Culture and Heritage – Creative and cultural strategy receives hundreds of submissions

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March 13, 2025

Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Feedback on the Government’s draft creative and cultural strategy shows support for a cohesive approach that boosts economic and social benefits for New Zealanders, says Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae, Secretary for Culture and Heritage at Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

“Thank you to the hundreds of people that gave us feedback on Amplify: A Creative and Cultural Strategy for New Zealand,” says Leauanae.

“We received many innovative ideas and constructive feedback on the strategy.

“Overall, there is broad support for a national strategy to provide clarity of government’s role and a long-term plan for growing the sector’s contributions to New Zealand.

“People were broadly supportive of more New Zealanders engaging with arts, increasing the economic contribution of the creative industries, and ways to raise the income for creative professionals. We also heard that the proposed actions within the strategy needed to align better with what the strategy aimed to achieve.

“Submitters made it clear the strategy should balance global recognition with the needs of domestic audiences and creative practitioners.

“Feedback reflected the broader benefits of arts and culture to the lives of New Zealanders, and the intrinsic value of the arts to our quality of life. These are important drivers of the strategy.

“Feedback was also supportive of cross-government action across a range of government portfolios, such as regional development and education.

“We’ll be taking this feedback into account as we progress the strategy, with the aim to make it available this year,” Leauanae says.

MIL OSI

Northland News – Changes to tsunami evacuation maps for Northland

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March 13, 2025

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Source: Northland Regional Council

Northland’s tsunami evacuation maps have been updated with more accurate modelling and information. These new maps better reflect how tsunamis are expected to behave as they travel across the ocean and reach our coastline.

The evacuation zones have also been simplified to make them easier to understand, Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management(NCDEM) Group Chair, Kelly Stratford, encourages Northlanders to view the updated evacuation maps at www.nrc.govt.nz/evacuationzones to see if they live, work, or play in a tsunami evacuation zone and plan or revise their quickest route to safety.

“The new modelling shows that the areas at risk from damaging tsunami may be affected differently from previous models. In many cases, the potential effects may not reach as far inland as previously expected,” says Stratford.

“The new tsunami wave modelling is based on the latest data, scientific evidence, and modelling technology. This method is now the standard and used in other regions in New Zealand and around the world. The goal is for this information to enable Northlanders to understand the risk to their property and community so they can plan accordingly,” she adds.

However, Mrs Stratford still encourages all Northlanders to be prepared for the risk when they are near the coast. “Even though the effects might not reach as far inland, the coastal risk for the region remains high. So, those in coastal communities or anyone enjoying the beaches and marine areas of Taitokerau need to remain prepared for the risk of tsunami.”

Due to its unique geography, the Northland region is considered to have one of the highest vulnerabilities to tsunami hazards in the country. Because of this, Northland was one of the first regions to implement a three-zone tsunami evacuation plan, with tsunami inundation maps and models over 10 years ago.

This project also complements the recent upgrade of the Northland tsunami siren network. Although some areas are now less at risk of tsunami inundation, the new sirens still cover important at-risk coastal regions. “Even though the effects might not reach as far inland in some places, the coastal risk still remains high, and those in tsunami evacuation zones are still at risk. Therefore, it’s crucial to have good sound coverage in these areas. The new siren placement ensures that not only the new evacuation zone is covered, but people near the zone or moving towards it can also hear the warnings and stay away from the coast and potentially affected areas,” says Mrs Stratford.

“Investing in both this improved modelling and advanced warning systems like the newly updated tsunami sirens, are all part of our comprehensive approach to tsunami preparedness in Northland” says Mrs Stratford.

Mrs Stratford also highlights that the new maps are simpler to understand. “The new maps will also be easier to understand, moving from a three-colour system to a single colour system. The new maps replace all the colours of the rainbow on the previous maps with one zone colour, blue. This means, if your home, workplace, school, marae, or somewhere you visit regularly is in the blue zone, in a tsunami, get out of the area. Head inland or to higher ground.”

The single evacuation zone is coloured blue to symbolise where water could reach in a tsunami.

-BLUE means GO – In a tsunami warning, get out of the blue. Knowing your evacuation zone in advance is really important so you can plan and understand your evacuation route.

-If an earthquake is Long or Strong: Get Gone. Don’t wait for an official warning to evacuate. Head to higher ground or further inland.

Official warnings

Official tsunami warnings are published on the National Emergency Management Agency’s website and social media pages. The warnings will also be shared on the Civil Defence Northland Facebook page and may also be broadcast on radio, television and news media, over tsunami sirens and through other local procedures (e.g. emergency services vehicles with PA systems, or telephone trees). An emergency mobile alert (message to your mobile phone) may also be issued in the event of a dangerous tsunami threat.

What are the natural warning signs for a tsunami?

If you are near a shore and experience any of the following, take action. Do not wait for official warnings.

