovation and technology funding. For researchers, it means a clearer pathway to support. For government, it means investment decisions that are better aligned with national priorities and long-term impact.
Strengthening connection and boosting productivity through our PROs
Just as you have come together at this summit to share ideas and make connections, our new Public Research Organisations bring together talent, infrastructure, and capability across the system. The Bioeconomy Science Institute is a key part of this shift. By bringing together our strengths in agriculture, horticulture, food innovation, forestry, biomaterials and ecosystem resilience – the Institute is accelerating innovation across the bioeconomy, in what I am told is the second biggest bioeconomy institute in the world.
This work matters.
I am also committed to extending our science reach through new platforms. That is why we are investing in cutting‑edge science through the Biodiscovery Platform, supported by $42 million over seven years. This platform, hosted by the Bioeconomy Science Institute, will help transform New Zealand’s unique biological resources into high-value products and support innovative Kiwi businesses. New Zealand has 80,000 indigenous flora and fauna, of which only 30,000 are scientifically described. We’ve already seen the success stories, from mānuka in the honey sector to emerging bio-based materials, and nanocellulose from seaweed. I am convinced the next cancer drug and next nutraceutical will be bio-sourced. This platform also speaks to the head start that Māori and matauranga will have with biosourcing.
Health security and resilience
Life sciences are also important for our national resilience. I have newly committed $75 million over seven years to strengthen New Zealand’s preparedness for and resilience to infectious diseases and pandemics. The Infectious Diseases Research Platform, hosted by Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science), builds on the strong foundation of Te Niwha and reflects the lessons of recent global health challenges.
It is encouraging to see the capability of PHF Science recognised. Digital twin platform ALMA won the Trailblazer in AI Innovation award at the Aotearoa AI Awards 2025. This demonstrates how we can leverage advanced technologies to support better decision-making in complex and evolving situations.
Advanced technology and the future of science
The convergence of life sciences with advanced technologies such as AI, synthetic technologies and quantum is transforming how research is conducted – enhancing efficiency, improving decision-making and providing new tools to tackle existing and emerging challenges. To ensure New Zealand captures these benefits technologies, I have established the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology. Through initiatives such as the development of an AI platform, the Institute is building on New Zealand’s existing strengths and enabling cross-sector collaboration that drives productivity and innovation.
Achievements
A year ago, I was tasked as the new Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, to implement the biggest science reforms in 30 years. In the past year, these are 10 actions I have taken:
- Amalgamated seven CRIs, including forming one of the biggest bioeconomy institutes in the world, to better serve the needs of industry and the community.
- Created a multimillion dollar biodiscovery platform to discover the next generation of cancer drugs.
- Funded a new emerging technology organisation for new research, including advanced materials, AI and quantum.
- Created and published a national IP policy supporting inventors.
- Created and published a national AI strategy to guide uptake.
- Deployed a new applied doctorate programme, to better align PhDs with industry and entrepreneurship.
- Created Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation and Technology Advisory Council as a one-stop national science strategy group, similar to those in other smaller advanced economies.
- Created Research Funding New Zealand as a one stop science funding administrator to reduce bureaucracy.
- Completed the first ever Memorandums of Co-operation between Antarctica NZ and the United States, and Antarctica NZ and the United Arab Emirates, and advanced new polar research projects to these agreements.
- Completed the first reading merging NIWA and Metservice to improve meteorological reporting.
It has been a busy year!
Gene tech reforms
We also know that innovation requires modern, fit for purpose regulation. As part of the Government’s commitment to updating New Zealand’s outdated rules surrounding gene technology, we introduced the Gene Technology Bill to Parliament as a framework to deliver a more modern, risk-proportionate regime.
I have received the Select Committee’s report. It is a complex bill and that reflects that this is a complex issue. I am taking time to consider its recommendations to improve the proposed regime, because this a once-in-a-generation opportunity and it is important that we get it right. Fundamentally, we are 20 years behind the Australian legislation. In real terms, if we don’t change, our competitors will ‘eat our lunch’ by producing quicker and more resilient species. The next step will be for the Gene Technology Bill to proceed to its second reading, with the timing to be confirmed.
Closing remarks
The work represented at this summit reflects excellent New Zealand science. Your research, innovation and collaboration are helping to address some of the most significant challenges we face, while opening new opportunities for growth and prosperity. I wish you a productive summit and look forward to the ideas, partnerships and ambition that will emerge from your discussions.
