Science reforms: Save Science Coalition releases latest toll of science roles in wake of further cuts at Callaghan Innovation

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February 13, 2025

Source: Save Science

Over 200 science roles have been cut from the sector since July last year, bringing the total number of roles lost in the government science sector to approximately 570. That is despite the Government trumpeting science as a key to economic growth.

New figures released by the Save Science Coalition, a group of 30 scientific societies and unions, include an additional proposed 63 roles to be disestablished at Callaghan Innovation as the latest casualties of Government cuts. Staff at Callaghan Innovation were made aware of the proposal on Wednesday.

“The latest cuts at Callaghan Innovation are a direct result of Government decisions to remove the majority of the organisation’s funding by 30 June this year,” explained Dr Lucy Stewart, spokesperson for the Save Science Coalition.

“This isn’t stopping – we are expecting hundreds of additional jobs to be lost. We are aware of continuing restructuring occurring at Callaghan Innovation, AgResearch and Manaaki Whenua. This is on top of the Government’s proposed restructure of the science sector, which may result in yet further job losses unless the Government makes a clear plan to retain staff through this process.”

“The Science System Advisory Group report highlighted that retention of the skilled workforce in this sector was of utmost importance. So far, it is difficult to see how the Government is upholding this principle when we are seeing job cuts continue even after the publication of the much-awaited report.”

The Save Science Coalition also emphasised that funding the sector is critically important.

“The Science System Advisory Group announcements included no additional funding for the sector, either to fund the reform programme or the ongoing science. While the reforms may help reduce unproductive competition between agencies, which is a positive thing, the benefits of the changes can only fully be realised if there is appropriate funding made available,” explained Stewart.

“Merging and rebranding institutions costs money, but according to Cabinet papers the proposed changes are to be funded out of existing allocations. Furthermore, there is no commitment to retaining current scientific expertise, at the same time as the Government talks about wanting to attract new talent to our country. We know many researchers have already been forced to relocate offshore.”

“The Cabinet papers noted that Aotearoa New Zealand receives a return of $3.50 for each dollar invested in science, innovation and technology. For science to be the solution to New Zealand’s economy, as the Prime Minister has so keenly told us, then he needs to front up and invest in it.”

The Save Science Coalition has written to Science Minister Dr Shane Reti to discuss these matters.

The Save Science Coalition was set up in May 2024 and completed a report documenting the cuts to science funding and staffing which was released in July 2024. The group has now released an update to the report, detailing additional cuts made between July 2024 and February 2025. The Coalition has also published its collective response to the reforms announced in January 2025.

The Save Science Coalition’s goals are:

– to oppose cuts to science funding and science staff across government institutions

– to highlight and catalogue what is being lost through the current cuts

– to defend support for world-leading indigenous research including mātauranga Māori

– to make the case for a foundation of support for public science and re-committing to a target of 2% of GDP to be invested in research and development in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Current Save Science Coalition member organisations are:

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BusinessNZ – Growth plan endorsed

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February 13, 2025

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Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ has endorsed the Going for Growth plan released by the Minister for Economic Growth, outlining actions to be taken or underway to lift economic and productivity growth.

BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich said the proposed reform of taxation, savings and competition policy offered potential for invigorating the economy, and individual businesses stood to gain from the reforms.

“For example, efforts towards promoting global trade and investment will be a significant boost for NZ exporters, while domestic businesses will gain from the reform of procurement rules that will give more ability for firms to tender for government business.”

Katherine Rich said the plan’s focus on innovation and AI was well-placed.

“Recent analysis by Accenture and Microsoft indicates the potential for annual GDP growth of up to $100 billion by 2038, based on greater uptake of AI by NZ businesses.

“We would expect the Going for Growth plan to stimulate a more productive business environment, allowing businesses to invest in digital and AI technologies, to drive even further productivity and economic growth,” Mrs Rich said.

The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

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Serious crash, Puruatanga Road, Martinborough

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February 13, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

Four people on a shared bicycle have been injured in a serious crash with a car in Martinborough.

The collision happened on Puruatanga Road, between Regent Street and Todds Road, about 10.45am.

At least one person is being flown to hospital with critical injuries. Three others have serious injuries.

The driver of the vehicle is uninjured and is being spoken to by Police.

The Serious Crash Unit has been notified and the road will likely remain closed for some time. Members of the public are advised to avoid the area.

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

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Release: Willis’ supermarket announcement all talk, no plan

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February 13, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs.

“New Zealanders struggling with the cost of their weekly grocery shopping don’t need more vague promises from Nicola Willis, they need real action,” Labour commerce and consumer affairs spokesperson Arena Williams said.