-Feel a strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand or a long earthquake that lasts more than a minute

-See a sudden rise or fall in sea level

-Hear loud or unusual noises from the sea

Tsunami signboards at beaches and waterways around Northland will also be updated with the new maps over the next few months.

MIL OSI

Business – Canterbury Businesses Show Resilience Amid Rising Global Concerns

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March 13, 2025

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Source: Business Canterbury

Business Canterbury’s latest quarterly business survey reveals a complex economic landscape for local business, with international trade and geopolitical risks emerging as significant concerns while, at the same time, businesses are demonstrating growing confidence in their ability to manage disruption.

Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson says, “It’s particularly significant, although probably not surprising, that international trade and geopolitical risks have shot up to the 6th spot among local business concerns. These issues have not been major concerns in previous surveys.

“Canterbury businesses have weathered a lot in recent years, and that experience has built a remarkable capacity for adaptation and forward planning, which will help respond to the current global environment and navigate ongoing change and disruption.

The confidence in businesses’ own ability to manage disruption has seen its largest increase since we started tracking this in July 2022, with 80% reporting feeling confident.

“This reflects a stronger sense of resilience and being able to respond in a way that will set them up for the future. Businesses are still navigating change but doing it with a mindset that has moved from reacting to anticipating.”

“The survey also indicates that earning expectations for the next 12 months remain stable at relatively high levels with 58% reporting feeling optimistic about their financial position.

“However, that’s not to say pressure points have eased. Consumer confidence and demand persist as major obstacles. They are proving to be particularly stubborn, with more than half of respondents identifying them as key concerns – a 17% increase in the proportion of respondents citing them as a top issue compared to last quarter.

“Although the recent 50-basis-point OCR cut is a welcome move that could help ease these pressures, its full impact will take time to filter through.

“In the meantime, productivity and growth constraints, followed by inflationary pressures and interest rates, remain among the top three biggest concerns for businesses. These long-standing challenges require our economy to be back in growth mode, which is taking much longer than anticipated.”

About Business Canterbury

Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is the largest business support agency in the South Island and advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.

MIL OSI

Awards – Grasslanz Technology claims top science honour

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March 13, 2025

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Source: AgResearch

A plant technology company that has been a major contributor to the success of New Zealand agriculture for more than two decades has been recognised with the supreme honour at the 2025 Science New Zealand Awards.

AgResearch subsidiary, Grasslanz Technology Limited, was announced today as the supreme award winner in recognition of its record of introducing valuable new types of pasture and related technologies that have helped livestock industries to thrive.

Among these is the commercialisation of the AR37 Epichloë endophyte developed by AgResearch scientists, which provides resistance to pests and has been independently estimated as contributing $3.6 billion to the New Zealand economy over the life of its 20-year patent.

“This award is a real credit to the many people who have been a part of the enduring success of Grasslanz Technology,” says Grasslanz Technology chief executive Megan Skiffington.

“That means everyone from the science teams who made the discoveries and did the research, through to those who partnered with us because they believed in turning this research into products that farmers and growers can use to enhance the productivity and sustainability of agriculture in this country.”

The Chairs of the Judging Panels for the Science New Zealand Awards, who selected the Supreme Award winner, said Grasslanz Technology stood out “because of its contribution to the growth of the New Zealand economy through excellent science directed to solve issues faced by the primary sector in an economically and environmentally sustainable fashion”.

The Science New Zealand Awards celebrate the best of the science and its impacts across New Zealand’s Crown Research Institutes and Callaghan Innovation.

The Government announced earlier this year that the seven Crown Research Institutes will soon be merged into new Public Research Organisations, including one that includes AgResearch and is focused on the bioeconomy.

Skiffington says this new structure presents exciting possibilities for Grasslanz to grow its reach and seize other opportunities to bolster the primary sector. This includes opportunities using technologies such as genetic modification and gene editing in pasture and beyond.

“We know that farmers and growers do better when backed by great science. With our partners, Grasslanz has delivered that impact on the ground. We think we will be able to bring even more value to the new Public Research Organisation with our proven business model, helping a larger pool of scientists to provide solutions to those farmers and growers.”

More about the Science New Zealand Awards can be found at: https://sciencenewzealand.org/; and more about Grasslanz Technology at: www.grasslanz.com

MIL OSI

Another firearm off the street following Tikipunga search

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March 13, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Police have taken a firearm capable of firing .22 rounds off the streets after locating thew weapon down the side of a couch.

At about 1pm on Wednesday, officers executed a search warrant at a Tikipunga address on Papa Totara Loop.

Detective Senior Sergeant Aaron Crawford, Northland CIB, says Police quickly arrested a man in relation to failing to stop, displaying insignia, possession of firearm and ammunition.

“During a search officers have located an operational magazine with live .22 rounds allegedly in the man’s pocket, as well as loose rounds.

“A further search of the address has then also located a pistol capable of firing .22 rounds, which was found down the side of the couch where the man was sitting upon Police arrival.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Crawford says the arrest was a great outcome by the team.

“As a result we have taken another firearm out of circulation from our community.

“Police work hard to hold offenders to account, especially those with the potential to cause serious harm in our communities, such as those unlawfully in the possession of firearms.”

A 34-year-old man will appear in Whangārei District Court today charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and failing to carry out obligations in relation to a computer search.

ENDS.

Holly McKay/NZ Police

MIL OSI

Universities – How New Zealand Universities Rank in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

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March 13, 2025

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Source: QS World University Rankings

Massey breaks into top 20 but rest of world catching up with NZ’s excellence
New Zealand sees decline in rankings as employer reputation indicator scores in other countries soar, but some stand-out performances in sport-related subjects.

London, March 12th: International higher education experts QS Quacquarelli Symonds have today released the 15th annual edition of, and its largest ever, the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

The rankings provide an independent comparative analysis of the performance of more than 18,300 individual academic offerings, taken by students at more than 1,700 universities found in 100 locations across the world, across 55 academic disciplines and five broad faculty areas.1 They are part of the annual QS World University Rankings portfolio, which was consulted 80 million times in 2024, and covered 134,000 times by media and institutions worldwide.

Executive Summary New Zealand:

Some 216 entries from New Zealand’s eight universities appear in the rankings this year, down one from 217 last year. Of these 12% (26 entries) improve their ranking this year with 33% (71 entries) staying stable and 51% (110 entries) decline.

113 entries from New Zealand feature in the top 200, 21 more than last year.
Massey University’s Veterinary Science entry breaks into the global top 20, meaning two entries from New Zealand in top 20
The University of Auckland most successful New Zealand institution this year, with 14 of its 51 entries improving
However, 110 of the 216 entries from New Zealand have dropped in this iteration
Universities need to do more to meet employer expectations with 75% of entries see drops in employer reputation indicator scores
Universities continue to excel in Sports-related subjects – 14 entries improving their ranking in their respective subjects

Focus New Zealand

In two key broad subject areas – Social Sciences & Management and Arts & Humanities – all but one institution fell. The University of Auckland increased its ranking in Social Sciences & Management by six to reach 63^rd and in Arts & Humanities it rose by nine to be ranked joint 61.

In Natural Sciences, The University of Auckland rose by 25 places to be ranked joint 146 and the University of Otago increased its position by three to be ranked joint 374^th worldwide. The other three institutions fell in this broad subject area. The University of Auckland also increased its ranking in the Engineering & Technology broad subject area by 22 and is ranked joint 105. The other two institutions from the country included in the ranking for this area fell.

All three New Zealand universities in the Life Sciences & Medicine broad subject range fell.

In future-critical fields such as AI, digital, and green technologies—spotlighted in the recently launched QS World Future Skills Index—New Zealand’s universities have room to expand their influence. While the Computer Science & Information Systems at seven universities feature in the ranking, of the 103 ranked Data Science & Artificial Intelligence entries, none are from New Zealand.

Table 1. New Zealand compared
Country	Total entries	Up		Same ranking		Down		New
New Zealand	216	26	12%	71	33%	110	51%	9
Hong Kong	257	181	70%	35	14%	16	6%	25
China	1389	838	60%	132	10%	53	4%	366
Korea	617	330	53%	69	11%	80	13%	138
USA	3686	914	25%	1132	31%	1320	36%	320
Australia	944	215	23%	316	33%	354	38%	59
UK	1883	384	20%	657	35%	701	37%	141

The University of Auckland ranks highest in each of the five broad faculty areas.

Table 2. Five highest ranked broad faculty areas in New Zealand
Broad Faculty Area	University	2025 Rank	2024 comparison	Number of NZ unis in 2025
Arts & Humanities	The University of Auckland	61	+9	7
Engineering & Technology	The University of Auckland	107	+22	3
Life Sciences & Medicine	The University of Auckland	15	-4	3
Natural Sciences	The University of Auckland	146	+25	5
Social Sciences & Management	The University of Auckland	63	+6	7

Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President at QS, said: “New Zealand has historically batted well above its weight in the international higher education landscape. However, like other popular study destinations, it is being challenged by new players on the global education market, which is evident in this year QS World University Ranking by Subject. Institutions will need to continue improving their outcomes for students and ensuring they are producing graduates and talent that industry is calling out for. While the University of Auckland continues to be the most represented institution in the ranking from New Zealand, Massey University and The University of Otago have some star performances in certain subjects. The country is continuing to look internationally for talent and skills, as outlined in the recent Going for Growth plan, international students are one key source of expertise, knowledge and connections. The academic quality of New Zealand’s research sector continues to be highly regarded internationally.”