“When Labour was in government, we took bold action to break up the supermarket duopoly. We banned restrictive land covenants, enforced mandatory wholesale access, and introduced a Grocery Commissioner to hold the industry to account. We didn’t just talk about competition, we legislated for it.

“If National was serious about tackling the supermarket duopoly it would build on the real progress Labour made. Instead, all Nicola Willis is offering is no new ideas, no deadlines, and no clear policies.

“It’s a smokescreen for a government that is floundering when it comes to the cost of living,” Arena Williams said.

“Nicola Willis talks about ‘growth’, but the only growth we’ve seen is in the number of job losses, the number of Kiwis leaving, and the number of homeless Kiwis,” Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

“Willis’ announcement is part of a troubling trend of all talk and no action. This government has failed to deliver on their FamilyBoost promises, they’re failing on ferries, and now they’re failing to seriously address grocery prices.”

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SH1B Telephone Road upgrade work set to begin

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February 13, 2025

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Source: New Zealand Government

Construction is set to start next week on an upgrade to the rail crossing on State Highway 1B Telephone Road, east of Hamilton, which will reopen to traffic by the middle of the year, Minister of Transport Chris Bishop says.
“Economic growth and productivity are a priority for the Government, and I’m pleased this upgrade work is finally getting underway to enable the road to reopen to vehicles and freight,” Mr Bishop says.
“The package of improvements being delivered will see the road level raised, and new escape lanes built. The road surface will be raised by up to 410mm over a distance of 90 metres on Telephone Road north of the rail crossing and on Telephone Road/Holland Road/Marshmeadow Road south of the rail crossing.
“Escape lanes built on the north side of Holland Road, will ensure longer vehicles heading south do not stack across the rail line as they wait to turn into Holland Road. For vehicles travelling east on Holland Road and wanting to turn left into Telephone Road, the escape lane provides a safe place to wait if access to Telephone Road is blocked by a train.
“Safety at the intersection will also be improved with more line marking and signage, including new electronic warning signs when a train is approaching.
“As part of the upgrade involves raising the road level, from Wednesday 19 February the intersection of Telephone Road, Holland Road and Marshmeadow Road will be closed to all traffic until the end of construction. This is expected to take around 3 months.
“I appreciate the patience of the local community, and strong advocacy of local MP Tim Van de Molen, to bring us to this important milestone. I also want to thank NZTA, KiwiRail, and Waikato District Council for their work to find a pragmatic and cost-effective solution. I look forward to this work being completed as soon as possible, so we get traffic moving over the rail crossing once again.”
Notes to Editor:

The rail crossing on SH1B Telephone Road was previously considered one of the most dangerous in New Zealand. The crossing was not level, resulting in low vehicles scraping rail and, in April 2022, dislodging a section of track. The distance between the rail and the intersection was also short, resulting in a high collision risk as cars wait to turn onto Holland Road. Both of these risks are being addressed in this work, enabling a safe reopening of the crossing.
As a result of an incident in April 2022 KiwiRail and NZTA decided to immediately close the rail crossing until it could satisfy the safety requirements to reopen. Since then, SH1B traffic has been required to detour along Holland Road, Waverley Road and Seddon Road, adding approximately 10 minutes to through journeys.
Following the closure, NZTA commissioned a detailed report on the future options for the crossing from consultants WSP. The report explored a range of options from low-cost interventions such as barrier arms, limited access to light vehicles and judder bars, to more complex options that involved significant engineering work to reconfigure the rail crossing and adjacent intersection.
NZTA remained committed to investigating practical and affordable solutions to allow the Telephone Road railway crossing to reopen and continued to work with KiwiRail. This led to the new design which met requirements to allow the rail crossing to reopen.
Another important factor in the new design meeting safety requirements is the reduction in traffic volumes, particularly the lower number of trucks, using SH1B following the completion of the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway.

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Stats NZ information release: Māori descent population: 2023 Census

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February 13, 2025

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Source: Statistics New Zealand

Māori descent population: 2023 Census – 13 February 2025 – Māori descent population: 2023 Census provides information and data on Māori descent population concepts through a number of different products, such as Aotearoa Data Explorer tables, an infographic, and a methods paper, Māori and iwi population concepts in the 2023 Census.

Māori descent statistics tell us about the number of people usually living in New Zealand who descend from Māori. These statistics provide important insights into the needs and outcomes for Māori, and help determine the number of Māori and general electorates and their boundaries.