Table 3. New Zealand Rankings entries by indicator
	Up		Neutral		Down		New
Academic reputation	101	47%	2	1%	104	48%	9	4%
Employer reputation	38	18%	6	3%	163	75%	9	4%
Citations per paper	106	49%	1	0%	92	43%	17	8%
H-Index	89	41%	2	1%	97	45%	28	13%
International research network (by broad faculty area)	35	16%	0	0%	59	27%	122	56%

Employer Reputation is an area where New Zealand universities lag behind global competitors. The reputation of New Zealand graduates among employers has declined for 163 of the entries featured in this edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject. However, results from the International Research Network (IRN) Index—measuring the extent to which institutions diversify their global research partnerships—suggest that New Zealand universities are making a concerted effort to strengthen their international collaborations. In contrast, Academic Reputation has improved for 47% of entries from the country featured in this year’s rankings. Additionally, Research Citations per Paper data from Elsevier Scopus indicates that rankings have improved for 49% of entries. Similarly, H-Index scores, which measure both the productivity and impact of academics based on citation performance, highlight strong performance among universities in New Zealand.

Sowter added: “With rapid transformations in the world of work already underway, higher education is under mounting pressure to evolve, ensuring that students, universities, and industries all benefit from the teaching they offer. The significant decline in employer reputation for many New Zealand entries should serve as a wake-up call for higher education providers. They cannot afford to rest on their laurels—they must continue embedding in-demand skills into curricula and fostering stronger industry collaboration to equip graduates to drive real change in the future.”

Table 4. New Zealand’s top ranked entries compared to rest of world (broad faculty and narrow subjects)
Country	Total entries	Top 1		Top 3		Top 10		Top 20		Top 50		Top 100		Top 200		Top 500
New Zealand	216							2	+1	10	-8	52	-4	113	+21	204	+3
United States	3686	37	No change	89	+1	270	No change	498	+51	920	+81	1468	+151	2301	+280	3408	+515
UK	1883	18	+2	62	-5	155	-8	242	+7	441	+15	775	+73	1262	+139	1770	+225
Switzerland	266	4	No change	7	+1	32	-3	46	+6	64	-1	105	-2	196	+23	258	+45
Netherlands	398	2	No change	5	-2	14	-1	31	-2	85	-11	192	+24	305	+45	394	+71
Italy	730	1	No change	1	No change	7	-1	17	-1	45	-8	154	+8	336	+29	651	+117
Singapore	114			5	+4	34	+6	57	+6	84	+7	96	+5	107	+8	112	+10
China	1389			4	+4	21	+13	81	+48	231	+103	436	+180	698	+228	1255	+443
Australia	994			3	-1	13	-4	31	-20	204	+1	403	+28	611	+50	909	+131
Canada	764			2	+1	16	-2	51	-7	161	+10	246	+19	434	+37	707	+85
Hong Kong	257			2	+1	6	+2	31	+16	108	+38	173	+44	216	+41	254	+54
France	655			1	-4	6	+1	19	-5	78	+4	169	+24	327	+40	597	+114
Sweden	254			1	No change	5	+1	6	-4	26	-4	82	-7	167	-6	243	-5
Japan	558					3	-1	18	+2	74	+8	159	+23	288	+35	494	+96
Germany	929					3	-2	13	-3	84	-13	236	+11	480	+38	854	+122
Korea	617					2	+2	10	+7	102	+59	213	+96	329	+123	545	+166
Denmark	180					2	+2	7	-1	30	-3	73	No change	124	+6	175	+2
Saudi Arabia	217			0	-1	2	No change	5	+1	13	-1	43	+7	97	+10	182	+52
Finland	148					2	+1	3	No change	11	-1	32	No change	61	-5	125	-12

Best performing institutions in New Zealand:

The University of Auckland is once again the most represented institution from New Zealand in the World University Rankings by Subject, with 51 entries. It is also top in the country in each of the five broad faculty areas.
University of Otago is home to the highest ranked entry in the country, with its Sports-related subject ranking placing it at 11^th worldwide, up one place since last year.
Massey University’s Veterinary Science entry has broken into the global top 20, improving its positioning by two spots, to be ranked 19^th overall.

Table 5. Results by institution
Institution	2025 entries count	2025 best rank	Entry	2024 best rank	Ups	Downs	Unchanged	New
The University of Auckland	51	24	Sports-related Subjects	21	14	17	19	1
University of Otago	40	11	Sports-related Subjects	12	2	23	13	2
Victoria University of Wellington	39	51	Development Studies	48	1	23	12	3
University of Canterbury \| Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha	30	51	Geography	51	2	19	8	1
Massey University	25	19	Veterinary Science	21	3	16	5	1
University of Waikato	15	101	Sports-related Subjects	51	1	4	9	1
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)	13	38	Sports-related Subjects	28	2	6	5	0
Lincoln University	3	101	Hospitality & Leisure Management and Agriculture & Forestry	51	1	2	0	0

Most improved rankings

Among the 21 entries that have improved their positions this year, three are broad faculty areas. The University of Auckland saw its entries in Natural Sciences rise to joint 146 worldwide and its Engineering & Technology ranking rise to joint 107. Massey University in turn saw its Arts & Humanities entry rise by 16 places to joint 322. Of the 18 subject entries improving this year, 12 are entries from the University of Auckland.