Files:

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Business – Ruling out compensation for Golden Mile businesses will put Wellingtonians’ jobs at risk

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February 13, 2025

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Source: Business Central

The decision to rule out compensation for businesses on the Golden Mile will put jobs and livelihoods at risk, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce warns.

A three-year redevelopment of Courtenay Place is set to begin in April, the Wellington City Council confirmed today. In doing so, the Council rejected calls to offer compensation or rent relief while major construction is taking place.

Wellington Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Arcus says it’s far too early to rule out forms of business support:

“Businesses are the heartbeat of our central city – without them, there would be no Golden Mile at all.

“We all know the city centre needs an upgrade, but construction of this size and scale will pose huge risks to businesses – and that means jobs will be at stake.

“It’s hugely concerning to hear the Council say they won’t consider compensation for business. The lesson of the City Rail Link in Auckland is that projects like this drive businesses to the brink.

“That’s why Auckland offers compensation to business in the form of rent relief,” Arcus said.

The $12m Targeted Hardship Fund was set up in 2021 to help businesses affected by construction. Arcus said it offers a proven model Wellington City Council could adopt.

“We already have the solution. Let’s get together and make it work,” Arcus said.

“The question always comes down to funding, but central city businesses already pay millions of dollars into a fund for moments like this.”

The Downtown Targeted Rate – also known as the Downtown Levy – is an extra charge on central city businesses worth more than $17m a year.

“That fund was set up at the request of business to help the central city economy,” said Arcus.

“Instead, it’s being used to subsidise Council facilities like Tākina Convention Centre and the Carter Observatory. Is that really the right way to use that money at a time when businesses are at risk?

“It’s also troubling read reports the Council is planning to let out empty shopfronts on a month-to-month basis. We should be doing all we can to keep people in business, not planning what to do when they’re gone.

“We do believe Golden Mile needs a refresh, and we want to work with the Council on a vision we can all get behind,” he said.

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Economy – NZ Treasury: Interim Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the six months ended 31 December 2024

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February 13, 2025

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Source: The Treasury

The Interim Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the six months ended 31 December 2024 were released by the Treasury today.

The December results are reported against forecasts based on the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2024 (HYEFU 2024), published on 17 December 2024, and the results for the same period for the previous year.

	Year to date				Full Year
	December 2024 Actual1 $m	December 2024 HYEFU 2024 Forecast1 $m	Variance2 HYEFU 2024 $m	Variance HYEFU 2024 %	June 2025 HYEFU 2024 Forecast3 $m
Core Crown tax revenue	59,944	59,715	229	0.4	120,623
Core Crown revenue	66,575	66,284	291	0.4	134,038
Core Crown expenses	68,879	69,322	443	0.6	144,638
Core Crown residual cash	(11,206)	(10,722)	(484)	(4.5)	(16,610)
Net core Crown debt4	185,834	186,575	741	0.4	192,810
as a percentage of GDP	44.1%	44.2%			45.1%
Gross debt	199,099	193,413	(5,685)	(2.9)	206,558
as a percentage of GDP	47.2%	45.9%			48.3%
OBEGAL excluding ACC (OBEGALx)	(3,501)	(3,885)	384	9.9	(12,868)
OBEGAL	(4,571)	(4,878)	307	6.3	(17,317)
Operating balance (excluding minority interests)	(348)	(1,464)	1,116	76.2	(10,161)
Net worth	187,459	186,373	1,086	0.6	177,492
as a percentage of GDP	44.5%	44.2%			41.5%

Using the most recently published GDP (for the year ended 30 September 2024) of $421,702 million (Source: Stats NZ).
Favourable variances against forecast have a positive sign and unfavourable variances against forecast have a negative sign.
Using HYEFU 2024 forecast GDP for the year ending 30 June 2025 of $427,252 million (Source: The Treasury).
Net core Crown debt excludes the NZS Fund and core Crown advances. Net core Crown debt may fluctuate during the year largely reflecting the timing of tax receipts.

Core Crown tax revenue at $59.9 billion was $0.2 billion (0.4%) higher than forecast, with the largest variance in GST being $0.3 billion (1.5%) above forecast.

Core Crown expenses at $68.9 billion were $0.4 billion (0.6%) below forecast. The variance is mostly timing in nature and was spread across a range of functional spending areas.

The operating balance before gains and losses excluding ACC (OBEGALx) was a deficit of $3.5 billion, $0.4 billion less than the forecast deficit. When including the revenue and expenses of ACC, the OBEGAL deficit was $4.6 billion, $0.3 billion less than the deficit forecast.

The operating balance deficit of $0.3 billion was $1.1 billion less than the deficit forecast. This is largely owing to the variances to forecast in net gains and losses for the six months to December 2024, with net losses on non-financial instruments being $1.4 billion lower than forecast, partly offset by net gains on financial instruments being $0.8 billion lower than forecast.

The core Crown residual cash deficit of $11.2 billion was $0.5 billion more than the deficit forecast and was largely timing in nature with personnel and operating payments occurring earlier than anticipated.

Net core Crown debt at $185.8 billion (44.1% of GDP), was broadly in line with forecast ($186.6 billion or 44.2% of GDP). While the core Crown residual cash deficit was higher than forecast, its impact on net core Crown debt was more than offset by higher than forecast net gains on financial instruments and the Reserve Bank’s issuance of circulating currency.

Gross debt at $199.1 billion (47.2% of GDP) was $5.7 billion higher than forecast largely owing to higher than forecast derivatives in loss and issuances of Euro Commercial Paper. However, this increase in gross debt was broadly offset by a corresponding increase in financial assets therefore this has not flowed through to the net core Crown debt measure or to net worth.

Net worth at $187.5 billion (44.5% of GDP), was $1.1 billion higher than forecast largely reflecting the operating balance results. Net worth consisted of total Crown assets of $597.9 billion ($13.0 billion higher than forecast) and total Crown liabilities of $410.5 billion ($11.9 billion higher than forecast).

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Fire and Emergency New Zealand deploys aviation specialist to Tasmanian fires

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February 13, 2025

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Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has sent a wildfire aviation specialist to Australia to run the aerial attack on several large bushfires in the north west of Tasmania.

Fire and Emergency Deputy National Commander Ken Cooper says the Tasmanian Fire Service and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service have been managing a number of significant vegetation fires sparked by dry lightning strikes since 3 February.

“The fires are in challenging terrain and the Tasmanians have been mostly managing the fires with aircraft while ground crews battle the fires accessible by road,” he says.

It is expected the current significant fires will continue to burn uncontained for several weeks, causing ongoing resourcing and fatigue management pressures.

Our specialist arrived in Tasmania on Wednesday and has relieved the Tasmanian Air Operations Manager. They will be providing the overall coordination of aerial operations across the fires over the next two weeks.

“Our thoughts are with our neighbours in Tasmania, and we are happy to answer the call for help,” Ken Cooper says.

Fire and Emergency supports other countries in their time of need. Alongside predecessor organisations, we have been deploying personnel internationally to wildfire emergencies for more than 20 years.

This deployment is Fire and Emergency’s 75th international wildfire deployment since 2000. There have been 1544 firefighters deployed during this time. Note: this number does not include non-wildfire deployments, such as for natural disasters.

“When Fire and Emergency receives a request for firefighting assistance, we firstly consider the fire conditions in Aotearoa before we decide if we can support our international colleagues,” Ken Cooper says.

“These international deployments are not only beneficial for the countries that receive help, but also to our people. They gain valuable experience and skills in dealing with large scale and complex wildfires, which can be different from the types of fires they usually encounter back home.”

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Northland Regional Council $600k of Climate Resilient Communities Funding to be allocated

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February 13, 2025

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Source: Northland Regional Council

$600k of Climate Resilient Communities Funding to be allocated

The Northland Regional Council is finalising a list of more than 20 projects around the region which will share $600,000 of funding designed to help build climate resilience.

During the council’s Long-Term Plan 2024-2034 consultation, the region’s communities had emphasised the importance they placed on council taking a leading role in helping to build that resilience.

That had resulted in the council establishing a $600,000 fund to support communities to prepare for the growing effects of climate change and the natural hazard risks our region faces.

The council – which had an overwhelming response with 96 applications requesting $3.2 million in funding – is currently finalising more than 20 projects that met the fund criteria and aimed to build community capacity and strengthen connections to build community resilience.

Successful applications are expected to be made public shortly.

Scholarship applications close

Applications for Northland Regional Council’s (NRC) Tū i te ora Scholarship have closed.

NRC says it received more than 20 applications for its scholarship, which recognises and supports students to undertake study, research or training that relates to council’s environmental and regulatory functions.

Council will award the six scholarships in May, with each recipient set to receive $4000 to assist with study costs, plus paid full-time work experience from mid-November 2025 to mid-February 2026.

24/7 NRC Incident Hotline

The Northland Regional Council operates a 24/7 incident hotline (0800) 504 639.

You can call this number to report all pollution and environmental incidents, including oil or chemical spills, water pollution, dangerous boating, and navigation hazards and breakdowns of navigation lights.

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