Table 6. New Zealand’s subject entries that have improved this year
Institution	Subject	2025 rank	2024 rank	Change
The University of Auckland	Archaeology	27	39	+12
The University of Auckland	Arts & Humanities	61	70	+9
The University of Auckland	Mathematics	98	105	+7
The University of Auckland	Social Sciences & Management	63	69	+6
The University of Auckland	Sociology	89	95	+6
The University of Auckland	Sports-related Subjects	24	28	+4
University of Otago	Natural Sciences	374	377	+3
The University of Auckland	Education	34	37	+3
The University of Auckland	Computer Science & Information Systems	96	99	+3
Massey University	Veterinary Science	19	21	+2
The University of Auckland	Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies	51-100	101-140	1 band
University of Otago	Sports-related Subjects	11	12	+1
University of Waikato	Sociology	201-250	251-300	1 band
The University of Auckland	Philosophy	51-100	101-150	1 band
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)	Nursing	101-150	151-200	1 band
Victoria University of Wellington	Mathematics	251-300	301-350	1 band
University of Canterbury \| Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha	Law	151-200	201-250	1 band
The University of Auckland	Engineering – Electrical & Electronic	118	119	+1
Lincoln University	Economics & Econometrics	451-500	501-550	1 band
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)	Computer Science & Information Systems	401-450	451-500	1 band
Massey University	Computer Science & Information Systems	551-600	601-650	1 band
University of Canterbury \| Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha	Business & Management Studies	301-350	351-400	1 band
The University of Auckland	Art & Design	101-150	151-200	1 band

The University of Auckland also dominates in the highest ranked entry per subject or broad faculty areas, with 49 top or joint top positions in the country.

Table 7. Subjects by order of prevalence among New Zealand’s entries
Subject	2025 count	2024 count	2025 Rank	Top Ranked University
Economics & Econometrics	8	8	112	The University of Auckland
Social Sciences & Management	7	7	63	The University of Auckland
Arts & Humanities	7	7	61	The University of Auckland
Education	7	7	34	The University of Auckland
Computer Science & Information Systems	7	7	96	The University of Auckland
Business & Management Studies	7	7	117	The University of Auckland
Accounting & Finance	7	7	66	The University of Auckland
Sociology	6	6	89	The University of Auckland
Psychology	6	6	51	The University of Auckland
Geography	6	6	51-100	The University of Auckland		University of Canterbury \| Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Natural Sciences	5	5	146	The University of Auckland
Physics & Astronomy	5	5	201-250	The University of Auckland
Medicine	5	5	119	The University of Auckland
Law	5	5	59	The University of Auckland
Hospitality & Leisure Management	5	5	51-100	AUT	University of Otago	The University of Auckland
Environmental Sciences	5	7	149	The University of Auckland
English Language & Literature	5	5	54	The University of Auckland
Chemistry	5	5	159	The University of Auckland
Biological Sciences	5	5	161	The University of Auckland
Agriculture & Forestry	5	5	67	Massey University
Geophysics	4	4	101-150	The University of Auckland
Geology	4	4	101-150	The University of Auckland
Sports-related Subjects	4	4	11	University of Otago
Politics & International Studies	4	4	101-150	The University of Auckland		Victoria University of Wellington
Philosophy	4	4	51-100	The University of Auckland
Nursing	4	4	51-100	The University of Auckland
Modern Languages	4	4	79	The University of Auckland
Linguistics	4	5	58	The University of Auckland
Engineering – Electrical & Electronic	4	4	118	The University of Auckland
Earth & Marine Sciences	4	4	101-150	The University of Auckland
Development Studies	4	3	51-100	Massey University	The University of Auckland	Victoria University of Wellington
Communication & Media Studies	4	4	101-150	Massey University		The University of Auckland
Classics & Ancient History	4	0	51-150	The University of Auckland	University of Canterbury \| Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha	University of Otago	Victoria University of Wellington
Archaeology	4	2	27	The University of Auckland
Life Sciences & Medicine	3	4	93	The University of Auckland
Engineering & Technology	3	3	107	The University of Auckland
Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies	3	3	51-100	The University of Auckland	University of Otago	Victoria University of Wellington
History	3	3	101-150	The University of Auckland
Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing	3	3	115	The University of Auckland
Architecture / Built Environment	3	3	51-100	The University of Auckland
Anthropology	3	2	51-100	The University of Auckland
Pharmacy & Pharmacology	2	2	77	The University of Auckland
Performing Arts	2	2	51-100	The University of Auckland
Mathematics	2	4	98	The University of Auckland
Engineering – Civil & Structural	2	2	48	The University of Auckland
Engineering – Chemical	2	3	151-200	The University of Auckland
Art & Design	2	3	101-150	The University of Auckland
Anatomy & Physiology	2	3	35	University of Otago
Marketing	1	1	46	The University of Auckland
Veterinary Science	1	1	19	Massey University
Statistics & Operational Research	1	1	101-150	The University of Auckland
Social Policy & Administration	1	1	51-100	The University of Auckland
Materials Science	1	1	151-200	The University of Auckland
Library & Information Management	1	1	51-100	Victoria University of Wellington
Dentistry	1	1	44	University of Otago

Global highlights

The 2025 QS World University Ranking by Subject is the largest ever edition, with more than 18,300 individual academic offerings, taken by students at more than 1,700 universities in 100 locations across the world. The results are drawn from five indicators – academic and employer reputation based on a global survey of 175,000+ academics and 100,000+ employers, research citations per paper, H-index, and international research network

Ben Sowter, QS Senior Vice President, said: “Our largest-ever subjects rankings continues to illuminate factors influencing the quality of higher education institutions globally. The countries that have traditionally led international university rankings, despite continuing to dominate the top places, are beginning to be challenged by developing higher education markets. This is evident in the strong performances of countries in Asia and the Middle East this year – a trend that is likely to only continue given the financial hardships universities in the US, UK, Australia and Canada are facing.”

US universities lead in 32 subjects. Harvard University is the world’s strongest-performing institution, ranking first in 15 disciplines. It is followed by MIT which leads in 11 subjects.
UK institutions top 18 subject tables, with the University of Cambridge leading in four.
Canada is home to two top three global entries and the University of British Columbia is joint top in the world for number of subjects featured in the ranking this year with 52 mentions.
Switzerland is home to four top ranked subjects, with EHT Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology top in three subjects.
The Netherlands and Italy are the only other two locations home to the world’s best entries. Sapienza University of Rome maintains its number one spot for Classics and Ancient History, while the University of Amsterdam’s Communication & Media Studies and the Agriculture & Forestry entry at Wageningen University & Research are also first in their respective subjects.
Hong Kong – 55 of The University of Hong Kong’s subject rankings feature in their respective top 200, the highest out of all institutions. It also saw the highest number of ranking increases this year, with 47, while The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) saw 43 rises.
China is home to universities with the most new entries this year. Sun Yat-sen University and Xiamen University both saw 13 more entries included this year. Peking University saw 43 of its 50 entries rise in the ranking this year, joint second most in the world.

Table 7. Top institution in each narrow subject
Institution	Country	Subject	2025	2024
Harvard University	USA	Accounting & Finance	1	1
Wageningen University & Research	Netherlands	Agriculture & Forestry	1	1
University of Oxford	UK	Anatomy & Physiology	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Anthropology	1	2
University of Cambridge	UK	Archaeology	1	1
The Bartlett School of Architecture \| UCL	UK	Architecture / Built Environment	1	1
Royal College of Art	UK	Art & Design	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Biological Sciences	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Business & Management Studies	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Chemistry	1	1
Sapienza University of Rome	Italy	Classics & Ancient History	1	1
University of Amsterdam	Netherlands	Communication & Media Studies	1	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	USA	Computer Science & Information Systems	1	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	USA	Data Science and Artificial Intelligence	1	1
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	USA	Dentistry	1	1
University of Sussex	UK	Development Studies	1	1
ETH Zurich	Switzerland	Earth & Marine Sciences	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Economics & Econometrics	1	1
UCL Institute of Education \| University College London	UK	Education	1	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Engineering – Chemical	1	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Engineering – Civil & Structural	1	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Engineering – Electrical & Electronic	1	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing	1	1
Colorado School of Mines	USA	Engineering – Mineral & Mining	1	1
University of Cambridge	UK	English Language & Literature	1	2
University of Oxford	UK	English Language & Literature	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Environmental Sciences	1	1
University of Oxford	UK	Geography	1	1
ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology	Switzerland	Geology	1	1
ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology	Switzerland	Geophysics	1	1
Harvard University	USA	History	1	1
Royal College of Art	UK	History of Art	1	1
EHL Hospitality Business School	Switzerland	Hospitality & Leisure Management	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Law	1	1
The University of Sheffield	UK	Library & Information Management	1	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Linguistics	1	1
University of Cambridge	UK	Marketing	1	3
University of Pennsylvania	USA	Marketing	1	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Materials Science	1	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Mathematics	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Medicine	1	1
University of Cambridge	UK	Modern Languages	1	1
Royal College of Music	UK	Music	1	1
King’s College London	UK	Nursing	1	2
Royal College of Music	UK	Performing Arts	1	1
University of Texas at Austin	USA	Petroleum Engineering	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Pharmacy & Pharmacology	1	1
New York University (NYU)	USA	Philosophy	1	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Physics & Astronomy	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Politics & International Studies	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Psychology	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Social Policy & Administration	1	1
Harvard University	USA	Sociology	1	1
Loughborough University	UK	Sports-related Subjects	1	1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	USA	Statistics & Operational Research	1	1
University of Notre Dame	USA	Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies	1	3
Royal Veterinary College, University of London	UK	Veterinary Science	1	1

Methodology QS use five key metrics to compile the subject rankings. The precise weighting of each metric varies by subject to reflect differing publication cultures across disciplines. For example, research performance, based on the analysis of the bibliometric database Scopus/Elsevier, is deemed to be a stronger indicator of institutional strength in Medicine, where the discipline is highly reliant on dissemination of research, than it is in Performing Arts, where the discipline is more vocational in nature. Detailed methodological information can be found at https://www.TopUniversities.com/subject-rankings/methodology.

The full rankings can be found at https://www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings

Notes

QS Quacquarelli Symonds

QS Quacquarelli Symonds is the world’s leading provider of services, analytics, and insight to the global higher education sector, whose mission is to empower motivated people anywhere in the world to fulfil their potential through educational achievement, international mobility, and career development.

The QS World University Rankings portfolio, inaugurated in 2004, is the world’s most popular source of comparative data about university performance.

Their flagship website, www.TopUniversities.com – the home of their rankings – was viewed more than 120 million times in 2023, and over 124,000 media clippings pertaining to, or mentioning, QS were published by media outlets across the world in 2023.

About Scopus/Elsevier

Scopus uniquely combines a comprehensive, expertly curated abstract and citation database with enriched data and linked scholarly literature across various disciplines. Scopus quickly finds relevant and authoritative research, identifies experts, and provides access to reliable data, metrics, and analytical tools. Be confident in progressing research, teaching or research direction and priorities — all from one database and with one subscription. https://www.scopus.com/home.uri

MIL OSI

Release: Members’ Bill makes wage theft a crime

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March 13, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Workers will now be able to go to the Police and report their employer if they are not being paid wages they’re owed.

Parliament has passed the Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill today led by Labour MP Camilla Belich, inserting a new section 220AA into the Crimes Act 1961.

“This Members’ Bill recognises wage theft as a crime, making the intentional withholding of wages, salaries and other monetary entitlements illegal,” Camilla Belich said.

“Until now, it has been a complicated process for a victim of theft by employer to make a claim and has deterred workers from seeking justice for wage theft.

“Theft is theft, and before this Bill was law workers had to take up a civil case. Civil wage claims are difficult for any employee to initiate and often time consuming and expensive. Now workers can go to the Police and report wage theft as a crime.

“We recognise most employers would never intentionally take their employees hard earned wages, but unfortunately a small minority do. This law will combat intentional exploitation against vulnerable workers.

“Wage theft is already illegal in many other jurisdictions, including Australia, California and Norway.

“I acknowledge my former colleague Ibrahim Omer for bringing this bill to the House and the unions for their ongoing support of working people. I am proud this bill has passed tonight with the support of NZ First, the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori,” Camilla Belich said.

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MIL OSI

Missed opportunity to stop the stealing of Māori land

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LiveNews Publisher

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March 13, 2025

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Source: Green Party

The Green Party is disappointed the Government voted down Hūhana Lyndon’s member’s Bill, which would have prevented further alienation of Māori land through the Public Works Act.

“Today represents a missed opportunity to end a legacy of injustice that has seen Māori land stolen across generations,” says Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon.

“My Bill aimed to address a critical flaw in the Public Works Act, whereby Māori land can be acquired by a Minister or local authority for public works, without the consent of affected Māori communities.

“For generations, te iwi Māori have watched as land has been taken, piece by piece, acre by acre and never returned.

“We have already lost so much, Māori should be empowered to say yes or no when it comes to the possession of their land. It is this choice, this tino rangatiratanga that lies at the core of my Bill, something the Government chose to shoot down.

“Our Prime Minister has the audacity to tell Māori that Te Tiriti is our past, present and future, yet also undermine the very foundation of our founding agreement by allowing the confiscation of Māori land to continue. As a result, this tool of the Crown will continue to be used today, tomorrow, and into our future.

“However, today was just a speed bump on the road to Te Tiriti justice. We know the movement we are building, that we are seeing flood streets across the motu, will not allow this injustice to continue for much longer,” says Hūhana Lyndon.

MIL OSI

Our Waitarakao Strategy adoption accelerates action

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March 13, 2025

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Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council

Our Waitarakao: Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon Catchment Strategy includes measures to increase natural hazard resilience, address poor water quality and improve biodiversity. As well as planning the long-term future for lagoon and surrounding areas, including adjoining creeks and nearby wetlands.

A small gathering of about 40 people took place on Sunday 9 March overlooking the lagoon, to witness the project partners signing the strategy and to celebrate its adoption.

It marked the culmination of 18 months’ work by the community and four partner agencies – Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, Timaru District Council, the Department of Conservation and us.

Working together for the mauri of Waitarakao

Chair Craig Pauling said the adoption of the strategy signifies a shared commitment to working towards the long-term health and sustainability of Waitarakao.

“Waitarakao is quite a rare coastal environment in this region, with unique ecosystems and important habitat for wildlife. The community and our partners are taking this restoration seriously – it’s a great example of collective action for the environment.”

That collaboration across the community was also highlighted by the other partners.

According to Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen, “This strategy is an example of what can be achieved when multiple agencies come together and work as one.

“As a coastal town, it is important that we look after our environments, for our future generations. The success of the strategy can be credited to the high level of community engagement.”

Department of Conservation Geraldine Operations Manager Tony Preston is looking forward to getting stuck in.

“The genuine collaboration between partners and the community while developing the strategy has been fantastic, we look forward to working with the community and local businesses as we get stuck in to the planned work.”

Fiona Pimm, Chair of Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua reiterated the significance of the area.

“Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua are pleased to see the efforts and passion of many different interests come together in the signing of this strategy to protect Waitarakao.

“This is a special place with historic significance to our Arowhenua whānau and more recently a place of significance to Timaru settlers. It is a place where we share common values for protection of our environment.”

Next steps

Our Waitarakao is a collaboration between the community and the four partner organisations to deal with problems faced now in this unique coastal catchment, as well as planning ahead for a time when erosion may reduce the lagoon to a much smaller size.

The strategy includes actions to improve water quality, biodiversity and natural hazard resilience, as well as an ambitious long-term approach to create pockets of new wildlife habitat.

The strategy will be implemented through first steps and ongoing actions, which will be carried out with the help and involvement of the community.

Businesses, landowners and the community are invited to share resources and combine in positive actions in the catchment. Things like riparian plantings and pest control, sponsoring projects and donating resources and volunteer time.

Find our more about Our Waitarakao and how you can get involved.

MIL OSI

Minister Weeds Wokeness Out Of MFAT

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March 13, 2025

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Source: Family First

Media Release – 12 March 2025

Family First NZ is welcoming moves by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters to ‘weed out the wokeness’ from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a result of an exposé by Family First on some of the content on the MFAT website and also its actions around the Pacific Islands.

In a Substack by CEO Bob McCoskrie by CEO Bob McCoskrie, the government body that should represent New Zealand to other governments, ensure security in the region, and negotiate trade agreements has become fully captive to DEI (diversity, equity & inclusion) & wokeness.

Their website zeroes in on sexual orientation and gender identity, intersectionality, “inclusion of our rainbow communities”, and they have even produced a glossary of reo Māori terminology for people of diverse SOGIESC – compliments of the taxpayer.

MFAT says: “In this way, we celebrate the place of rainbow communities in Aotearoa New Zealand as part of the diversity of the peoples of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.”

The MFAT website says:

“Indigenous Takatapui LGBTQIA+ terminology are crucial for people-centred development in the Pacific as they honour and recognise the diverse cultural expressions and experiences of Indigenous peoples of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa…. It fosters cultural pride, self-determination, and social cohesion, promoting inclusive and sustainable development in the region.”

The then-Labour government also appointed an “Ambassador for Gender Equality (Pacific) / Tuia Tangata” in 2022 who travelled around Pacific countries pushing wokeness.

According to a report on the Newsroom website in 2022;

“Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced Louisa Wall’s appointment as a new ambassador for gender equality in the Pacific – less than a fortnight after Wall announced the end of her 14-year career in Parliament. The timing of Wall’s appointment, coupled with the well-established tensions between the outspoken MP and some within Labour, led to speculation that the role – to which she was appointed directly, without advertisement – had been created to move her on from Parliament.”

In response to the expose, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters released a statement this morning, saying:

“Since returning to the Foreign Affairs portfolio in November 2023, the Minister has been concerned about the impact that the woke agenda of his predecessor and the Ardern/Hipkins Government had on New Zealand’s diplomacy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Over the past 16 months, the Minister has made clear to successive Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and Trade that he expects MFAT and New Zealand’s diplomats to reflect the agenda of the current New Zealand Government. This has included a determination to remove references to the previous government’s policy priorities from the Ministry’s online publications.

While the Minister continues to hold New Zealand’s diplomats in the highest esteem, he is disappointed that there continue to be outdated references to discretionary legacy initiatives of the previous Labour Government on the MFAT website. He has instructed Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Bede Corry to review the Ministry’s website and ensure its alignment with the Coalition Government’s agenda.

He looks forward to that review being conducted with a sense of urgency.”

It’s time that MFAT got back to their core activity – foreign affairs and trade, security in the region (including especially the Cook Islands), free trade deals – rather than ramming down DEI and Wokeism 101 down the throat of every other country.

This appears to be the target of the NZ First bill released last week, and should be supported by the coalition partners National and ACT.

MIL OSI